S’pore navy’s multi-role combat vessel offers new capabilities

It has capabilities of a modern frigate and a mothership carrying unmanned systems

- Samuel Devaraj Correspondent

The Republic has launched the first of its new class of warships, designed to be highly configurable and integrated with a range of unmanned systems to carry out different mission types.

The first of Singapore's fleet of multi-role combat vessels (MRCVs), named Victory, was launched on Oct 21 by Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and his wife at ST Engineering’s Benoi Shipyard.

The MRCVs will progressively replace the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) ageing Victory-class missile corvettes from 2028, bringing a host of new capabilities to the table, including advanced sensors, weapon systems and network capabilities.

The vessel, which will be the RSN’s largest, combines the combat capabilities of a modern frigate with the capacity and control needed to be a mothership for a wide range of unmanned systems, said the Ministry of Defence.

With eight containerised modules in its mission bay, the MRCV is designed to be more flexible than its predecessor and able to quickly take on additional assets, such as shipping containers with medical facilities for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr Chan said Singapore's security challenges going forward will only become more multifaceted, including the need to secure its strategic lines of communication — whether in the air, at sea, or in cyberspace.

That is why the MRCV is not built for a specific purpose to last for the next 20 to 30 years, he added. “I would dare say that no ship will be able to anticipate (the RSN’s) operational needs for the next 30 years.