NEWS SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY

Singapore commissions Invincible and Impeccable

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SINGAPORE has commissioned two of its latest submarines ordered from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (tkMS). Commissioned today was the lead boat Invincible followed by the second vessel, Impeccable, attaining full operational status.

The ceremony at Changi Naval Base was officiated by the city-state’s prime minister, Lawrence Wong alongside senior officials including the Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) chief Rear Admiral Sean Wat and other top brass from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). In accordance to naval tradition, the vessels were sponsored by lady sponsors–Ho Ching, Ivy Ng and Teo Swee Lian, the wife of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, wife of defence minister Ng and sister of Senior Minister Teo respectively.

Built and launched in Kiel, Germany, the Invincible-class submarines are a result of a joint effort between the RSN, tkMS and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), producing a customised class of submarines which can operate in shallow and busy tropical waters around Singapore. These vessels are equipped with “air-independent propulsion” which rely on fuel cells to power the submarine rather than a conventional diesel engine.

Furthermore, the customisation of the submarines have allowed for female submariners to serve onboard, featuring dedicated female bunking and toilets. Four female submariners are presently qualified while another duo are undergoing training.

The third and fourth Invincible-class submarines, Illustrious and Inimitable have been launched. The Inimitable is the final vessel in the class and was launched in April this year. A MINDEF statement added that the pair of submarines are expected to return to Singapore by 2028. Following this, the RSN will also decommission some of the older Challenger-class submarines purchased between 1995 and 1997 from Sweden.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:RSN)