Article Posted on : - May 16, 2017

A Royal Singapore Navy submarine. MoD photo

SINGAPORE (BNS): The Singapore Defence Ministry has signed a contract with Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine System GmbH to acquire two more Type 218SG conventional submarines.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Minister For Defence, Ng Eng Hen, at the opening ceremony of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia 2017 being hosted by Singapore.

"Today, on the RSN's 50th anniversary, it is fitting for me to announce another important step in the RSN's modernisation effort. In addition to the two previously announced (submarines), the RSN will acquire two more Type-218SG submarines to replace its older submarines, with an expected delivery from 2024 onwards," the Defence Minister said.

The new submarines are part of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s approach to long-term capability development, the MoD said in a statement.

Singapore had inked a deal with Germany in December 2013 for two Type 218SG platforms.

"The first two Type 218SG submarines, which were acquired in 2013, have commenced construction following their steel-cutting in 2014. They are projected for delivery from 2021," the MoD said.

Together with the two additional Type 218SG submarines, they would be part of the RSN's submarine force renewal programme to meet operational requirements, it added.