Singapore’s Minister for Defence, Dr. Ng Eng Hen, inaugurated the launch ceremony of the Singapore Navy (RSN)’s first Invincible-class submarine, the ‘Invincible’ at the thyssenkrupp Marine Systems Shipyard in Kiel, Germany, on 18 February.
Invincible is the first of four customised submarines designed for operations in Singapore’s shallow and busy tropical waters. Custom-built to Singapore’s needs, the new submarines seek to possess longer endurance and higher payloads.
Following the launch, Invincible will undergo a series of sea trials before delivery to Singapore in 2021. The remaining three submarines are under construction. Dr. Ng also announced the names of the remaining three submarines – Impeccable, Illustrious, and Inimitable.
Additionally, the launch of Invincible is testament ‘to the warm and growing defence ties between Singapore and Germany‘, an official statement by the Singaporean government reads.
Bilateral defence relations have strengthened with the signing of the enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (eDCA) in 2018. The eDCA paves the way forward for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as in submarine training, defence technology and cyber defence.
Both countries also cooperate and interact widely through high-level visits and dialogues, military exchanges, cross-attendance of professional courses and technology collaboration.
The submarine was launched by Mrs Ng, wife of Dr Ng. Chief of German Navy Vice-Admiral Andreas Krause, Republic of Singapore Navy’s Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong and senior defence officials from both countries attended the launch ceremony.
The RSN plays a key role in keeping [the] Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) open, not only for Singapore, but indeed, for the world. And the maritime environment around Singapore also faces security challenges… In this context, the acquisition of the new Type 218SG submarines is timely,
…Dr. Ng highlighted, speaking at the ceremony.
Dr. Ng was in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference from 15 to 17 Feb 2019, where he spoke at the conference and had bilateral meetings with his foreign counterparts.
