On May
24, 2023 I asked Shawn C. why Singapore was ship size jumping from its six existing 3,200 tonne Formidable-class
frigates to six 10,000 tonne Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCVs) (see more diagrams and details on SubMattshere). Why does Singapore, with a small area and
small population need such large, presumably long range, ships? Is it a case of
having a smaller number of superior MRCVs to Indonesia’s 2021 order for more
numerous frigates ie. 6 new FREMM frigates, 2 Type 31 variants (of the Iver
Huitfeldt pattern) and 2 used Maestrale-class frigates?
Might Singapore aim to contribute to a multinational fleet allied to the US against China one day?
Later on May 24 part of Shawn’s reply included:
Singapore is 'friend to all', though it buys Western European and American weapons systems because we can now afford 'best in the world' systems.
Singapore openly participates in military exercises with many countries, and there was a naval exercise with the Chinese Navy (PLA-N) in late April 2023, followed by the ASEAN-India exercise - which saw seven ASEAN navies participate - sailing from Singapore to Subic Bay.
Singapore's relations with our neighbour Indonesia are actually cordial, we rarely have issues with them, and in fact just finalised a disputeabout Flight Information Regions (FIRs) - Singapore has international flight management over Indonesia's Natuna and Riauislands.
The Singaporean and Indonesian navies cooperate with joint Malacca Straits patrols, and Indonesia has to cover a lot more water than Singapore, especially the Celebes Sea and Philippines Sea. See map below:
Map courtesy Asia Society.
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The MRCVs are most obviously designed for persistent wide area surveillance, and Singapore's priority has always been keeping in sea lines of communication (SLOCs) open. The greater range of the Type 218SG will [extend further than the MRCVs' coverage.]
[Shawn identified useful details of RSS Impeccable (the second Invincible-class/Type-218SG submarine) being placed on heavy load carrier Rolldock Storm in Kiel on May 18, 2023. Rolldock Storm still appears to be in Kiel. Presumably it and RSS Impeccable will be in Singapore by July 2023, if not earlier].