IRIA News

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Singapore is set to enhance its military capabilities with the acquisition of two additional submarines, bringing its fleet to six. Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen announced these developments in a parliamentary session, adding that Singapore is also eyeing on expanding its land, aerial, and naval capabilities.

The Singaporean navy expanded its submarine fleet with the introduction of four German-made Invincible-class submarines. The construction of these custom-built submarines began in 2017, and they are expected to be fully operational by 2028. The first two submarines were commissioned and operationalized in September last year.

“But four submarines are not optimal for a fleet,” said Ng. “Our submarines are subjected to more rigorous and frequent maintenance cycles with stringent checks; as you can imagine, they need to operate under intense pressure, literally. Operational time is conversely reduced relatively. This is why most navies that operate submarines have more than four, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, to name a few of our close neighbors.”

“Having proven that the Invincible-class submarines can perform to expectations in tropical waters, the SAF plans to procure two more submarines, to make up a total of six, as the steady state for our submarine fleet.”

Multi-Role Combat Vessels

Additionally, the navy will launch its first multi-role combat vessels (MRCVs) later this year. These six vessels are set to replace the Victory-class missile corvettes, which have been in service since 1989. The MRCVs have a significantly greater range, roughly three times further than their predecessors.

“The MRCV is not one ship but a mothership with unmanned platforms. Together with its suite of advanced sensors and combat systems, she will strengthen the navy’s ability to safeguard our maritime interests,” said Ng.

Bolstering land defenses

In a move to strengthen its ground forces, the Singapore Army will acquire a new infantry fighting vehicle, named “Titan.” This vehicle will be wheeled and feature a remote weapon system armed with a 30mm cannon. Titan will be equipped with advanced countermeasures to address threats from unmanned aerial systems (UAS), reflecting modern battlefield requirements.

The army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which has been in service since 2010, will also receive an upgrade with more advanced rockets. HIMARS has demonstrated its effectiveness in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, reinforcing its strategic value for Singapore’s defense forces.

Advancements in air power

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is also undergoing major transformations. It is currently evaluating replacements for its aging Fokker-50 maritime patrol aircraft, which have been in service for three decades. Two primary candidates under consideration are the Boeing P-8A and the Airbus C295.

The Boeing P-8A is already in service with the U.S. Navy, the UK Royal Air Force, and the Royal Australian Air Force, while the Airbus C295 is used by countries such as Chile and Spain for anti-submarine warfare missions.

In addition, Singapore has confirmed the purchase of F-35A fighter jets from the U.S., adding to its fleet of advanced combat aircraft. Singapore had earlier announced the acquisition of eight more F-35As, strengthening its air defense capabilities.

To support this modernization, an F-35 and F-16 fighter jet training detachment has been established at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. The selection of this base followed extensive feasibility studies conducted by the RSAF and the US Air Force.

“These moves reflect the strength of our defense relationship with the U.S. and the continued commitment to a multi-decade partnership. We thank the US for their support,” Ng stated in his briefing.

Rising defense budget and future projections

Singapore’s defense expenditure for this financial year is projected to reach $17.3 billion, marking a 12.4% increase from 2024. Ng explained that this increase is partially due to delays in previous projects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions.

“It’s sizeable, but it reflects the catch-up of projects deferred or disrupted due to COVID-19. We are still catching up, including those impacted by supply chain disruptions in recent years,” he said.

Despite the increased spending, Singapore has maintained its defense budget within 3% of its GDP over the past decade, a trend Dr Ng expects to continue beyond 2026. “I expect the growth in defense spending to taper down from FY26 and keep within this 3% of GDP range over the next decade, barring any major conflicts or severe economic uncertainty.”

Ng emphasized that these acquisitions and upgrades are part of Singapore’s long-term strategy to maintain a modern, agile, and well-equipped military force capable of countering evolving threats.

“With these added capabilities for air, land, and sea, the SAF as a relatively small military would have transformed itself with state-of-the-art platforms comparable to advanced militaries elsewhere and fit for our security purposes.”