This is a discussion on RSN capabilities within the Navy & Maritime forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; Anyone knows what is the development plan for RSN over the next 5-10 years?
It was speculated that out Victory ...
I actually thought the new Delta/modified Lafayette FFGs was destined to replace eventually all FACs... With 5 FFG, the ex Swedish SSKs and the big LSTs Singapore is already a very powerful navy.
In terms of procurement the most interesting part to me will be the new SSKs that will replace the old Sjormen. Singapore is tightly linked to Swedish designs, but with the Viking programme closed after Norway and Denmark quit, I don't know what could come next.
Main surface fleet has 2 surface sqns in 1st flotilla + the new sub sqn.
SG sqns comes in 6. FFGs will only replace the missile gunboats (lurssen FACs). Victory corvettes will remain.
Subs-wise, the SG navy is learning sub warfare hence the acquisition of the sjoormens and gotlands. So in the next 5 years, there wouldn't be a requirement for advanced subs.
For development, suggest reading the 40th anniversary commerative book issued in May 07 (chap 6). That should shed some light.
latest news is the introduction of the new unmanned remote vessels.
Interesting. So eventually the Victory big FACs (calling them corvettes is a bit of a stretch) will be replaced by enlarged Delta/Lafayette... or why not even an adapted version of FREMM with Aster-30 ?
Vs the SSKs, the 2 exported Gotlands are recent, but the Sjoormen are very old (early '70s) so they will need to be replaced soon.
The Formidable's are fitted with the A43 launcher which is limited to the Aster 15's the A50 launcher would be needed for the Aster 30's, which could be a problem as it is a three deck(length) system compared to the A43's two decks.
Right now, I think it would be strange if the sjoormens were dumped that quickly. Doesn't make sense to go through so much effort to refurbish the boats only to dump them within 5 years. That's why despite the public statements that stated the gotlands will replace 2 of the sjoormen, I'm still a bit sceptical. Afterall, as mentioned, fleet sqn sizes run in 6.
My understanding was that the four Challenger/Sjoormen-class, and then the two later Vastergotland-class were purchased so that the RSN could develop the operational knowledge and experience to make use of a SSK fleet. Given that the first example of the Challenger/Sjoormen-class was commissioned into RSN service ten years ago after something like two decades of service in the Swedish Navy I can well see the RSN wishing for a more recent vessel though the Vastergotland-class SSKs are themselves not new. I think it also possible that some of the RSN SSKs could then be taken off the roles of active SSKs and instead assigned as training vessels. Of course, this all depends on how much useful life is left in the subs, and how much was spent acquiring and modifying them.
-Cheers
________________
"I'm doing the same thing I do every night, Pinky..." comment from one lab mouse to another.
I heard rumours that in between the mast there is a specially designed
space to install new generation weapons.
On top of that, the frigates are also equipped with Singapore Technologies
Naval Weapon Remote System.it consist of 2 X 30MM Bushmasters 30MM canons.Each canons is equipped with 6 ready to launch Mistral IR missiles.
The decoy launchers have the capability to launch missiles as well.
Practically, the frigates are equipped with the following
1 X 76MM Stealth cupola super rapid gun
2 X 30MM canons with 12 X Mistral IR
32 X Aster 15
8 X Harpoon Block II
6 X A244S
1 X S70B equipped with Penguin ASM/A244S
EDO sonar
herakles phased array radar
NGDS
Rafale Pearl M
other advanced electronos countermeasures from europe and israel
One should wonder however what use the Singaporean FFGs would have of Aster-30s with a range of 120km. They would mostly operate under cover of land based F16s and F15s and the Aster-15s already have a range of 30km and provide limited area defence (just as the ESSM bought by Malaysia).
On the SSK debate, Sweden is probably a bit desperate to find a partner with whom they can develop a new generation SSK (in place of the defunct Viking programme). Singapore can probably get a huge rebate. Any new build would not arrive until 5+ years from now. By then the fist Sjoormen will be 35+ years old.
I think that the chances of the Formidables being fitted for the Aster 30 are pretty slim,two reasons 1 :Why wouldn't they have fitted them with the A50 and only ordered the Aster 15 (for the time being)
The other reason being operational requirements.
@SGMilitary
Do you have any links re: 30mm and Mistral,Penguin and the Harpoon BlockII
