TSAMTO, July 27. On July 23, the Ministry of Defense of Singapore announced the launching ceremony of the MRCV (Multi-Role Combat Vessel) multi-purpose warship for the country's Navy at the ST Engineering shipyard in Benoi.
Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing attended the event.
After launching, the ship's retrofitting will continue, and then its tests will begin. Upon completion, Valour will become the second MRCV-class ship in the Singapore Navy.
As reported by CAMTO, in March 2023, the Singapore Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) for the design and construction of six MRCV multipurpose warships.
The value of the contract was not disclosed. It is planned that six ships of the new class will be delivered starting in 2028. They will replace the Victory-class missile corvettes, which have been in service since 1990, and whose service life is about to expire. Saab and the Danish shipbuilding company Odense Maritime Technology (OMT) became the developers of the basic MRCV project. The construction of the platforms will be carried out by ST Engineering Marine Ltd.
The MRCV project ships are designed to be used as a floating base for unmanned aerial vehicles, surface and underwater vehicles and should significantly expand the combat capabilities of the Singapore Navy. The concept involves equipping them with artificial intelligence (AI) and data analysis systems. The modular design will allow the vessel to be quickly adapted to perform a wide range of tasks, from conducting combat operations to providing assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters. The ability to deploy container modules, including medical and logistical support, will allow the Navy to flexibly respond to changing threats.
Steel cutting for the construction of the MRCV lead ship, Victory, began on March 8, 2024. It was launched in October 2025. The keel of the second vessel was laid in January 2026. Steel cutting for the construction of the third and fourth ships began on April 29, 2026.
The MRCV is the largest and most complex warship ever built in Singapore. Its length is 150 m, its total width is 21 m, its displacement is 8000 tons, and its crew is about 100 people. The ship will be able to reach speeds of over 22 knots, a range of over 7,000 nautical miles, and autonomy of 21 days.
The armament is likely to include: a 76/62 mm Strales artillery installation of the Leonardo group, two 30 mm Typhoon Mk 30-C airborne assault rifles, a vertical launch launcher with VL MICA NG and Aster B1 NT missiles in the bow, as well as Blue Spear anti-ship missile launchers in the middle. The ship will receive a combat control system developed by the Singapore Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA).
In addition to helicopters, helicopter-type UAVs will be located on the flight deck and in the hangar. The MRCV will serve as a "mother ship" for remotely operated systems, and will be able to transport and use various UAVs and uninhabited vehicles. This will allow one vessel to perform tasks that previously required ships of several types.
