TSAMTO, December 14. On December 13, at the Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) shipyard in Kiel (Germany), the launching ceremony of the second and third Impecable and Illustrious Type-218SG (Invincible) class submarines intended for the Singapore Navy took place.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Singapore, the event was attended by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and other officials.
After launching, the submarines will undergo a series of sea trials and other tests, after which they will be sent to Singapore in 2023.
During the ceremony, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Singapore-based ST Engineering also signed a cooperation agreement that covers warranty service, as well as support for all NAPS during operation.
As reported by TSAMTO, in December 2013, the Ministry of Defense of Singapore signed a contract with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems for the supply of the first pair of new Type-218SG class submarines, which were supposed to be transferred to the country's Navy in 2021 and 2022. The cost of the order and other details of the contract were not disclosed.
In May 2017, the Ministry of Defense of Singapore signed a contract with TKMS for the construction of two additional Type-218SG class submarines in Germany. The agreement also includes crew training in Germany and related logistical support. The second pair of submarines should be delivered starting from 2024.
The first steel cutting ceremony for the first two submarines took place on June 24, 2015. Steel cutting for additional NAPS began in January 2018. The first two new Type-218SG submarines will replace the outdated Challenger-class submarines (formerly Siermen) built for the Swedish Navy in the 1960s and acquired by Singapore in the mid-1990s.
The launch of the lead submarine, Invincible, took place on February 18, 2019. It was originally planned to deliver to Singapore in 2021, but due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery was postponed to 2023. The other three NAPS, Impecable, Illustrious and Inimitable, are at different stages of construction.
The new NAPS were designed based on TKMS' experience in submarine development. They are adapted for use in the shallow tropical waters of Singapore, have a low acoustic signature, and can stay underwater for a long time.
According to available information, the length of the Type-218SG is 70 m, the width is 6.3 m, the displacement in the underwater position is about 2200 tons, the crew is 28 people. The submarine will be equipped with an improved air-independent power plant based on fuel cell technology, which will allow you to stay submerged 50% longer than existing Archer-class submarines. The maximum speed of the NAFL in the surface position is more than 10 knots, in the underwater position – more than 15 knots. Each NPL is armed with eight 533-mm torpedo tubes.
