Singapore Defense Industry Company Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd. On March 27, 2023, ST Engineering announced that its shipbuilding division ST Engineering Marine had received a contract from the Ministry of National Defense of Singapore for the technical design and construction of six promising large multipurpose ships (frigates) for the Singapore Navy under the Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) program. The commissioning of the lead ship is scheduled for 2028.
Presentation image of a promising Singapore large multipurpose ship (frigate) of the Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) program (c) Ministry of National Defense of SingaporeDetails about the MRCV ship are not given in the ST Engineering press release, except for the statement that "the MRCV is designed to act as a floating base ship and will be able to control a range of manned and unmanned systems in a flexible, intuitive and integrated manner.
MRCV will be able to perform a wide range of tasks with maximum combat effectiveness."
Earlier on March 22, the Singapore Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swedish Saab AB group regarding the joint development and design of the MRCV ship for the Singapore Navy.
Six MRCV ships are to replace six small 600-ton 62-meter Victory-type missile corvettes in service with the Singapore Navy since 1990-1991, built according to the MGB 62 project of the German company Fr. Lürssen Werft.
According to the publication of the Naval News web resource, promising MRCV ships for the Singapore Navy are designed based on the well-known multi-purpose frigates of the Iver Huitfeldt / Absalon types of the Danish company Odense Maritime Technology (OMT). The Swedish Saab Group, represented by its shipbuilding division Saab Cockums, will act as a general contractor for the design of MRCV ships and their system integrator. The construction of all six units will be carried out in Singapore by ST Engineering Marine.
According to the data provided, the MRCV ships will be large units with a total displacement of about 10,000 tons. They will be equipped with an advanced electric power plant and an integrated Thales Sea Fire radar system with MBDA Aster and VL MICA anti-aircraft guided missiles. The design of the ships will ensure the placement of a containerized modular load, as well as the carrying on board of complexes of aircraft, surface and underwater unmanned vehicles.
