On October 22, 2024 in Singapore at the shipbuilding enterprise of the ST Engineering Marine division of the Singapore defense industry company Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd. (ST Engineering) an official laying ceremony was held for the head of a promising "multi-purpose combat ship" (actually a large frigate) under the Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) program of six ordered for the Singapore Navy. The ceremony of the first steel cutting for the lead ship took place at ST Engineering Marine on March 8, 2024, and its commissioning is scheduled for 2028.
The ceremony of the official laying of the foundation stone at the shipbuilding enterprise of the ST Engineering Marine division of the Singapore defense industry company Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd. (ST Engineering) the head of a promising "multi-purpose combat ship" (actually a large frigate) under the Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) program of six ordered for the Singapore Navy, 10/22/2024 (c) Singapore Navy
In March 2023, ST Engineering Marine received a contract from the Ministry of National Defense of Singapore for the technical design and construction of six promising large multi-purpose ships (frigates) for the Singapore Navy under the Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) program. Earlier, the Singapore Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swedish Saab AB group on the joint development and design of the MRCV ship for the Singapore Navy.
The six MRCV ships are to replace the 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 by the German company Fr. Lürssen Werft.
The MRCV ships for the Singapore Navy were designed based on the well-known multi-purpose frigates of the Iver Huitfeldt / Absalon types by the Danish company Odense Maritime Technology (OMT), which acted as a subcontractor for the design. The Swedish Saab AB Group, represented by its shipbuilding division Saab Cockums, is the general contractor for the design of MRCV ships and their system integrator.
A special feature of the design of MRCV ships is their claimed ability to act as a floating base ship for a range of surface, underwater and aerial unmanned systems placed on board, as well as carrying containerized payloads. The MRCV ships will be large units with a standard displacement of at least 8000 tons, with a steel hull and superstructures made of composite materials. The ships will have an integrated electric power plant with diesel generators and all-power electric motors. A high degree of automation should limit the crew to 80 people.
The armament of the MRCV ship should consist of ST Engineering / IAI Blue Spear anti-ship missiles, the Thales Sea Fire integrated radar complex with MBDA Aster 30B1NT and VL MICA anti-aircraft guided missiles, the 76 mm Leonardo Oto Super Rapid universal artillery installation with the Strales guided weapons complex, two remotely controlled small-caliber artillery installations, 324 mm torpedo tubes, The Safran NGDS firing jamming system, as well as a Seahawk-class helicopter permanently based. 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.
A render image of a promising "multi-purpose warship" (actually a large frigate) according to the Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) program Singapore Navy (c) Singapore Navy
