Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officiated the launch ceremony of two new Singaporean submarines in Kiel, Germany, on Tuesday (Dec. 13). The submarines
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officiated the launch ceremony of two new Singaporean submarines in Kiel, Germany, on Tuesday (Dec. 13). The submarines, Impeccable and Illustrious, are part of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) four Invincible-class submarines built by German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (tkMS).
PM Lee also mentioned that the fourth submarine, the Inimitable, would be launched in the near future. The ceremony was attended by Ho Ching, who served as the Lady Sponsor, a traditional role often held by the spouse of the officiating officer.
Pandemic Challenges Overcome
“Although we had to scale down the ceremonial aspects due to Covid-19, we didn’t let the pandemic delay the work on these submarines,” PM Lee said during the launch. He praised the personnel from RSN, Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), and tkMS for working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep the project on track.
The Invincible-class submarines are specifically designed for Singapore’s unique needs, allowing them to operate in shallow, tropical waters while maintaining agility and stealth. Mindef noted that these submarines come equipped with advanced analytical tools that alert operators to potential collisions and ensure heightened situational awareness.
Maritime Importance
PM Lee emphasized Singapore’s reliance on maritime trade for prosperity and survival. He underscored the crucial role of the RSN in safeguarding the country’s sea lines of communication. “Submarines provide the RSN with enhanced capabilities to protect our maritime interests,” he said.
He also noted the collaboration between Singaporean defence scientists and tkMS in modifying the German Type-214 submarine design to meet Singapore’s operational requirements. The result is a submarine designed to function with a smaller crew, reflecting Singapore’s population constraints.
“These submarines, classified as Type-218SG, are made in Germany but uniquely Singaporean!” said PM Lee.
Strategic Partnership with Germany
During his visit, PM Lee met with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to reaffirm the long-standing and strong ties between Singapore and Germany, particularly in the areas of defence and economic cooperation. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen their strategic partnership in addressing global challenges.
Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen also met with German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht in Berlin, where both affirmed their commitment to bolstering bilateral defence cooperation, particularly under the 2018 enhanced Defence Cooperation agreement between the two countries.
ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit
Following his visit to Germany, PM Lee is headed to Brussels, Belgium, to attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit on Dec. 14, which marks 45 years of dialogue relations between ASEAN and the EU. Leaders from both regions are set to discuss ways to further strengthen their partnership.
Top Image via Lee Hsien Loong/Facebook.
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