Independence-class littoral mission vessel

The Independence-class littoral mission vessel (LMV) is a class of eight surface platforms that are slated to replace the Fearless-class patrol vessel of the Republic of Singapore Navy.

Not to be confused with Independence-class littoral combat ship.
Independence-class
Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV)
RSS Fortitude in the Singapore Straits
Class overview
Name: Independence class
Builders: ST Marine
Operators:  Republic of Singapore Navy
Preceded by: Fearless class
Planned: 8
Completed: 8
Active: 8
General characteristics
Type: Patrol vessel
Displacement: 1,200 tonnes (1,180 long tons; 1,320 short tons)
Length: 80 m (262 ft 6 in)
Beam: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draught: 3m
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • Maximum: 27 knots (50.0 km/h; 31.1 mph)
  • Cruising: 18 kn (33.3 km/h; 20.7 mph)
Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,560 km)
Complement: Up to 23 baseline crew, up to 30 mission crew
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:		 STELOP 360° all-round surveillance
Armament:
Aviation facilities: Helicopter deck for one medium-lift helicopter
Notes: Sources:[3][4]

Development

On 30 January 2013, MINDEF awarded ST Engineering a contract for the design and build of eight new vessels to replace the Fearless-class patrol vessels. ST Engineering announced that the group’s marine arm, ST Marine would be the lead system integrator and build the eight vessels at its Singapore Benoi Yard while the group’s electronics arm, ST Electronics, would supply the core combat systems and combat system integration solutions. The first vessel was planned for delivery in 2016 and all eight vessels will be fully operational by 2020.[5][6] The keel for the first vessel was laid at ST Marine's Benoi Yard on 11 September 2014, officiated by Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chan Yeng Kit.[7] A naming contest was held by MINDEF from 12 February 2015, and the winning names were announced by the Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen on 15 May 2015.[8]

Design

The Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) was jointly designed by Saab Kockums AB and ST Marine with Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) as the overall manager and systems integrator and was derived from Saab Kockum's FLEXpatrol multi-mission patrol vessel. The design of the LMV was guided by two specific requirements. Due to declining birth rates, manpower had been a critical concern for the Singapore Armed Forces and the design reflects attempts to increase the efficiency of a reduced manning crew from 30 to 23. This was achieved through increased levels of automation and remote monitoring. Another key feature is the Integrated Command Centre which combines the ship's bridge, combat information centre (CIC), and machinery control spaces. The other requirement reflected in the design of the LMV is the need to handle multiple roles, from low intensity conflicts to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations. The requirement is met through the ability to dynamically reconfigure the LMV through containerised mission packages. The LMV is also equipped with a unique, twin stern slipways from PALFinger Marine for the launch and recovery of RHIBs.[9]

Ships in class
Ship Pennant number Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
RSS Independence 15 ST Marine 11 September 2014 3 July 2015[10][11] 5 May 2017[12] Active, in service
RSS Sovereignty 16 14 May 2015 16 April 2016[13][14] 14 November 2017[15] Active, in service
RSS Unity 17 26 November 2015 13 October 2016[16][17] 14 November 2017[15] Active, in service
RSS Justice 18 26 May 2016 18 March 2017[18][19] 26 September 2018[20] Active, in service
RSS Indomitable 19 11 November 2016 23 September 2017[21][22] 26 September 2018[20] Active, in service
RSS Fortitude 20 26 May 2017 24 March 2018[23][24] 31 January 2020[25] Active, in service
RSS Dauntless 21 20 October 2017 18 August 2018[26][27] 31 January 2020[25] Active, in service
RSS Fearless 22 April 2018 26 January 2019[28][29] 31 January 2020[25] Active, in service

See also

References

Citations
  1. "MTU Diesel Engines Entrusted to Power Singapore's New Naval Fleet". MTU-online. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  2. "Sagem GFCS fire-control system wins major contract from Singapore Navy". Sagem. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. "Littoral Mission Vessel". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  4. "Singapore launches first Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel". Janes. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  5. "MINDEF Signs Contract with ST Engineering for the Construction of Eight New Vessels". 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  6. "ST ENGINEERING WINS NEWBUILD CONTRACT FOR EIGHT NAVAL VESSELS FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE NAVY". 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  7. "Keel Laying for the RSN's First Littoral Mission Vessel". 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  8. "RSN Announces Names of the New Littoral Mission Vessels". 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  9. "Singapore Navy takes 'quantum jump' in adding 2 more ships to service". 14 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 8 Sep 2018.
  10. "ST Marine celebrates the launch of the first Littoral Mission Vessel - Independence" (Press release). ST Marine. 3 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  11. "Smarter, Faster and Sharper: Singapore Navy Launches First Littoral Mission Vessel" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  12. "Singapore Navy's Golden Jubilee: PM Lee Commissions First Littoral Mission Vessel RSS Independence" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  13. "ST Marine celebrates the launch of the second Littoral Mission Vessel, Sovereignty" (Press release). ST Marine. 16 April 2016. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  14. "Singapore Navy Launches Second Littoral Mission Vessel, Taps on Technology to Safeguard Maritime Borders" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 16 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  15. "Singapore's Seaward Defence Strengthened with Commissioning of Two New Littoral Mission Vessels" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 14 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  16. "ST Marine celebrates the launch of the third Littoral Mission Vessel – Unity" (Press release). ST Marine. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  17. "Third Singapore-made Ship Launched: Littoral Mission Vessel Programme Progressing Well" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  18. "ST Marine Celebrates The Launch Of The Fourth Littoral Mission Vessel – Justice" (Press release). ST Marine. 18 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  19. "Singapore Navy Launches Fourth Littoral Mission Vessel" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 19 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  20. "RSN Opens its First Integrated Simulation Centre and Commissions Fourth and Fifth Littoral Mission Vessels" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 26 September 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  21. "ST Marine celebrates the launch of the fifth Littoral Mission Vessel – Indomitable" (Press release). ST Marine. 23 September 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  22. "Singapore Navy Launches Fifth Littoral Mission Vessel" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 23 September 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  23. "ST Marine Celebrates the Launch of the Sixth Littoral Mission Vessel, Fortitude" (Press release). ST Marine. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  24. "Singapore Navy Launches Sixth Littoral Mission Vessel, Fortitude" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  25. "Singapore Navy Commissions Final Three Littoral Mission Vessels" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  26. "ST Engineering's Marine Sector Launches the Seventh Littoral Mission Vessel, Dauntless" (Press release). ST Engineering. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  27. "Dauntless - Singapore Navy's Seventh Littoral Mission Vessel Launched" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 18 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  28. "ST Engineering Completes Eighth Warship Order For The Republic of Singapore Navy" (Press release). ST Engineering. 26 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  29. "Singapore Navy Launches Final Littoral Mission Vessel, Fearless" (Press release). Ministry of Defence of Singapore. 26 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
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