The Republic of Singapore Navy has taken delivery of its fifth Littoral Mission Vessel. Service will commission the vessel in 2018 and is on track to operate all eight ships in the class by 2020 (photo : Navy Recognition)
The ship, which will be in service as RSS Indomitable with pennant number 19 once commissioned, was handed over by ST Marine on 27 April. Indomitable is part of a contract for eight vessels signed between the shipbuilder and the Singaporean government in 2013.
The LMV's Integrated Mast was designed in collaboration with Saab Kockums (photo : Straits Times)
Indomitable was laid down in November 2016 and subsequently launched in September the following year. The lead LMV, RSS Independence (15), was commissioned in May 201, followed by RSS Sovereignty (16) and RSS Unity (17) in November the same year.
Fourth-in-class, Justice , was handed over to the RSN in November 2017, while the sixth ship, Fortitude , was launched in March 2018. The seventh and eighth vessels were laid down in October 2017 and April 2018 respectively.
One of the main features of the LMV is the 360degree view bridge, with the integrated command centre. (photo : Coffee and Bullets)
The Independence-class ships are progressively replacing the RSN's fleet of Fearless-class patrol vessels that have been in service since the mid-1990s. The LMV measures 80 m in length, 12 m in breadth, and has a hull draught of 3 m. Powered by four MTU 20V 4000 M93 engines in a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration, the 1,250-tonne warship has a top speed in excess of 27 kt and a standard range of 3,500 n miles (6,482 km) at 15 kt.
Each LMV has a baseline crew complement of 23 including five officers and has a mission endurance of 14 days.
(Jane's)