RSS Invincible, the first class of Invincible-class submarine (photo : Ng Eng Hen)
The first submarine will return home later this year after completing sea trials. By decade’s end, all four Invincible-class submarines will be operational, enhancing the Navy’s capabilities to protect our interests at sea.
Singapore's Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) ordered four Type 218SG submarines - two in 2013 and two in 2017, as a replacement to the RSN's currently-serving Challenger-class and Archer-class submarines. The first submarine - RSS Invincible, was launched in February 2019, and is expected to be commissioned by 2022. The RSN plans to have all four submarines in active service by 2024.
The Invincible-class submarines, formally classified as the Type 218SG submarines, is a class of conventionally-powered attack submarines, ordered by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) from German-based naval conglomerate ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). The Type 218SG is an extensively-customised derivative of the export-oriented Type 214 submarine, with specific design characteristics drawn from Type 212 submarines. They feature several capabilities, including a substantial level of automation, a significant payload capacity, enhanced underwater endurance and superlative ergonomics.
(Ng Eng Hen | Wiki)