Singapore (VNA) – The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will roll out a new fleet of unmanned vessels from 2027 to detect and neutralise underwater mines, as part of its efforts to modernise naval capabilities and secure vital maritime routes.
The unmanned mine countermeasure (MCM) systems will be supplied by local technology and engineering firm ST Engineering, which announced on May 7 that it had secured contracts from the Ministry of Defence to deliver the new capabilities.
The suite of systems comprises MCM unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and command and control (C2) infrastructure.
ST Engineering said the unmanned systems will be equipped with advanced sensors and secure communication networks, allowing operators to detect and neutralise naval mines from a safe distance.
Data will be transmitted in real time to the C2 Centre, where missions can be monitored and controlled remotely, either from shore or a mothership, it said.
The Singaporean Ministry of Defence, in a separate statement on May 7, said the MCM USVs will carry key payloads such as towed synthetic aperture sonars to detect mines and remotely controlled mine neutralisation systems. They will also feature autonomous navigation systems that incorporate a locally developed collision detection and avoidance algorithm, enabling them to operate safely in the busy Singapore Strait.
Scheduled for progressive delivery from 2027 onwards, these capabilities will enhance the RSN's ability to respond to evolving maritime security threats, the ministry noted.
ST Engineering said it will also supply a simulation system to train navy personnel in a safe, controlled environment.
Underwater mines have long posed a threat to maritime nations like Singapore, as they are relatively inexpensive to deploy but can severely disrupt military and commercial shipping.
The RSN's four Bedok-class MCM vessels underwent a midlife upgrade in 2014 to enhance their mine detection and disposal capabilities.
In 2021, the RSN successfully demonstrated that USVs could remotely detect and neutralise underwater threats./.
