The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)’s main surface combatant fleet of six Mighty-class frigates will undergo a mid-cycle upgrade after 15 years of service, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on March 2.
The 114-meter frigate, which was commissioned between 2007 and 2009, will be equipped with an enhanced command and control system, employing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and improved sensors, allowing its crew to detect and respond to potential threats more quickly. Upgrades will also be provided for the ships’ weapons and communications systems.
While MINDEF did not provide details on the weapons upgrade, there has been speculation that the Blue Spear, a new anti-ship missile jointly developed by Singapore’s ST Engineering and Israel’s IAI but sold globally by a joint venture called Proteus Advanced Systems, could be the Boeing RGM to replace the frigate -84C Harpoon, a weapon first introduced in the early 1980s.
Their communications systems will also be updated to improve networking with the wider Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), while a fleet management system will be incorporated to collect platform and combat system usage data for preventive maintenance to improve readiness condition.
The upgrade will be carried out in partnership with the Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and DSO National Laboratories.
“Since the first frigates entered service in 2007, these frigates have pushed the RSN’s operational reach into all dimensions of the maritime domain – air, surface and underwater,” MINDEF said.
Between 2013 and 2015, the frigates were upgraded with Thales STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 radars and electro-optical fire control guides and Rafael Mk 38 Mod 2 Typhoon 25mm guns.
The STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 system is designed to detect and track targets in dense environments, such as coastal waters, and provide fire control for the frigate’s Oto Melara 76/62 Super Rapid main battery.
by Jr Ng
