Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced during the Ministry of Defence’s (MINDEF) budget debate on 3 March that the country will procure new military equipment and upgrades to some of its existing hardware as part of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) initiative to address the rapidly changing global security landscape.
These include plans to acquire two additional submarines, and new infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) with counter-drone capabilities, as well as replace its ageing maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) in the coming years.
The fleet of four Invincible-class diesel-electric submarines earlier acquired for the Republic of Singapore Navy will be augmented by two more new boats to better enable the service to optimise deployment and maintenance rotations among the submarine force.
“Submarines are subjected to more rigorous and frequent maintenance cycles with stringent checks, as you can imagine, as they need to operate under intense pressure, literally…and this is why most Navies that operate submarines have more than four – Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam – to name a few of our close neighbours,” said Ng.
“Having proven that the Invincible-class submarines can perform to expectations in tropical waters, the SAF plans to procure two more submarines, to make up a total of six, as the steady state for our submarine fleet,” he added, noting that the first four boats will be operational by around 2028.
A new IFV will be acquired for the Singapore Army, which is currently operating the 8×8 Terrex infantry carrier vehicle. According to Ng, the new IFV will feature improved firepower in the form of a remotely operated turret armed with a 30mm cannon as well as counter-drone capabilities. Meanwhile, the service’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) will also be upgraded to incorporate newer and more capable rockets.
The Fokker-50 MPAs operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) since 1993 will also be replaced by a new platform, with contenders including the Airbus C295 and Boeing P-8A Poseidon being evaluated.
MINDEF has estimated its spending for the 2025 financial year at approximately S$23.4 billion, representing a 12.4 percent increase from the previous year. Ng explained that this rise is attributed to the ministry working to overcome delays and disruptions in projects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that expenditures are expected to decrease starting in FY2026, aiming to stay within 3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the next decade.
by Jr Ng
