Singapore defence prime ST Engineering announced that it has been awarded contracts by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to deliver a suite of uncrewed surface and underwater capabilities optimised for mine countermeasure (MCM) operations for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
The company said in a 7 May statement that the suite of uncrewed MCM systems will comprise a fleet of unmanned surface vessels (USV) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), as well as an associated command and control (C2) centre, which will be used to detect and eliminate underwater mines.
ST Engineering will also deliver a simulation system navy personnel to enhance their operational skills, allowing them to practise decision-making, refine operational techniques and execute dynamic MCM scenarios safely.
“The suite of MCM Unmanned Systems epitomises our capabilities in unmanned technology and our ability to provide strategic value in mission-critical applications,” said Low Jin Phang, President, Digital Systems at ST Engineering.
“Building on our success in delivering the Maritime Security Unmanned Surface Vessels for the RSN, we aim to push the boundaries of USVs and AUVs for MCM operations with AI, enabling real-time data analysis for faster, more informed decisions,” added Low. “We are excited to take this forward and remain committed to supporting MINDEF with cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational effectiveness and mission success.”
According to ST Engineering, the uncrewed MCM suite will be progressively delivered from 2027.
Faced with dwindling manpower resources and seeking a technological edge against potential adversaries, the RSN has committed to introducing new unmanned capabilities and is poised to phase out its mine-hunting ships in favour of uncrewed systems.
The interest in such capabilities was first articulated by Singapore defence minister Ng Eng Hen in July 2016, in which the RSN will seek to operationalise a fully MCM force, under wider efforts to enable the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to meet a projected 30% reduction in the pool of eligible conscripts by 2030.
by Jr Ng
