MINDEF Signs Contract to Acquire Two Additional Invincible-Class Submarines

Chief Executive Officer thyssenkrupp Marine Systems Oliver Burkhard (left) and Chief Executive Defence Science and Technology Agency Ng Chad-Son (right), at the contract signing ceremony on 7 May 2025. Photo Credit: DSTA

The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH to acquire two additional Invincible-class submarines.  The procurement of two additional submarines was previously announced by the Minister for Defence at the Committee of Supply 2025.

These submarines are part of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)’s approach to long-term capability development. Customised by the Defence Science and Technology Agency for Singapore’s needs, the Invincible-class submarines are designed for operations in shallow and busy tropical waters, and to be leanly crewed by the RSN’s specialised submariners.

The acquisition of the two additional Invincible-class submarines further enhances the RSN’s ability to protect our sea lines of communication, with a steady state of six submarines for our submarine fleet.

The additional submarines are projected for delivery from 2034 as part of the RSN’s submarine force renewal programme to meet operational requirements. Two of the four existing Invincible-class submarines, RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable, have been commissioned in Sep 2024. The trials and acceptance for the third and fourth submarines, Illustrious and Inimitable are progressing well in Germany, and they are expected to return to Singapore by 2028.