ENHANCING RSN'S SUBMARINE CAPABILITY - RSS ARCHER COMMISSIONED

To better safeguard Singapore's interest, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will steadily build a modern naval force with strong capabilities in surface and anti-air warfare, and the strengthening of its submarine capability will allow the RSN to better exploit the underwater dimension in maritime operations.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said this on 2 Dec when he officiated at the commissioning ceremony of the RSS Archer, the first of two Archer-class submarines of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Held at Changi Naval Base, the commissioning marked the successful operationalisation of RSS Archer, which will enable the RSN to undertake more complex and sophisticated maritime operations.

Dr Ng said: "As the lead boat of her class of submarines for the RSN, RSS Archer significantly enhances the RSN's submarine capability and will strengthen our ability to contribute to the peace and stability of our region."

Since its acquisition from the Royal Swedish Navy in 2005, the RSS Archer, an ex-Royal Swedish Navy Vaastergotland-class submarine, has been upgraded, refurbished and tropicalised for peak performance in the waters around Singapore.

New fittings include advanced sonar, torpedo and periscope systems, as well as an Air Independent Propulsion module, which allows the submarine to stay underwater for a longer duration compared to her predecessors, the Challenger-class submarines. It boasts longer endurance, better stealth and greater fire power.

Since its return from Sweden, the RSS Archer has undergone intensive sea trials, which included a torpedo firing in local waters. Like the Challenger-class submarines, which have participated in over 20 bilateral and multilateral exercises, plans are also in the pipeline for the RSS Archer to participate in such exercises.

To ensure that his men were up to speed in operating the submarine, Cluster Chief of Underwater Weapons Military Expert (ME) 2 Victor Ong, who operates and maintains the torpedo systems on board RSS Archer, said his team spent extra hours reading up on electrical and electronic systems to familiarise themselves with the highly automated systems in the RSS Archer.

For LTC Jack Nyeo, Commanding Officer of the RSS Archer, the commissioning of the submarine signifies a milestone for the 3rd Generation Navy.

He said: "The most challenging aspect was the pace of our operationalisation. Within a short time, we had to check out the fittings of the submarine and validate our systems."

But their dedication and hard work have borne fruit. LTC Nyeo said: "We are (now) integrated into the warfighting system such that we contribute towards the safeguarding of our sea lines of communication."