RSS STALWART MAKES IT FIVE

With a celebratory mood and much fanfare, the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) fifth frigate, RSS Stalwart, was launched by Mrs Wong Kan Seng, wife of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, at the Singapore Technologies Marine shipyard on 9 Dec.

RSS Stalwart is the fifth frigate to be launched. It will next embark on a series of harbour and sea trials.

Mr Wong, who officiated at the ceremony, said the frigates represent a "quantum leap" in the RSN's fighting capabilities.

"Highly capable and designed with stealth characteristics, the frigates' multi-dimensional war-fighting capabilities can be synergised with the combat capabilities of our air and land forces through the effective use of advance communications and information technology," he said.

"This enables the SAF to fight as an integrated and effective force in the modern battlefield. The frigates represent therefore, an integral element of the transformation of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to the 3rd Generation SAF."

The stealth frigates are equipped with advanced sensor and weapon systems including enhanced anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The ships' sophisticated sensor and weapon systems are currently undergoing shore-based integration testing while the ships are being built.

A key node in the network warfare concept for the 3G SAF, the frigates will enable the RSN to undertake a wide spectrum of missions and more effectively carry out its missions of defending Singapore and its vital Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs).

The frigate programme was set in motion in 2000, when the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) of France for the construction of six frigates for the RSN.

Under the technology transfer agreement, DCN designed and built the lead ship while the other five were built locally by Singapore Technologies Marine.

All six frigates are in various stages of construction. Four have already been launched and are now in the final phases of construction. The lead ship of the Formidable-class stealth frigates arrived in Singapore from France in July this year.

RSS Formidable is currently undergoing combat systems checkout, integration and testing. She is expected to be fully operational in 2007.

The Formidable-class frigates will replace the RSN's ageing missile gunboats, which have been in service for over 25 years.