don't think there is a +1 sub. There is no need since they can still use the Challenger as training subs (no need to commission to do that).

The challengers are really the oldest ships in the sinkie fleet. After this, only the Victory class & Bedoks class are "old" @ 30-36 years each but the MCMV roles already assumed by the LMVs so there is unlikely to be a 1-1 replacement. The replacement for the Victory class already in production (MRCV).

It might surprise people to know that the sinkie fleet is as large or larger than the UK Royal Navy in terms of numbers today (excepting the 2 CVs & 4 SSBNs). If the sinkies build the JMMS as CVLs, then they will also match another factor. RN has dropped to only 6 DDGs & 8 FFGs of which they have difficulty manning the fleet and keeping these operational. This especially as the UK defense budget is more than 5x that of sinkie.

https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/...20150703003.pdf
sinkie well known to pack a lot of capabilities into every hull. LMV no exception. Add an S70 that has a secondary mine-hunting role.

In terms of USV, LMV won't sport venus sized USVs (that will be the new MRCVs). Instead its more like Meredith/Mercury minehunting AUVs (see write up below).

https://www.stengg.com/en/defence/sea/unman...le-mercury-auv/
https://www.stengg.com/getmedia/6f265a6f-96...tsheet?ext=.pdf

Not sure which David you are referring to but the concept of escort is passe. A CVE is a vessel to escort other vessels, not just a vessel to be escorted. But again, if one looks at numbers, sinkie navy will have more fleet escorts than the UK RN CVs.

Former US Marine Corps captain Dan Grazier has watched the development of the F-35 program for almost two decades in his role as a Military Fellow for US Defence spending watchdog, the Project on Government Oversight.

He says the jet has failed to deliver on promised capabilities.

“The F-35 program right now is certainly a program in trouble," Mr Grazier said.

“The last acting Secretary of Defence under the Trump administration, in a kind of parting shot in his final week … he essentially called the F-35 a piece of shit.

“The F-35 is not ready for war… I would absolutely call the F-35 a lemon.”

https://federal.governmentcareer.com.au/arc...issues-continue
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_C._Miller

Singapore and Germany are signing a strategic partnership agreement


A key plank of the partnership is defence collaboration.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/g...olz-mfa-4754506

Possible equipment involved could include upgrade of the leo2sg to the leo2A8 standard (note: Sgs old Amx 13 tanks were upgraded at least twice), development and purchase of a future Panther MBT, Type 212cd submarines (Type 219Sg ), etc.


Panther KF51 MBT


Type 212CD submarine


Leopard 2A8 MBT

ST Engineering marked a new milestone in its International Defence business with a strategic agreement with Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE). ST Engineering will collaborate with KPE to set up in-country production capability for a new 8×8 amphibious multi-purpose armoured vehicle. This includes engineering and technical support for the design and production of the vehicle, based on ST Engineering’s field-tested Terrex Infantry Fighting Vehicle, capable of operating effectively in open water conditions.

^ Type 218Sg submarines. Sg retires 2 submarines and she goes on to buy 2 new ones. So Sg will have 6 Type 218Sg Invincible class + 2 Archer class submarines going into the 2030s.

To note:

1) The 5th and 6th Type 218Sg submarines will have the latest German submarine tech to date. For e.g. Germany has successfully trialed new lithion ion batteries on an older Type 212a submarine (RSN will of course assess if this makes any positive difference as the Type 218Sgs are already using powerful and advance AIP engines) : https://thedefensepost.com/2024/10/17/thyss...ery-german-sub/

2) Thanks to Sgs DSTA, the Type 218Sg submarines are modular and built with upgrades and expansion in mind. For e.g. the technologies installed on the 3th and 4th Type 218Sg submarines were retrofitted into the 1st and 2nd Type 218Sg submarines. Hence, the technologies on the 5th and 6th Type 218sg submarines will be retrofitted on the earlier 4 Type 218Sg submarines. See my previous post:

https://defence-industry.eu/singapore-partn...yt9dwc7PU_OYBhA

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the 12th edition of the Joint Military Training (JMT) at Kalaikunda Air Force Station, India, from 21 October to 6 December 2024. The JMT serves as a platform for aircrew and ground crew from both air forces to hone their operational skills and strengthen defence relations through joint high-end training, including in air combat. The bilateral phase, which was held from 13 to 22 November 2024, aimed to enhance defence cooperation between the two air forces. The RSAF participated with eight F-15SGs, eight F-16s, one G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft, and over 300 personnel. They trained alongside the IAF’s Rafale and Su-30 MKI.

Highlighting the significance of the RSAF’s participation in this year’s JMT, the RSAF’s Exercise Air Director, Colonel Jonavan Ang said, “The RSAF is participating in Joint Military Training 2024 with the inaugural participation of our F-15SG fighter aircraft. The RSAF values the opportunity to train alongside our counterparts from India and the friendship built amongst the exercise participants, which underscores the strong and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and India.”

Established in 2008, the JMT has been conducted under the ambit of the Air Force Bilateral Agreement, signed in 2007 and renewed in 2023. Beyond the JMT, both air forces also interact regularly through visits, cross-attendance of courses, and other professional exchanges. At the recent 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in New Delhi on 22 October 2024, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh reaffirmed the excellent bilateral defence ties between both countries.

really funny if the ADA class goes into service earlier than LCS...really topkek

The new MOU will focus on enhancing the capabilities of a weapon control system to address emerging and asymmetric threats. It includes exploring the development of a decision support tool to quicken the engagement response time, as well as tapping on smart ammunition technology to maximise system effectiveness against such threats.

“Having exploited the flexibility and robustness of the NGDS design, which is capable to accommodate a variety of countermeasures of different calibres and firing (rocket and mortar) solutions, we have been looking back to the experience we acquired with TETRAL and SADRAL products with MBDA to develop a solution that can be offered in a short timeframe to our existing customers as an upgrade of current NGDS, or as a new product capable to combine both hard-kill and soft-kill systems,” the Safran representative said. This without the need of adding new weapon systems on already crowded ship superstructures.

It should be this as Sgs RSN uses the Safran NGDS:




https://www.edrmagazine.eu/safran-unveils-n...ill-combination
This will allow RSN to install Mistral 3 missiles on the NGDS decoy rocket launchers as a hard kill solution against inexpensive assymetric threats.

Alternatively the Mistral 3 missiles can be attached to the 25/30mm CIWS systems on RSN ships.

The new modification consists in fitting four Mistral 3 short-range surface to air missiles on each side of the NGDS launcher, meaning a single NGDS can deploy a up to 8 ready-to-fire missiles. So-called “first rank” vessels of the French Navy are typically fitted with two NGDS launchers: With this upgrade, Safran (and MBDA) could provide the Marine Nationale (and existing users of the NGDS such as the Republic of Singapore Navy) with a rather simple solution to adopt RAM-like CIWS or point-defense missile systems (PDMS) consisting in a total of 16 missiles. The Mistral 3 missile has an operational range of up to 8 Km (but has demonstrated an interception of a UAV at a range of 12 Km during a test campaign in Spain). It is able to intercept sea-skimming anti-ship missiles as well as surface targets such as FIAC and USV.

IDAS system is the world's first missile which gives submarines the capability to engage air threats whilst submerged, and the first tube-launched missile that does not emerge in a capsule, but is fired directly from the torpedo tubes