Prime Minister Wong commissions Singapore's first Invincible-class submarines, RSS Invincible & RSS Impeccable.

According to information published by the Mindef Singapore on September 24, 2024, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong officiated the commissioning of the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) first two Invincible-class submarines, RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable, at a ceremony held at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base.
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Commissioning ceremony of the Invincible-class submarine RSS Invincible. (Picture source: Singapore Navy)

The event was attended by Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

The newly commissioned submarines are now fully operational, enhancing Singapore’s maritime defense capabilities. Together with the RSN’s existing fleet, these submarines will support a wide range of operations, safeguarding Singapore's waters, protecting vital sea lines of communication, and contributing to regional peace and security. Built in Kiel, Germany, the Invincible-class submarines are custom-designed for operations in Singapore’s shallow and congested tropical waters. Their advanced features include high levels of automation, enhanced underwater endurance, and significant payload capacity.

In addition to the RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable, two more submarines—RSS Illustrious and RSS Inimitable—are currently under development in Germany and are expected to join the fleet by 2028.

Technical data

The Invincible-class submarines have a surfaced displacement of 2,000 tons and increase to 2,200 tons when submerged. Measuring 70 meters in length with a beam of 6.3 meters, they are powered by a combination of diesel-electric propulsion and air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems. The submarines are equipped with two 120 kW PEM fuel cells.

They can reach speeds of up to 10 knots while surfaced and 20 knots when submerged. With an endurance of 28 to 42 days underwater without snorkeling, the submarines can remain submerged for extended periods. Each submarine operates with a complement of 28 personnel.

The Invincible-class is fitted with advanced sensors and combat systems, including a Combat Management System (CMS) developed by Atlas Elektronik and ST Electronics, as well as decision-support systems from DSTA. In terms of armament, they are equipped with eight 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of launching heavyweight torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and deploying naval mines.