ST Engineering Lays Keel for Singapore Navy’s Second Victory-Class Multi-Role Combat Vessel.

Singapore advanced its naval modernization effort on January 27, 2026, as ST Engineering laid the keel for the Republic of Singapore Navy’s second Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessel. The milestone reinforces Singapore’s push toward modular, automated, and uncrewed naval operations designed to keep its fleet relevant through the 2040s.

ST Engineering has laid the keel for the second Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessel, marking another key step in Singapore’s long-term naval transformation program, according to statements from the company and the Ministry of Defence. The vessel is part of a six-ship class ordered under a 2023 MINDEF contract. It is intended to replace aging surface combatants while introducing a more flexible, digitally driven approach to maritime operations for the Republic of Singapore Navy.
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Keel laying ceremony for the second Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) at ST Engineering's shipyard on January 27, 2026, marking a key milestone in Singapore’s next-generation naval modernization program. The MRCV fleet is being developed for the Republic of Singapore Navy in partnership with DSTA, DSO National Laboratories, and international naval technology companies. (Picture source: ST Engineering)

The Victory-class MRCV (Multi-Role Combat Vessel) is not merely a replacement for legacy platforms; it is the centerpiece of Singapore’s future naval strategy. Built with a mission-first, crew-light philosophy, the MRCV project represents a radical departure from traditional shipbuilding and force structure models. The vessels are being developed domestically by ST Engineering in close partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and DSO National Laboratories, with foreign design and systems architecture support provided by Saab Kockums of Sweden and Odense Maritime Technology of Denmark.

Revealed publicly in 2018, the MRCV design process began in response to three converging pressures: the obsolescence of the Victory-class missile corvettes introduced in the late 1980s; the shift toward uncrewed and distributed maritime operations; and the strategic imperative to defend vital sea lanes near the Malacca Strait and South China Sea under increasingly contested conditions. The first vessel’s keel was laid in 2023, and the class is scheduled for phased commissioning between 2028 and 2030.

At 150 meters long with a displacement of approximately 8,000 tonnes, the MRCVs are by far the largest and most capable surface combatants ever built in Singapore. Despite their size, the ships are designed to operate with fewer than 100 crew members, thanks to deep digitalization and an advanced ship automation architecture that governs everything from power distribution to damage control. ST Engineering has embedded a ship-wide digital backbone from the keel up, allowing the vessel to adapt to evolving mission profiles and integrate future systems through software-defined capabilities.

The vessels are designed to fulfill dual roles: conventional combat and unmanned systems command and control. Each MRCV acts as a floating hub for autonomous vehicles operating across multiple domains, including uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). This capability is enabled by a dedicated mission bay, stern launch-and-recovery systems, and integrated control interfaces, placing Singapore among the few navies globally to operationalize proper unmanned integration at the combatant level.

The class’s combat systems include a 32-cell Vertical Launch System capable of firing Aster 15/30 and VL MICA NG surface-to-air missiles, offering robust area and point air defense. Thales provides the core radar suite, including the Sea Fire Multi-Function Radar for high-end surveillance and fire control, while Safran delivers the electro-optical targeting systems. Hull-mounted sonar supports baseline ASW operations, while modular payload options are expected to include towed sonar and deployable unmanned ASW assets in future blocks.

On the surface warfare side, the ship’s main gun is the STRALES 76mm guided gun system, augmented by two Mk-30c 30mm remote weapon stations. Anti-ship missile systems remain classified, but likely options include updated variants of the Blue Spear or other indigenous missile solutions, housed in deck-mounted canister launchers. The design's flexibility enables containerized payloads and rapid role-switching between surface strike, ASW, maritime security, and disaster relief.

A full-length flight deck and enclosed hangar provide capacity for medium-lift naval helicopters, such as the Sikorsky S-70B, and large vertical take-off UAVs. The vessel’s aviation facilities are built to support rotary-wing and autonomous aerial operations simultaneously - a key capability for extended reach and real-time ISR in Singapore’s expansive maritime domain.

Beyond hardware, the MRCV program reflects Singapore’s strategic shift toward smarter, smaller crews and persistent maritime presence. By fusing digital infrastructure with automation and unmanned systems, the RSN aims to maintain operational tempo with a reduced workforce – a critical requirement given Singapore’s demographic constraints and workforce ceiling. The platform’s low lifecycle workforce footprint also enhances its affordability and sustainability over time, offering long-term operational flexibility without compromising combat effectiveness.

The MRCV also plays a central role in the RSN’s broader transformation under the "Next Generation RSN" vision. This initiative focuses on modularity, network-centric warfare, and high-tech force multipliers. The MRCV’s ability to operate seamlessly within a joint C4ISR architecture ensures real-time connectivity with other Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) assets, enabling synchronized operations across domains. Whether operating as a standalone surface combatant or as part of a larger distributed maritime task force, the MRCV is engineered for resilience, adaptability, and rapid mission turnaround.

Singapore’s choice to design and build these vessels domestically, with international collaboration, is also notable. It enhances sovereign defense capabilities, stimulates local industrial growth, and positions ST Engineering as a high-end naval constructor in the Asia-Pacific defense market. The successful construction of the first and second hulls within program timelines suggests that the RSN will begin fielding its future fleet as scheduled – with significant implications for maritime power balances in Southeast Asia.

With rising geopolitical friction in nearby waters and the increasing risk of grey-zone maritime conflict, the Victory-class MRCVs offer Singapore a flexible, technologically superior means to safeguard its sea lines of communication and respond to emerging hybrid threats. As the keel for the second ship is set and construction accelerates, Singapore is not just building warships – it is building a new operational paradigm for naval warfare in the Indo-Pacific.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.