Silent Killers In Shallow Waters: Singapore’s Deadly Submarine Fleet

By the end of this decade, Singapore’s deterrent capabilities will be multiplied with the coming into service of two refurbished Type A 17 Vastergotland-class attack submarines. The Vastergotland-class submarines are expected to enter the Republic of Singapore Navy service from 2010 and will replace some of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s
Challenger-class submarines. The submarines, Vastergotland and Halsingland, are being purchased at a cost of USD128 million from Sweden’s Kockums AB, the same company
that sold five Sjoormen-class submarines to Singapore in the mid-1990s. The sales agreement includes a logistics package, comprehensive training for the crews by the Swedish Navy in Karlskrona, weapon systems and sensor upgrades, and modifications for operation in tropical waters. The procurement of the submarines from Sweden is a result of the close relationship Singapore has with Sweden on submarine training and operations. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Singapore said that “we have a long co-operative relationship with Sweden in the area of submarines. We had purchased the Challenger-class submarines from Sweden for training and experience in operating submarines”.