Singapore lays down keel for second multirole combat vessel

A segment of Singapore's second MRCV seen here at the keel-laying ceremony on 27 January 2026. (Republic of Singapore Navy)

Singapore's ST Engineering Marine has carried out a keel-laying ceremony for its second multirole combat vessel (MRCV).

Keel for the vessel was laid down on 27 January, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) said in a statement released on the same day. Steel for this vessel was cut in April 2025.

The vessel is part of Singapore's six-ship MRCV programme that was ordered under a 2023 contract.

These ships will progressively replace the Victory‑class missile corvettes that have served the RSN since 1990.

The first MRCV, which underwent its launch ceremony in October 2025, will enter service as RSS Victory, indicating that the MRCVs will retain the names and pennant numbers of most of the original corvettes.

With a length of 150 m, a beam of 21 m, and displacing around 8,000 tonnes, the MRCV is the largest and most complex naval platform constructed in Singapore to date.

Designed from the outset as a mother ship for unmanned systems, the vessel can deploy and control a mix of unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles.

With an operating range of more than 7,000 n miles, which is twice that of the RSN's Formidable‑class frigates, the MRCV provides the service with the capacity to sustain far‑ranging and prolonged deployments.

The ship's combat systems suite features a Leonardo 76 mm Strales gun, Typhoon Mk 30‑C 30 mm remotely controlled weapon system, and a layered air‑defence fit comprising MICA and Aster surface‑to‑air missiles.

Although the RSN has yet to disclose the surface‑to‑surface missile selected for the class, it is expected to be the Blue Spear system jointly developed by Singapore and Israel.