Details of Singapore’s MRCV emerge from the shadowsPublished on 14/05/2025
By Gordon Arthur
A detailed MRCV scale model was showcased on the Saab booth at IMDEX Asia 2025. Picture by Xavier Vavasseur.For the first time, accurate scale models of Singapore’s new Multirole Combat Vessel (MRCV) have been shown. Both ST Engineering, which is building the MRCV, and Saab, which designed the vessel, exhibited respective scale models at IMDEX 2025, a naval exhibition held in Singapore from 6-8 May.
Story by Gordon Arthur, additional reporting by Xavier Vavasseur
Whilst ST Engineering was coy about divulging anything about the new class of six vessels that are optimised to act as motherships for unmanned systems, details could be gleaned from the models.
The hull features twin superstructures, including an integrated mast forward, that are separated by a raised deck amidships that can accommodate mission modules.
Lars Kaddik, Product Sales Responsible, Marketing & Sales at Saab Kockums, confirmed that his company will furnish the integrated mast that is made from carbon fibre composite material, just as it did with the Littoral Mission Vessels (LMV) that were commissioned from 2017-20. The mast contains four panels for an active electronically scanned array radar.
MRCV composite superstructure’s model on the Saab booth at IMDEX Asia 2025. Picture by Xavier Vavasseur.Carbon fibre composite is up to 50% lighter than steel, is corrosion-proof, stealthier than a steel equivalent, and it provides insulation for equipment inside the mast. It also reduces top weight on the ship, an important factor to improve hull stability.
However, the mast structure still weighs some 60 tonnes, so they cannot be delivered from Sweden in one piece. Instead, they will be dispatched as flatpacks, and then assembled by ST Engineering in Singapore.
At the bow is a 76mm naval gun by Leonardo in STRALES configuration, and behind it 4×8-cell vertical launch systems for missiles. Naval News understands these will host a combination of Aster and VL MICA NG family of missiles by MBDA. On the models there was no evidence of Blue Spear anti-ship missiles but these are also expected to arm the class.A bulbous bow suggests a sonar will be fitted there. Two remote-controlled weapon stations are situated diagonally opposite each other above the hangar compartment. Two multirole acoustic stabilised systems from Sitep Italia will also be integrated to act as a nonlethal weapon option aboard each MRCV.
The EO/IR suite and decoy launchers are set to be provided by Safran while Thales is set to supply the SeaFire multifunction radar (same type as the one fitted on the French FDI frigates).
Close-up view of the MRCV scale model on the ST Engineering booth at IMDEX Asia 2025. Picture by Alex Luck.
At the stern is a large flight deck coupled to a hangar, sufficient to accommodate a Super Puma-sized helicopter. Beneath that are twin stern ramps where unmanned vessels and rigid-hulled inflatable boats can embark/disembark via a launch and recovery system that will mimic that on the LMV (but in a larger variant in order to accommodate the VENUS 19 series of USVs).
While the RSN has already operationalised its MARSEC unmanned surface vessels, a different and newer type is expected to be incorporated onto the MRCV by the time they are commissioned.
Naval News can confirm that the
MRCV is 150 meters long, has a beam of 21.04 meters and a draught of 5.7 meters. Furthermore, its full load displacement is 8,400 tonnes and its maximum speed 24 knots thanks to twin screws. It will feature an advanced propulsion system in IFEP (integrated full electric propulsion) configuration, with electric motors by GE Vernova and diesel by M.A.N. This configuration is future proof and is particularly suite to accommodate future, power-hungry systems such as directed energy weapons.Each MRCV can accommodate 160 persons, but presumably it can operate with a lean complement much smaller than this. This figure should include personnel to operate various unmanned systems and helicopters.
As the RSN has stated previously, “The new MRCVs will function as ‘motherships’, capable of controlling unmanned assets across the air, surface and underwater domains.”
ST Engineering Marine cut steel for the first MRCV at its Gul shipyard on 8 March 2024, and laid its keel last October. Steel was cut on the second-in-class on 24 April 2025. Naval News learned that the first MRCV should be launched later this year, and it is scheduled to join the fleet in 2028. During a visit to ST Engineering’s Benoi shipyard last week, Naval News could see the first hull almost fully assembled with just a part of the stern missing.
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence announced on 27 March 2023 that ST Engineering had been awarded the contract for detailed design and construction of the six MRCVs. Saab partnered with Odense Maritime Technology (OMT) in Denmark to jointly develop the MRCV’s basic design. Thus, it does not have any link to ST Engineering’s own proprietary Vanguard frigate designs.
Screenshot of a video animation shown on OMT’s booth at IMDEX Asia 2025.The MRCV will incorporate best-of-breed design and technology features from vessels like Singapore’s LMVs. For example, these feature an integrated command centre, which combines bridge, engineering and combat control roles into one space. It is expected the MRCV will opt for the same arrangement since it contributes to leaner manning. The combat management system and AI solutions will be provided by ST Engineering and will be specifically designed for the needs of the RSN.
The RSN is one of the leading navies worldwide in terms of applying unmanned systems and autonomy into military platforms. ST Engineering said the vessels will “harness the ‘multiplier effect’ of digital technologies to meet the RSN’s requirements for faster, more efficient operations”.
The MRCVs will replace six 595-tonne Victory-class missile corvettes within the RSN.
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/imdex-asia-2025/2025/05/details-of-singapores-mrcv-emerge-from-the-shadows/
