The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) announced on 2 April that its first-of-class frigate RSS Formidable successfully fired an Aster 15 surface-to-air missile (SAM) in waters near Toulon, France.
Story by Gordon Arthur, additional reporting by Xavier Vavasseur
The missile intercepted and neutralised a Banshee aerial target drone, with a photo showing the damaged aircraft released by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
“This was an important opportunity for the RSN to hone our high-end warfighting capabilities, and validate the readiness of our systems.”
Singapore’s MINDEF
Operations in places like the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have demonstrated how integrated air defence is vital, against the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles launched by Houthis in Yemen. This test thus demonstrated the ship’s operational readiness against aerial threats in complex environments.
Adding gravitas to the live-fire exercise, both Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Sean Wat and Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Kwan Hon Chuong were aboard RSS Formidable during the missile launch.
The test came during Wat’s working visit to Toulon. He met with the Marine Nationale’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, and opportunities for continued cooperation were one subject of discussion.
The French defense procurement agency (DGA) and the French Navy (Marine Nationale) supported the RSN, as RSS Formidable spent nearly a month in France. In a message on LinkedIn, the DGA said this was a major test conducted by the Mediterranean site of the DGA Missile Testing Center as well as other DGA experts and with the collaboration of the French Navy. “A comprehensive system including the deployment of an aerial target, followed by a successful interception. A strategic partnership spanning 60 years: this test embodies the dynamic cooperation between France and Singapore. This success was also marked by an official visit by Singaporean authorities to the French Defense Procurement Agency’s Levant Island site, highlighting the importance of this cooperation and French technological excellence.” the DGA added.
Launched from a 32-cell Sylver vertical launch system, Aster SAMs form the main armament of Singapore’s six-strong Formidable class. Aster firings while not unusual, are quite rare. The 3,200-tonne frigate RSS Stalwart simultaneously fired two Asters at separate targets at last year’s RIMPAC exercise, marking a new milestone for the RSN.
ST Engineering, in conjunction with Naval Group Far East, is modernising the frigates. A midlife upgrade contract award from the MINDEF was announced on 14 December 2023, and the first vessel is believed to have commenced its upgrade last year.
The midlife upgrade is more than an “addition and alteration”, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament back in 2022. Ng added, “After the upgrade, the frigates’ combat capabilities will increase and be equipped with better combat management and communications systems, upgraded weapon systems, along with improved maintenance processes.”
The MINDEF said the programme covers an advanced command-and-control system that incorporates new technologies and improved sensors; enhanced combat systems including weapons and communications; and improved operational readiness via a data analytics-based fleet management system that collates and disseminates the ship health status for pre-emptive engineering works.
It is likely that frigate systems will end up with some degree of commonality with the navy’s new Multirole Combat Vessels (MRCV). Furthermore, their existing Harpoons will be replaced by the Proteus Blue Spear anti-ship missile. Their inclusion almost doubles the frigates’ offensive reach. The first frigate is expected to complete its upgrade in 2028.
About Formidable-class frigates
The Formidable-class frigates are a class of stealth frigates operated by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The program was initiated in the late 1990s as part of Singapore’s effort to modernize its naval fleet and improve its surface combatant capabilities. Developed in collaboration with the French shipbuilder Naval Group (formerly DCNS), the design is based on the La Fayette-class frigate, but modified to meet Singapore’s specific operational requirements.
A total of six ships were built for the RSN. The lead ship, RSS Formidable, was launched in 2004 and commissioned in 2007, with the remaining ships entering service by 2009. Construction was split between France and Singapore; the first ship was built in France, while the remaining five were constructed by Singapore Technologies Marine.
General Specifications:
- Displacement: ~3,200 tonnes (full load)
- Length: ~114.8 meters
- Beam: ~16.3 meters
- Draft: ~6 meters
- Propulsion: Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD), 4 × MTU diesel engines
- Speed: ~27 knots
- Range: ~4,000 nautical miles at 15 knots
- Crew: Around 70–90 personnel
Armament and Systems:
- Missiles:
- 8 × Harpoon anti-ship missiles
- 32-cell Sylver VLS for Aster surface-to-air missiles
- Guns:
- 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm main gun
- 2 × 25 mm remote weapon stations
- Torpedoes:
- 2 × triple torpedo launchers for lightweight torpedoes
- Sensors and Combat Systems:
- Thales Herakles 3D surveillance radar
- Towed array and hull-mounted sonar
- Integrated Combat Management System (CMS)
- Aviation:
- Flight deck and hangar for one medium helicopter (e.g., Sikorsky S-70B)
The Formidable-class is designed for multi-role operations, including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, and serves as the principal surface combatant in the RSN.
