Singapore’s fourth Invincible-class submarine officially named

The fourth Type 218SG or Invincible-class diesel-electric submarine ordered by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) was officially named in a ceremony at the facilities of Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) on Monday, April 22.

As with its three earlier sisters, the future RSS Inimitable is a variant of the Type 214 submarine that Germany had originally developed for the export market.

TKMS said the design of the Type 218SG boats is based on a low signature. An air-independent propulsion system gives the boats long underwater endurance.

Upon completion, each Invincible-class boat will have a length of 70 metres and a displacement of approximately 2,000 tonnes. Armament will include torpedoes, mines, and anti-ship missiles.

The future Inimitable will be delivered to the RSN in 2025 after intensive testing. Following the submarine’s naming ceremony, TKMS and Singapore’s ST Engineering entered into a memorandum of understanding for the provision of technical support for all five Invincible-class boats over their operational lifetimes.