The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is examining the possibility of acquiring larger multipurpose amphibious landing platform dock ships (LPDMs) for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen disclosed in parliament on 6 March.
The Republic of Singapore Navy currently operates a fleet of four Endurance-class LPDMs (Singapore Armed Forces).
Ng praised the performance of the city-state's current LPDM fleet in supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions in recent years.
"The SAF has also found the multirole landing ship tank [LST] to be an effective workhorse in our relief efforts, so whether it was to the Indian Ocean tsunami or the Northern Arabian Gulf, or whether it was to relief efforts elsewhere, they were found to be effective", Ng said during a parliamentary debate on Singapore's 2014 defence.
"We are therefore studying carefully the need for larger LSTs that can carry more helicopters as well as more cargo", he said. Ng also indicated that the RSN will acquire two more Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters.
The RSN currently operates a fleet of four Endurance-class multipurpose LPDMs which were commissioned between 2000 and 2001. Each of the 8,636-tonne full-load displacement vessels can accommodate two Super Puma helicopters on deck and carry up to 18 main battle tanks (MBTs).
The vessels were built by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine.
(Jane’s)
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