"Littoral Ships" for Singapore Navy

 Littoral Mission Vessels (LMV) for Singapore Navy (image : ST Marine)

Magazine "International Defence Review" article Kelvin Wong "Taking Shape: The Republic of Singapore Navy's Littoral Mission Vessel" gives details about the new multi-purpose patrol ships to be constructed for the Navy Singapore. Total Singapore plans to build eight such ships, called Littoral Mission Vessels (LMV), with commissioning in 2016 and 2020 to replace the current 11 small 500-ton patrol ships of Fearless.


Design and construction korrabley LMV provides Shipbuilding Division State Association Singapore Technologies - Company ST Marine, direct construction will be carried out at its shipyard Benoi Yard. In designing the assistance rendered the German association ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), to develop, in particular, composite superstructure of the ship.

LMV type ships will have total displacement of 1,200 tons, a length of 80 m and a width of 12 m Power plant of the two diesel engines MTU 20V 4000 M93L capacity of 11,532 hp provide maximum speed of 27 knots. Cruising range will be 5,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots.

Dual-band radar antenna generic detection Thales NS 100 AFAR, planned for installation on new ships such as Singapore LMV (photo : Thales)

In the middle of the ship is located a vast landing area, providing basing antisubmarine helicopter Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk, placed in the stern two-speed semi-rigid boats with rapid descent and ascent. Under the helipad reserved space to accommodate different modular payload. LMV crew will be only 30 people, which can accommodate 30 more.

Basic armament LMV in the patrol version includes tanks 76mm automatic gun mount Oto Melara Super Rapid, two 25-mm remotely controlled turret guns (presumably, Rafael Typhoon) and two 12.7mm remotely controlled machine gun turrets Oto Melara HITROLE . Apparently, the reserved space to accommodate SAM and SCRC. The ships will be equipped with new radar generic detection Thales NS (Naval Smarter) 100 AFAR operating in S-and X-bands and installed in the integrated mast and receive electro-optical fire control system and production Sagem satellite communication system Airbus Defence and Space SCOTPatrol.

(VPK)