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Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean sailed
with the RSS Formidable from Changi Naval Base this morning. |
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The lead ship of the Republic of Singapore
Navy's (RSN) Formidable-class stealth frigates returned to Singapore on
8 Jul 05 from France where she was built by Direction des Constructions
Navales (DCN). |
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Mr Teo was briefed on the advanced
capabilities and operational concept of the ship, as well as on the
various shipboard systems, weapons and sensors on board, including the
indigenously built Combat Management System (CMS). |
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The state-of-the-art CMS was jointly
developed by RSN with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)
and DSO National Laboratories. |
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It is the nerve centre of the frigate's
integrated combat suite. Designed with embedded intelligence for command
and control, contact evaluation, track management, threat prioritisation
as well as weapon alignment, the CMS provides a high level of
integration, decision support, automation and a network-centric
architecture for the frigates. |
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The return of Formidable enhances the RSN's
capabilities to undertake a wide spectrum of operations in carrying out
its mission of defending Singapore and its vital Sea Lines of
Communications (SLOCs) more effectively. The frigates will significantly
bolster the RSN¡¯s fleet of warships and be at the forefront of
maintaining maritime security in the waters around Singapore. The
frigates are an important asset of the 3G SAF. |
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Mr Teo was accompanied by Chief of Navy RADM
Ronnie Tay and other senior MINDEF officials and SAF officers. |
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Doorstop interview with Minister Teo
during his visit to RSS Formidable |
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Q: Sir,
how would you envision it would enhance the operational capabilities of
the RSN? |
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A: Well,
the Formidable represents also one of the transformational capabilities
of the SAF because what you see on the surface of it is a ship but the
most important part of the ship is really the combat systems. She's able
to network with other ships, aircraft, her own helicopter and shore
facilities so she's really a node in the whole network warfare concept
we are developing for the SAF. |
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Q: Sir,
how important is the role of supporting agencies such as DSTA, ST Marine
and DSO in bringing the ship operational? |
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A:
They are playing a very important role in the technology content. As
you know, ST Marine is building five of the ships here in the yard
in Singapore. And DSTA and DSO also have a very heavy technology
content in the ship. The combat management system for example, is
being developed in Singapore and that¡¯s really the brains of the
ship, the whole brains of the ship around which the whole combat
systems and the whole concept of network warfare revolves. |
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Facsheet: |
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In March 2000, MINDEF signed a contract
with Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) of France for the
construction of six frigates for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
Under the technology transfer arrangement, DCN will design and build
the first ship while the remaining five will be built locally by
Singapore Technologies Marine. The six new frigates will replace the
RSN's Missile Gunboats which would have been in service for more
than 30 years. |
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STATUS OF FORMIDABLE - First of
Class |
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After completing her construction in
Lorient, Formidable underwent a series of intensive platform trials
in the waters of France from the end of last year. |
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Upon successful completion of sea
trials, she departed Lorient in May 05 and made a 12,000 nautical
mile voyage through challenging sea conditions in the Atlantic and
Indian Oceans to arrive in Changi Naval Base on 8 Jul 05. |
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Formidable's platform and navigational
systems are operational and the crew has completed their shore
training and initial work-up training at sea. The ship is currently
undergoing Combat Systems checkout, integration and testing. She is
expected to be fully operational in 2007. |
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Source:
www.mindef.gov.sg News
Release 5 Aug 2005 |
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Related article: |
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Navy launches first locally built frigate on 3
Jul 2004 |
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RSN receives first of six new frigates
