Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has signed an agreement
with Kockums for the supply of two Västergötland class submarines
to the RSN on 4 November 2005. Currently in
reserve with the Swedish Navy, the submarines will be transferred
to the RSN on completion of the modernisation
and conversion for operation in tropical waters. The submarines are
expected to enter service from 2010 and will replace some of the
Challenger class submarines. It is believed that the Challenger
class were purchased to develop the required submarine operations
expertise before selecting a modern class of submarines to replace
them, since all the boats are over 25 years old.
