I believe there are a couple of misunderstanding of RSN in this
current thread. And here is my 2 cents worth:
RSN decision to purchase the Sjoormens:
1. The Sjoormen SSKs are not junk. They are good return on
investment.
The ex- Royal swedish SSKs were relatively afforable compared to
the new SSK. The Swedes were ready to send the SSK to the junkyard
and melt them as scrap metals. They are still relatively modern
SSKs considering that the Swedes upgraded them all in the late
80s/early 90s with a cut-down version of the A17 combat system.
Kockum modernised them further with the tropicalisation program as
well as upgrading some other systems including the combat system (I
read something about the SSK upgrade program in either the Kockum
website or a defence technology web site).
2. Not justifiable to purchase SSk yet.
With the cost of a current new SSK at around 300 million USD or
more, it is very expensive to acquire new subs these days. 300
million will almost buy you a squadron of F-16C/Ds (a F-16C Block
52 cost about 25mil each). Buying 4 new SSKs will cost more than
1.2 billion USD . That is a very hefty price to pay using the
tax-payers money. Given RSN did not much sub-surface warfare skills
and experience, the immediate steps is to build these experience
and skills up first. Buying new SSKs and using them for training
purposes half their life is not wise to use up some much money. RSN
also does not have a very big purse. The money saved is perhaps
evidence in the acquiring of the very advanced stealth Delta
frigates. This, to me is money better spent. RSN already posses
significant experience and skills in surface warfare.
3. Not ready to specify SSK requirements.
RSN does not have to experience to set the requirements for a SSK
fleet purchase. As the local environment differs significantly from
that of the Baltics or the Mediterranean, simply buying either the
Swedish A19, German U212 or even the French Scorpene SSKs are silly
and unwise. RSN, and in fact all branches of the Singapore Armed
Forces, have very good practice of specifying exactly what
requirements they want when they purchase new equipments. They have
to meet the specific needs of the armed forces. Similarly,
purchasing a fleet of new SSKs would require RSN to have
significant knowledge about the theatre of operation for their
subs. Not having operated any submarines since the inception of the
RSN, it is wiser to acquire such skills and experience from old
subs, then they are in the position of being able to know what they
need and how they will use the subs.
4. Politcial reasons.
As we have all witness, getting 4 old subs already generated silly
comments from the then Indo president Gus Dus. Had RSN purchased 4
new SSKs, I think other neighours might join in the chorus. RSN and
in fact Singapore, does not want to be seen obtaining significant
capabilities especially when those capabilities can be viewed as
offensive by others. Singapore would rather wait out for Malaysia
to acquire new SSKs before embarking to purchase new SSKs
ourselves. The policies also filter through to the delayed
deployment of the F16s, Apaches, etc. RSN also did not purchase any
frigates until RMN has their Leikus. This is a wise decision as by
the time, RMN has their SSKs delievered, RSN would have significant
sub warfare capabilities. I would dare to say that the RSN SSKs
would be more potent that RMN SSKs. This can only be proven during
war-games. Don't forget that Royal Australian Navy have, on a few
occassions, penetrated USN carrier battle group and "sunk" US
carriers with their SSKs. Australian SSKs (even the Collin class)
is by no means more advanced than the USN SSNs like the Improved
Los Angeles class. The RAN sub crews skills plus the smart way of
operating, the yet fully capable Collin class subs, enabled them to
defeat more modern subs. Training is very very important. When RSN
submariners have acquired significant skills, then RSN is ready to
acquire modern SSKs.
With these reasons, I cannot agree more with the Sjoormen
purchases. I think it is a very wise and carefully thought of
decision.
Now, on the issue on Delta frigates replacing the MGBs, it is only
an official statement but by no mean reflect what is really going
on in RSN. The MGBs is nearly 40 years old. Even after the early 90
upgrades, they have shown significant ageing and is time for
retirement. At the same time, RSN needs to upgrade their
capabilities especially in anti-air and anti-surface warfares. It
is both a natural maturing of RSN plus the significant increased
threat in the reason that prompted the pruchasing of the Deltas. As
discussed before, the money RSN would have saved purchasing the
Sjoormens instead of 4 new SSKs would mean that the limited budget
could be spent on getting 6 proven Stealth frigates. The plan to
acquire up to 8 NGPVs where shelf because of some unexplained
issues, which I personally believe is because of the sales of
Kockum, plus the fact that Visby is still not operational yet
whereas LaFayette is. I also suspected that the French are more
willingly to share their Stealth technologies with Singapore.
The Deltas were not built as a direct replacement of the MGBs.
Rather, the retirement of the MGBs and the introduction of the
Deltas were designed to conincide because of limited manpower in
RSN. RSN cannot afford to add extra Navy personels to man the new
frigates without retiring the MGBs crews.
The operation doctrine of the MGBs and the Deltas will be so
different. The armed escort role and the more fast attack guerrilla
tactics employed by the MGBs will be taken over by the MCVs whereas
the Deltas will replace the MCVs as the core/central of the main
strike Flotilla. It will be tasked primary for anti-air,
anti-surface and anti-subsurface roles with other strikes vessels
supporting the Deltas.
I still believe that RSN should acquire another 6 stealth corvettes
to supplement the Victory class. My ideal would be a 6 vessels from
ST Marine 81m Stealth OPVs, Israeli Saar 5 or a German Meko 100
variant.
As for the (A)PVs, they were never built as Fast Attack crafts.
Heck, their top speed is not even 30kts. They are built as a
glorified patrol crafts as a replacement of the old patrol vessels
in RSN. They also have significant war-fighting capabilities (a
very capable Elta /M-2228(X) radar and combat system onboard. The
Fearless class are fitted for but not with the Grabriel SSMs.
During war-time, the 4 Gabriel launchers would be quickly fitted to
each Fearless ship to add significant war-fighting capabilities.
Furthermore, RSN built the Fearless as a offshore Patrol vessel
first, and war-fighting ship second and not the other way
round.
Ok, I have written so much about RSN. Any comment welcome 
