Singapore Buys Two New Submarines

Singapore inked a contract with German defense contractor Thyssenkrupp Marine System GmBH to acquire two new Type 218SG submarines, the city-state's defense ministry said on Monday.



The ministry said the contract also includes a logistics package and a crew training arrangement in Germany.



The two new submarines are scheduled to be delivered from 2020. The ministry said the new vessels, together with two second-hand Archer-class submarines, will replace four aging Challenger-class submarines.



The Challenger-class submarines were built in the 1960s and will be progressively retired from service.



The replacement submarines will have significantly improved capabilities and be equipped with Air Independent Propulsion systems, the ministry said in a statement. (Cihan/Xinhua)