Wednesday, June 06, 2007
After the morning's rehearsal, the rest of the day we had a visit the the Navy's new proud and mighty Changi Naval Base. At least we got to rest on the long ride from one end of Singapore to the next. We got to tour around the big LST (Landing Ship Tank), the biggest vessel in the RSN, and also got to see the formidable class frigate docked. It's appearances really fitted it's mighty name!
The ship has stealth characteristics, with a RCS (radar cross section) of a small boat. It has an advanced radar, which provides 3D surveillance up to 250 kilometres and is integrated with the MBDA Aster air defence system and can intercept incoming missiles and air-craft.
The frigates are equipped with Boeing Harpoon missiles and Oto Melara 76 mm guns for surface defence.
The frigates will be equipped with Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopters, an international derivative of the United States Navy SH-60B Seahawk. The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in January 2005 to acquire six of these helicopters, which will be organic to the frigates.
These naval helicopters are equipped with anti-surface and anti-submarine combat systems, extending the ship's own surveillance and over-the-horizon targeting and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The naval helicopters will be raised as a squadron in the Republic of Singapore Air Force and piloted by air force pilots, but the system operators will be from the Navy. The naval helicopters are projected for delivery between 2008 and 2010.
At least the Navy seem to know where to spend it's money! It's got a very nice and lavish Navy Command building, 6 new frigates, 4 vastergotland class submarines and 4 LSTs not to mention the missile gunboats and covettes. The Navy has stealth technology even before the Air-Force! And we're supposed to be the most technologically advanced Arm in the SAF? But we viewed a very nice movie about the Navy and I thought the presentation was very well done.
2:44 AM
