SM Teo visiting Germany for launch of Singapore's 4th Invincible-class submarine
The Invincible-class submarines are designed for operations in Singapore’s shallow and busy tropical waters, and feature an X-shaped stern rudder for more precise manoeuvres.
The new Invincible-class Type 218SG submarine Impeccable after its christening in Kiel, Germany on Dec 13, 2022. (Photo: AFP/Gregor Fischer)
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SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean is visiting Germany for the launch of the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) fourth Invincible-class submarine, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on Saturday (Apr 20).
Mr Teo, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, will make the working visit to Kiel and Berlin from Apr 21 to Apr 24.
He will officiate the launch of the submarine, named Inimitable, in Kiel and meet German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius.
While in Berlin, Mr Teo will meet German Federal Minister for Special Affairs and Head of the Chancellery Wolfgang Schmidt and other senior security officials.
They will discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and global developments, said PMO.
Mr Teo will be accompanied by Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How and officials from PMO, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In December 2022, the RSN launched the second and third of its new Invincible-class submarines, named Impeccable and Illustrious.
The first - Invincible - was launched in 2019 at a ceremony held at the TKMS shipyard in Kiel.
MINDEF previously said that the Invincible-class submarines are designed for operations in Singapore's shallow and busy tropical waters.
They feature an X-shaped stern rudder for more precise manoeuvres and their propulsion systems are based on fuel cell technology.
This allows them to stay submerged for about 50 per cent longer than the Archer-class submarines.
The 70m-long submarines also have a higher payload of eight torpedo tubes.
