The ''Archer-class'' submarines are a class of two diesel-electric

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

s in active service with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Originally launched as the

Swedish Navy The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet () – as well as marine units, the Amphibious Corps (). In Swedish, vessels o ...

submarines HSwMS ''Hälsingland'' and HSwMS ''Västergötland'' in 1986 and 1987, the two submarines were sold to

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

in November 2005 and relaunched in June 2009 and October 2010 respectively after extensive modernisation by

Kockums Saab Kockums AB is a shipyard headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, owned by the Swedish defence company Saab Group. Saab Kockums AB is further operational in Muskö, Docksta, and Karlskrona. While having a history of civil vessel construction, Koc ...

, which included a refit to standards, the insertion of a new hull section with an

air independent propulsion Air-independent propulsion (AIP), or air-independent power, is any marine propulsion technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (by surfacing or using a snorkel). AIP can augment or replace the ...

system, and additional climatisation for use in tropical waters.

History

Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) signed an agreement with

for the supply of two ''Archer''-class (formerly ''Västergötland''-class) submarines to the RSN on 4 November 2005. More than 20 years old and previously in reserve with the Swedish Navy, the submarines were transferred to the RSN on completion of the modernisation and conversion for operation in tropical waters. RSS ''Archer'' was launched on 16 June 2009. RSS ''Archer'' underwent sea trials following its launch and is now operational. The second submarine, RSS ''Swordsman'', was launched on 20 October 2010. The ''Archer''-class submarines entered service in 2013 and replaced RSS ''Challenger'' and RSS ''Centurion'' of the ''Challenger'' class that were retired in 2015.

Design and construction

The ''Archer''-class submarines were designed and built by Kockums AB as single-hull, double compartment submarines optimised to reduce noise and magnetic signature. The two pressure-tight compartments also enhance safety and survivability of the crew. The submarines were designed to operate in the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea and are therefore also optimised for operation in Singapore waters, which have similar depth profiles. The ''Archer''-class submarines are also equipped with

Stirling Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...

AIP engines. This enables the submarines to have longer submerged endurance and lower noise signature, enhancing the stealth capability of the submarines. The advanced sonar system allows the submarines to detect contacts at a further distance, while the torpedo system has a better target acquisition capability, which allows the submarines to engage contacts at a longer range.

Notes

External links

MINDEF - Singapore Navy Launches Its First Archer-Class Submarine

Official Kockums website on the Archer class submarines

Kockum's AIP Sterling system
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Archer class submarine Submarine classes Singapore–Sweden relations

History

Design and construction

See also

Notes

External links