Singapore Frigate RSS Stalwart Launches Aster Surface-to-Air Missiles at RIMPAC 2024

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — At present, over 25,000 military personnel from all three branches of the armed forces across 29 nations are participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise in the waters around Hawaii.

The Singapore Navy has deployed the Formidable-class frigate RSS Stalwart to engage in the RIMPAC 2024 exercise, which will conclude on August 2, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Defence.

During the RIMPAC 2024 exercise, the Formidable-class frigate RSS Stalwart successfully launched Aster surface-to-air missiles at two high-speed drone targets, marking a significant achievement for the Singapore Navy.

Quoted by Singapore’s media, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tan, commanding officer of the RSS Stalwart, stated that the successful simultaneous launch of Aster missiles against the high-speed drone targets highlights the accuracy and effectiveness of the Singapore Navy’s air defense system.

Military Expert (ME) Vijayan Manimaran of the Singapore Navy emphasized that coordinating the simultaneous launch of two missiles at targets requires expertise in timing and synchronization, testing the readiness of the RSS Stalwart’s crew and its combat systems.

 

The frigate’s crew underwent extensive training and simulations to hone their skills in procedures and response times, according to a weapons systems supervisor on the warship.

The involvement of Singapore Navy personnel in the RIMPAC 2024 exercise began a month ago, with the RSS Stalwart sailing thousands of nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean from Singapore to Hawaii.

During the journey to Hawaii, the RSS Stalwart participated in several exercises alongside warships from Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and the United States.

While transiting between Guam and Hawaii, the warship engaged in various drills, including maneuvers and communications, gunnery exercises, anti-submarine warfare, and air defense simulations, according to the Singapore Ministry of Defence.

This marks the Singapore Navy’s ninth participation in RIMPAC, the world’s largest maritime exercise.

 

Hosted by the United States Navy, RIMPAC 2024 aims to foster cooperation and readiness among participating nations. A total of 40 warships, three submarines, 14 land contingents, and 150 aircraft are involved in this year’s exercise, which began on June 28.

The RSS Stalwart is one of six Formidable-class frigates operated by the Singapore Navy.

Its weapon systems include a 32-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS) capable of launching Aster-15 surface-to-air missiles, which can intercept targets up to 3km away.

In addition to the Aster-15 missiles, the Formidable-class frigate is equipped with a 76mm main gun, two Rafael Typhoon 25mm guns, six 324mm torpedo tubes, and RGM-84F Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

However, the Singapore Navy has begun replacing the Harpoon anti-ship missiles with the Blue Spear anti-ship missiles, developed by Singapore and Israel’s defense firms.

 

The Blue Spear missile is a collaborative development between Singapore’s ST Engineering and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), through a joint venture called Proteus Advanced Systems, which designs, develops, and markets the missile.

Classified as a fifth-generation anti-ship/land attack missile, the Blue Spear, or Gabriel V, is designed to meet the needs of smaller nations with limited human resources to operate various missile platforms for both naval and land forces.

 The Blue Spear missile can be launched from warships and land platforms by army units, offering cost savings in maintenance and training for the personnel operating the system.

The fifth-generation Blue Spear missile has an effective range of 290km and is a subsonic, radar-guided missile with Beyond-Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) capabilities. — DSA