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The '''''Formidable''-class''' multi-role [[Stealth ship|stealth frigates]] are multi-mission derivatives of the [[French Navy]]'s {{sclass|La Fayette|frigate}} in service with the [[Republic of Singapore Navy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Formidable Frigate |work=DCNS |url=http://www.dcn.fr/us/offre/batiments_surface/formidable.html |access-date=2007-05-28 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070513074135/http://www.dcn.fr/us/offre/batiments_surface/formidable.html|archive-date = 2007-05-13}}</ref> The six ships form the First Flotilla of the Navy.
==Planning and acquisition==
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===Armament===
The frigates are equipped with [[Boeing Harpoon]] missiles and [[OTO Melara 76 mm|Oto Melara 76 mm guns]] for surface defence. The Harpoon missile has a range of {{convert|130|km|nmi|abbr=on}} and uses active radar guidance. It is armed with a {{convert|227|kg|lb|abbr=on|adj=on}} warhead. There is space for as many as 24 Harpoon missiles at the center of ship making it the most well armed ship of its class.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Boey |first1=David |title=Republic of Singapore Navy Formidable-class stealth frigates display upgraded capabilities at Navy Open House 2013 |url=http://kementah.blogspot.com/2013/05/republic-of-singapore-navy-formidable_19.html |website=Senang Diri|date=19 May 2013 }}</ref> The gun fires {{convert|6|kg|lb|abbr=on|adj=on}} shells to a maximum range of {{convert|30|km|yd|abbr=on}} at a firing rate of up to 120 rounds per minute.
The frigates are also equipped with the [[EDO Corporation]] active low frequency towed sonar to enable long range submarine detection and classification, as well as [[EuroTorp]] [[A244-S|A244/S Mod 3]] lightweight torpedoes fired from two B515 triple-tube launchers hidden behind the bulwark.
The frigates are equipped with [[Sikorsky S-70]]B naval helicopters, an international derivative of the [[United States Navy]] [[Sikorsky 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Republic of Singapore Navy Acquires Six New Naval Helicopters|work=Sikorsky Corporation|url=http://www.sikorsky.com/vgn-ext-templating-SIK/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=00de6eb78fa78110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextchannel=96d99a93bc298110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&pressvcmid=9fbda96c2e289110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD&keyword=Singapore&dateFrom=null&dateTo=null&model=null&business=null&matchCriteria=null&matchKeyword=any&fromSearchPage=true&businessIndex=null&=modelIndex=null#|access-date=2010-11-22|archive-date=26 May 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526050253/https://www.webcitation.org/6AGcVc4vF?url=http://www.sikorsky.com/vgn-ext-templating-SIK/v/index.jsp%3Fvgnextoid=00de6eb78fa78110VgnVCM1000001382000aRCRD|url-status=dead}}</ref> Each of these naval helicopters are equipped with a [http://www.telephonics.com/ Telephonics] [[List of radars#AN/APS Series|AN/APS-143 ''Ocean Eye'']] [[X-band]] maritime surveillance and tracking radar,<ref name="APS">{{Cite web |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/jetds/an-apr2aps.html |title=Designation-Systems.net: AN/APR to AN/APS - Equipment Listing |access-date=3 May 2010 |archive-date=12 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612031233/http://designation-systems.net/usmilav/jetds/an-apr2aps.html |url-status=live }}</ref> a [[L-3 Communications]] Helicopter Long Range Active Sonar ([[HELRAS]]) dipping sonar, EuroTorp A244/S Mod 3 torpedoes and a [[Raytheon]] AAS-44 electro-optic system to provide infrared detection and tracking.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Moss|first=Trefor|date=March 2010|title=Helicopters return to Singapore following integration training|journal=Jane's Navy International}}</ref> 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.
==Mid-life upgrades==
On 5 May 2023, the Ministry of Defence of Singapore announced plans to update the capabilities of the Formidable class frigates in order to maintain technological edge. <ref>{{cite web |title=Fact Sheet: Mid-life Upgrades to Formidable-class Frigates |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2022/March/02mar22_fs2 |access-date=29 Jun 2024}}</ref> On 14 December 2023, ST Engineering announced a contract was received for the upgrade which it expects to complete by 2028.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fact ST Engineering Awarded Contract for Mid-Life Upgrade of Formidable-class Frigates |url=https://www.stengg.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/st-engineering-awarded-contract-for-mid-life-upgrade-of-formidable-class-frigates/ |access-date=29 Jun 2024}}</ref> A related contract was announced by [[Naval Group]] on 2 May 2024 to support the upgrade as partners of ST Marine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naval Group signed a contract with ST Engineering Marine Ltd for the upgrade of the Formidable class frigates |url=https://www.naval-group.com/en/naval-group-signed-contract-st-engineering-marine-ltd-upgrade-formidable-class-frigates/ |access-date=29 Jun 2024}}</ref>
==Ships in class==
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The six frigates form the 185 Squadron of the RSN.
RSS ''Formidable'' participated in [[Malabar 2007|Exercise Malabar 07-2]] in September 2007, a Theater Security Cooperation engagement involving the navies of the United States, India, Australia, Japan and Singapore.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 2007|title=Kitty Hawk, Allies Complete Malabar Exercise|work=United States Navy|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=31737|access-date=2008-04-12|archive-date=21 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021074945/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=31737|url-status=
[[File:RSS Formidable-20191014-05.jpg|thumb|VLS and Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid gun]]
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RSS ''Intrepid'' conducted the navy's inaugural live firing of the French-made Aster 15 surface-to-air missile on 2 April 2008, off the French coast of Toulon.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 2008|title=Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean Witnesses Inaugural Aster Missile Live Firing|work=MINDEF|url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2008/apr/03apr08_nr.html|access-date=2008-04-03|archive-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703062357/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2008/apr/03apr08_nr.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The frigate successfully shot down an aerial drone simulating an enemy target with an Aster missile. It was reported that the frigate sailed halfway round the world to test fire the Aster missiles due to the crowded air and sealanes around Singapore and the lack of an instrumented firing range needed by defence engineers to track and measure the performance of the Aster missile.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Boey|title=S'pore Navy's first surface-to-air missile firing a success|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=2008-04-03}}</ref>
RSS ''Steadfast'' participated in the world's largest multilateral naval exercise [[RIMPAC]] for the first time from 27 June to 31 July 2008, which involved 20,000 personnel from 10 countries operating over 35 ships, six submarines and over 150 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 2008|title=RIMPAC Touted as Largest Maritime Exercise in the World|work=United States Navy|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38312|access-date=2008-08-06|archive-date=5 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205152600/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38312|url-status=
On 16 November 2009, the Republic of Singapore Air Force established its Peace Triton Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk Naval Helicopter detachment at the USN Maritime Strike Weapons School in San Diego, California to undertake qualification and operational training under the umbrella of the USN's SH-60F Aircraft Qualification Course. RSS ''Stalwart'' was deployed to southern California to support ship/air integration activities.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Scott|first=Richard|date=November 2009|title=Singapore establishes 'Peace Triton' helicopter training unit in US|journal=Jane's Navy International}}</ref> On 25 March 2010, the Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean announced that the Seahawk integration programme had successfully concluded with a "high-tempo, week-long exercise" involving assets from both the RSN and USN, including five surface ships, a submarine, maritime patrol aircraft and F/A-18 Hornet combat jets.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Moss|first=Trefor|date=March 2010|title=Singapore's Seahawk integration programme concludes successfully|journal=Jane's Navy International}}</ref>
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In December 2014, RSS ''Supreme'' was deployed in the search for [[Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501|Airasia Flight QZ8501]] after it crashed into the Java Sea on 28 December 2014; along with RSS ''Valour'', RSS ''Persistence'', RSS ''Kallang'', MV ''Swift Rescue'', and two [[Lockheed C-130H Hercules]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Singapore sends 5th navy ship for AirAsia QZ8501 search |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore-sends-5th-navy/1560480.html |newspaper=[[Channel NewsAsia|CNA]] |date=31 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106043157/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore-sends-5th-navy/1560480.html |archive-date=6 January 2015}}</ref>
On 26 July 2021, RSS ''Intrepid'' conducted a passage exercise with HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'', the flagship of [[United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21]] and her escort ships, together with RSS ''Unity'' and RSS ''Resolution'', marking the first time the RSN has conducted an exercise with a UK Carrier Strike Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lim |first=Min Zhang |date=2021-07-27 |title=British carrier strike group conducts passage exercise with Singapore navy |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/british-carrier-strike-group-conducts-passage-exercise-with-singapore-navy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.
On 2 March 2022, MINDEF announced plans to upgrade the Formidable class frigate as part of its plans for a modernized, next generation SAF 2040. This entails comprehensive upgrades to all of its subsystems, including armament, combat systems and communications equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lim |first=Min Zhang |date=2 March 2022 |title=Budget debate: Singapore navy's frigates to be upgraded with better combat system |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/budget-debate-singapore-navys-frigates-to-be-upgraded-with-better-combat-system |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.
From 1 to 7 November 2022, RSS Formidable participated in the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force's 70th anniversary International Fleet Review in Yokosuka, Japan alongside 38 other ships from 13 countries. During the visit, the crew participated in a city parade marching alongside other navies as well as participating in the review sail-past by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. RSS Formidable was also included in a multilateral search and rescue exercise conducted by the JMSDF.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singapore |first1=MINDEF |date=7 November 2022 |title=Singapore Navy Participates in International Fleet Review in Japan |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2022/November/07nov22_nr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.
== See also ==
*[[Thaon di Revel-class offshore patrol vessel|Thaon di Revel-class]] frigates (Italy)
*{{sclass|Kang Ding|frigate|1}} (Taiwan)
*{{sclass|Tamandaré|frigate|1}} (Brazil)
==References==
{{Reflist|2|colwidth=30em}}
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web |author1=<!--not stated--> |title=Punching above its weight – up close with the Singaporean Navy |url=https://www.navylookout.com/punching-above-its-weight-up-close-with-the-singaporean-navy/ |website=Navy Lookout |access-date=6 May 2025 |date=5 May 2025}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
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