The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has taken delivery of its second Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV), the country's ministry of defence confirmed with IHS Jane's on 19 December.
The 80 m platform, which will be the future RSS Sovereignty (16), was handed over on 7 December, and is berthed at the RSN's Tuas Naval Base for further systems tests that will lead up to its commissioning in 2017.
Sovereignty was launched in April 2016 at ST Marine's shipyard in Benoi. The platform is part of a January 2013 contract awarded by Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to ST Marine to replace the RSN's 11 Fearless-class patrol boats with eight LMVs.
The vessel features a full load displacement of 1,250 tonnes, an overall beam of 80 m, and a hull draught of 3 m. The LMV features top speeds of in excess of 27 kt, and an endurance of 14 days.
Sovereignty is armed with one Oto Melara 76 mm main gun, two Oto Melara Hitrole 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon stations (one each on the port and starboard sides), and a Rafael 25 mm Typhoon gun system located at the aft section.
The LMV is protected against hostile aircraft and precision-guided munitions by a 12-cell vertical launching system (VLS), which can deploy MBDA's VL Mica anti-air missiles, in the forward section.
Sovereignty is expected to be fully operational by 2017.
(Jane's)