RSS Fortitude, RSS Dauntless and RSS Fearless joined five other LMVs to replace the ageing Fearless-class patrol vessels, which have been in service for more than 20 years.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mrs Teo congratulated the RSN and her partners for the successful completion and operationalisation of all eight LMVs within a short span of just four and a half years since the launch of the first LMV, saying that this was an outstanding feat. She also commended the RSN's ability to turn constraints into opportunity, successfully achieving significant manpower savings.
This was so given Singapore's reliance on the maritime trade and its susceptibility to a range of maritime threats, from piracy to terrorist attacks.
"We have even more reasons to take pride in the vessels because they are quintessentially Singaporean, being designed and built in Singapore by Singaporeans, for Singaporeans," she said.
Mrs Teo, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, said the LMVs are a testament to Singapore's determination to defend its way of life despite its constraints.
The vessels will also protect Singapore’s sea lines of communication to promote regional peace and security.
Designed and built locally, the littoral vessels are fast, mission-flexible ships fitted with advanced radars and sensors.
Maritime Business World