Singapore’s Blue Spear Missile Spotted Aboard RSS Steadfast Frigate

The first publicly available photographs confirming that IAI’s Blue Spear anti-ship missile has actually been fitted to the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Formidable-class frigate RSS Steadfast have surfaced. The images, taken by a Japanese observer after the frigate docked at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on August 19, show the missile canisters have replaced the ship’s legacy Harpoon launchers in its amidships weapons bay.

At a Glance

Platform: Republic of Singapore Navy Formidable-class frigate RSS Steadfast.
Missile: Blue Spear, marketed by Proteus Advanced Systems, a joint venture between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Singapore’s ST Engineering.
Range: approximately 290 km — more than double the roughly 130 km range of the Harpoon it replaces.
Program: part of the Formidable-class Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU).
Capability: beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) strike against both sea and land targets.
Confirmation: this is the first concrete photographic evidence of the missile actually installed aboard the ship.

Background

Singapore first announced its selection of Blue Spear for the Formidable-class at IMDEX 2023, with contract details firming up in early 2024. The Formidable class, a multi-mission derivative of the French La Fayette-class frigate, has since been undergoing a gradual modernization. Blue Spear, which traces its lineage to the Gabriel family of anti-ship missiles, was designed as a versatile weapon usable against both maritime and land targets. The new images confirm that a program which had proceeded largely out of public view has now reached an operationally visible stage.

Regional Impact

By roughly doubling strike range, the upgrade materially strengthens Singapore’s deterrent posture around the Strait of Malacca and its approaches. The development is a further sign of the broader Asia-Pacific race among navies to extend anti-ship missile reach, with other regional fleets pursuing similar range increases. Türkiye’s own pursuit of extended range and platform diversification for its ATMACA missile reflects the same global trend toward longer-reach naval strike weapons.

FAQ

Who makes Blue Spear? It is marketed by Proteus Advanced Systems, a joint venture between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Singapore’s ST Engineering.

Which missile does it replace? The American-made Harpoon anti-ship missile previously carried by the Formidable-class frigates.

Is this a new announcement? No — the selection was disclosed in 2023-2024. What’s new is the first photographic proof the missile is actually installed.