ST Engineering launches second Multi-Role Combat Vessel ‘Valour’ for Singapore Navy
Singaporean defence and technology company ST Engineering has launched Valour, the second of its Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCV) for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). According to Naval News, the ceremony took place on 23 July 2026 at the company’s Benoi Shipyard in Singapore.
Six MRCVs are planned in total, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028. The second vessel, Valour, will now undergo outfitting, systems integration and sea trials before entering service.
Technical specifications
According to figures reported by Naval News, the 150-metre ship has a 21-metre beam and a displacement of about 8,000 tonnes. With a top speed above 22 knots, the MRCV offers a range of more than 7,000 nautical miles, an endurance beyond 21 days and the ability to operate with a crew of fewer than 100.
Able to sail with a smaller crew thanks to mission automation, the ship is designed as a “mothership” for unmanned systems. The platform can carry and manage uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Modular mission bays for containerised equipment and an indigenously developed Combat Management System (CMS) are among the design’s highlights.
A legacy in the name
The programme’s ships carry the names of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s earlier in-service Victory-class corvettes. That continuity signals that the new MRCVs are intended to replace the fleet’s older corvettes. Coordinating Minister K. Shanmugam said the vessel “strengthens our Navy’s ability” to secure Singapore’s maritime approaches.
Regional context
As an island state sitting at the crossroads of maritime trade routes, Singapore is steering its navy toward networked platforms able to work with unmanned systems. The MRCV programme stands out as a regional example of the next-generation warship concept that combines conventional combat capabilities and unmanned-systems carriage in a single hull.
Sources
- Naval News – “ST Engineering Launches Second MRCV for Republic of Singapore Navy” – 23 July 2026. Used for the launch, technical specifications, programme schedule and the official statement. Link
- ST Engineering and RSN corporate information – Used for programme scope and ship class.
