SINGAPORE — Singapore has launched the first vessel in a new class of offshore patrol ships designed to strengthen maritime security while giving the Republic of Singapore Navy greater flexibility to respond to emerging threats, including unmanned systems.
The Sentinel, the first of four new Sentinel-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), was launched on Oct. 1 at the Fassmer shipyard in Berne, Germany. The ships will eventually replace Singapore’s existing Sentinel-class Maritime Security and Response Vessels and operate under the Navy’s Maritime Security and Response Flotilla.
A Much Bigger Ship With a Smaller Crew
The new OPV measures 94.85 meters long and has a displacement of about 2,700 tonnes, making it substantially larger than the 55-meter, 525-tonne vessels it will replace.
Despite its increased size and capabilities, the ship is designed to operate with a crew of about 40 people, thanks in part to extensive automation and integrated ship-management systems.
The design is intended for Singapore’s busy maritime environment, where maneuverability, endurance and rapid response remain important for vessels operating among heavy commercial traffic.
Singapore Is Preparing for Unmanned Threats
One of the most notable features of the new OPVs is their ability to respond to the growing presence of unmanned systems at sea.
Singapore’s Defence Ministry says the vessels incorporate advanced sensors and layered response capabilities to address a range of maritime-security situations. Their design also allows them to launch and recover both manned and unmanned craft.
The development reflects a broader shift in maritime security, where navies and maritime agencies are increasingly having to account for remotely operated and autonomous systems alongside conventional vessels.
Singapore has already been deploying unmanned surface vessels for maritime-security patrols since 2025, adding another layer of surveillance and response capabilities to its waters.
Built to Change With Future Technology
The Sentinel-class vessels are being designed around modularity, meaning their equipment and mission configurations can be adapted as requirements change.
According to Singapore’s Defence Ministry, the ships have additional capacity in areas such as power, cooling and network infrastructure to accommodate future capabilities without requiring major structural modifications.
That approach is also reflected in the ships’ ability to carry containerized mission systems, allowing them to be configured for different maritime-security roles.
The First Ship Won’t Enter Service Immediately
The newly launched Sentinel will undergo platform acceptance checks and sea trials before sailing to Singapore.
The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered and operationalized in 2028, while the remaining three OPVs are still under construction.
The ships will work alongside other Singapore government maritime agencies, including the Police Coast Guard and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, as part of the country’s broader maritime-security system.
A Singapore-Germany Defence Partnership at Sea
The launch also highlighted Singapore’s continuing defence cooperation with Germany.
Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attended the ceremony, along with senior naval officials from both countries.
Chan described the project as more than a straightforward shipbuilding arrangement, emphasizing the continuing relationship between the two countries and their navies.
For Singapore, the Sentinel represents a broader effort to keep its maritime-security fleet adaptable as the nature of threats changes.
And with the first of four vessels now launched, the next test will come when Sentinel moves from the shipyard into sea trials — and eventually into Singapore’s increasingly complex waters.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
