New Unmanned Surface Vessel Introduced by Taiwan

[Electrician Hyun Jeon, Senior Researcher, Mobile Firepower Team 1, Defense Technology Quality Institute] Taiwanese shipbuilding company Lung Teh has delivered a new 16-meter-class Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) to Singapore. The Republic of Singapore Navy plans to use the USV to support maritime patrol and surveillance operations within the Singapore Strait.

The USV is currently undergoing sea acceptance trials off the western coast of Singapore and will eventually take over missions currently performed by Singapore Navy’s Fearless-class patrol vessels and Independence-class Littoral Mission Vessels (LMVs).

According to the performance specifications announced by the Singapore Ministry of Defence, this coastal defense USV measures approximately 16 meters in length and 5 meters in beam, with a displacement of about 30 tons. It has a maximum speed exceeding 25 knots and can sustain navigation for more than 36 hours. The USV is expected to be equipped with flare lights, sirens, advanced sensors, and weapon systems, although further detailed information has not yet been disclosed.

The Singapore Navy currently operates the 9-meter-class Protector USV manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Unlike the new coastal defense USV, the Protector USV lacks autonomous navigation capabilities, limiting its operational effectiveness in the congested Singapore Strait patrols.

The new coastal defense USV will feature a domestically developed Collision Detection and Collision Avoidance (CDCA) system designed to support autonomous navigation in close proximity to other vessels within the Singapore Strait and harbor waters.

The DSO National Laboratories previously developed collision detection and avoidance system algorithms to enable small vessels to perform complex maneuvers safely in waterways frequented by large container ships and other large vessels.