Singapore will for the first time buy brand-new submarines. The Defence Ministry (Mindef) said in a statement yesterday that it inked a deal with German defence contractor Thyssenkrupp Marine System on Nov 29 to buy two Type 218SG vessels.

The contract includes a logistics package and the training of Singaporean crew in Germany. The new vessels, together with two second-hand Archer -class submarines, will replace four ageing Challenger -class submarines.

- Reuters