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Republic of Singapore Navy

1986 - 1990

Key developments from 1986 to 1990, including upgrades to Missile Gunboats with Harpoon missiles, the expansion of the Naval Diving Unit's capabilities, and the introduction of the Victory-class missile corvettes.

Last updated 22 July 2025

Upgrading of missile gunboats

1986 to 1988

Aerial view of a missile gunboat sailing on the open sea with various antennas visible.

In the 1980s, the Missile Gunboats (MGBs) were equipped with long-range, hard-hitting Harpoon missiles, and an Action Information System (AIS) that allowed the MGBs to track and display other vessels. Together with other system upgrades, the MGBs were able to share a common tactical picture at sea, which tremendously increased the MGBs' ability to fight coherently as a force.

Warriors of the deep

Mid-1980s

Two fully-equipped divers swimming underwater with rifles aimed forward.

In the mid-1980s, the Naval Diving Unit moved beyond a support role to include combat diving and mine clearance operations. Naval divers were sent for overseas courses, such as the elite Navy SEAL course. A new two-compartment walk-in hyperbaric chamber was commissioned at the Naval Diving Unit in 1984. It was Singapore's main centre for treating decompression sickness.

New strike capability

1990

Naval ship 89 cruising through the sea, with weapons and radar antennas visible.

With Singapore's prosperity increasingly dependent on maritime trade, the RSN saw an expansion of her mission beyond coastal duties to include ensuring the safety and openness of our sea lines of communication (SLOCs). The Navy was able to carry out this expansion in duties and operations with the Victory-class missile corvettes (MCVs), which are equipped with a complete suite of three-dimensional strike warfare capabilities. The first MCV RSS Victory was commissioned this year and introduced anti-submarine capabilities into the RSN.