Saab and Penguin Deliver Carbon Fiber Composite Superstructure for Singapore's Multi-Role Combat Vessel
BY Composights
Published: 07 Jul 2026
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Saab and Penguin Shipyard International have completed and delivered a large carbon fiber composite superstructure for the Republic of Singapore Navy's Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) program, marking one of the largest naval composite structures integrated into a modern warship.
The achievement is linked to the scale of the MRCV itself. Measuring approximately 150 meters in length and displacing around 8,000 to 8,400 tonnes, the vessel is Singapore's largest and most sophisticated naval platform developed to date.
Rather than constructing the entire ship from composites, the project focuses on the forward superstructure and integrated mast, while the main hull continues to be built from conventional steel. The first ship in the class, RSS Victory, was launched by ST Engineering Marine at its Benoi Yard in October 2025.
The composite manufacturing process spans multiple countries. Saab produced the carbon fiber composite panels in Sweden before shipping them to Singapore, where Penguin Shipyard fabricated and assembled the forward superstructure. The completed module was then delivered to ST Engineering Marine for integration with the steel hull. The forward mast alone weighs approximately 60 metric tonnes, demonstrating the scale of the composite structure.
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According to Saab, replacing conventional steel with advanced composites provides multiple operational advantages, including lower structural weight, improved durability, and reduced maintenance requirements over the vessel's service life.
By integrating composite superstructures into naval ships, our customers benefit from advantages such as low weight, decreased radar cross-section and reduced life-cycle costs, said Lars Oscarsson, Head of Saab's Composite Business Unit.
The use of composites also contributes to a lower radar signature, as composite structures can be manufactured with smoother, continuous geometries that help minimize radar reflections compared with conventional metallic structures. This characteristic supports the MRCV's role as a modern multi-mission platform designed to operate in contested environments.
Singapore's Ministry of Defence intends the MRCV to serve as a mothership capable of deploying, controlling, and recovering a range of unmanned systems, including aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles. The ship features a configurable mission bay that can accommodate up to eight containerized mission modules, enabling rapid adaptation for different operational requirements.
We are seeing a growing number of customers entrust Saab with addressing their operational needs. To better serve these customers locally, we continue to strengthen our strategic partnership with Penguin Shipyard International. With its long-standing heritage and deep expertise in shipbuilding in Singapore, Penguin shares Saab s strong commitment to understand and meet customer requirements. This makes Penguin a valued and trusted partner for Saab, said Fredrik Martinsson, Head of Project Management, Business Unit Surface Ships at Saab.
The MRCV program represents one of the Indo-Pacific region's most significant naval modernization efforts. Overseen by Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency, the vessels are being designed with an operational range exceeding 7,000 nautical miles and endurance of more than 21 days at sea, supporting long-range maritime operations while combining advanced composite engineering with next-generation naval capabilities.
Source: Naval Institute Singapore
