According to a recent report by Reuters, Singapore has put two advanced new submarines into service, which the country's navy claims are intended to protect maritime communication lines. Experts believe that the activity range of these two submarines will exceed the waters of the city state in order to maintain surveillance of the area. According to reports, Singapore's fifth submarine, the Changsheng, and sixth submarine, the Elite, were ordered from Germany's ThyssenKrupp Ocean Systems through a € 1 billion contract in 2013. They will join the ranks of the older Sagittarius and Challenger class submarines. Experts say that they represent the technological advancement of the Singapore fleet, allowing this wealthy Southeast Asian country to use fewer sailors to carry out missions farther from the coast and making its submarines among the quietest in the region. Colonel Feng Zhi'an, Commander of the Seventh Fleet of the Singapore Navy, said, "They will be excellent force multipliers. As a small country, we need all the force multipliers we can get." At the ceremony on the 24th, these two new "Changsheng" class submarines were anchored on adjacent docks, decorated with colorful navy triangular flags, and the X-shaped rudder of the submarines was exposed to the water. Singapore Prime Minister Huang Xuncai announced at a ceremony attended by submarine crew and military officials that two submarines have officially entered service. He said, 'Singapore's survival and prosperity depend on free and unimpeded maritime navigation.' The Changsheng class submarine is 70 meters long, has a displacement of 2200 tons, and only requires 28 crew members. On the 24th, the crew stated that some time-consuming tasks have been automated, making submarine operations easier. These two submarines are also the earliest submarines in Singapore to have female crew facilities, and both are equipped with female officers. According to Gao Ruilian, a naval affairs expert at the Rajaratnam International Research Institute in Singapore, "They are at least comparable to some of the latest and most advanced conventional submarines currently in service throughout Southeast Asia and the wider Indo Pacific region." However, he added that having only more advanced submarines does not mean that Singapore can match the military capabilities of other countries' navies in the region. For example, the "Changsheng" class submarine is only equipped with heavy torpedoes, while Vietnam's Russian made "Kilo" class submarine can carry ground attack cruise missiles. The other two "Changsheng" class submarines "Zhuoyue" and "Feifan" from Singapore have been launched, but have not yet been put into service. The Changsheng class submarine is equipped with an air independent propulsion system that uses fuel cells instead of diesel engines to generate electricity. Its propulsion system is extremely quiet, which is clearly a major advantage for underwater weapons. They can also allow submarines to stay underwater for weeks or even months, completing thousands of kilometers of navigation. Nuclear powered submarines are quieter in certain situations and have higher maximum speeds and longer ranges, but the cost of each submarine is also billions of dollars higher. The key role played by submarine cables in recent years has made it crucial for the navy to acquire sophisticated underwater equipment. Singapore's neighboring country Indonesia has also been investing in submarines, ordering two advanced "Scorpaean" class submarines from the French state-owned shipbuilding company Naval Group. Malaysia, on the other hand, has two older versions of the "Scorpaean" class submarines currently in service. For Singapore, which has close relations with the United States and its Asian allies, advanced submarines will enable its military to play a more important role in naval exercises. Analysts say that naval exercises are becoming increasingly frequent and important in the Indo Pacific region. Trevor Hollingsby, former naval intelligence analyst at the UK Ministry of Defence, said: "I expect Singapore to provide 'target submarines' for regional anti submarine exercises. This demand will always exist, which will also provide them with opportunities to collect intelligence
Edit：He ChengXi Responsible editor：Tang WanQi
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