ST Engineering launches Victory, first drone mothership for Singapore

ST Engineering has launched Victory, the first vessel of Singapore’s Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) class, which will act as a drone mothership.

Just two years after receiving a contract from the Singapore Ministry of Defence, ST Engineering Marine has launched Victory, the first of six vessels being built under the Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV) programme. 

“Being the first of its class, MRCV Victory requires advanced engineering and design precision execution across every stage of construction, a level of expertise that is evident in the launch of the vessel today,” Tan Leong Peng, President of the Marine product set at ST Engineering said in the the October 21 press release. 

The launch took place at ST Engineering’s Benoi Shipyard and Victory will now be transferred to the company’s Gul Yard, where it is expected to be fitted out as a mothership for uncrewed systems. “The Victory-class MRCV supports a wide range of missions from maritime security and surveillance to high-intensity combat operations,” the press release states. For clarity, the MCRV is expected to replace six Victory class missile corvettes currently in service with the Singaporean navy. 

Steel for Victory was cut in March 2024 and the second ship of the class followed the month after. First delivery is expected in 2028, indicating that there is still a lot of work to come and ST Engineering will also provide through-life support for the vessels. 

The design was carried out using digital engineering techniques including 3D modelling and a digital twin, according to the press release. “The use of virtualisation technologies reduced the need for costly physical prototypes, minimised design rework, cut down material waste and shortened the delivery time required to deliver a mothership that is optimised to meet the Navy’s needs,” it states. 

The MCRV and ST Engineering Marine

ST Engineering Marine might not be an everyday name in the shipbuilding world, but the company provided the design and technical assistance in the production of the Falaj-3 off-shore patrol vessel to the Abu Dhabi Ship Building company in 2021. The Falaj-3 is being manufactured for the UAE and the class will also be built for Kuwait under a $2.45 billion (€2.15 billion/£1.81 billion) contract – the largest in Middle Eastern defence history. 

However, the basic design for the MCRV was supplied by Saab Kockums, which will also be supplying the composite superstructure integrating four panels for radar antennas, according to reporting from Naval News. ST Engineering Marine provided the detailed design for the platform. Despite the statements around its role as a mothership, the class is also expected to be armed with Aster and VL MICA air defence missiles in a 32 cell VLS, as well as the 76 mm naval gun system from Leonardo. The radar is expected to be the SeaFire from Thales, as well as a suite of defensive counter measures. 

Calibre comment: Motherships, so hot right now

Almost every navy worth its salt (yes, including Russia’s) is integrating uncrewed platforms into its order of battle with ships often positioned as mother ships. Turkey is working extensively on carrier-based aviation with the Bayraktar TB3, and the UK has set itself the goal of launching jet-powered UAVs from the flight deck of its aircraft carriers within two years. A lot of work is also going on under the water and on the surface to properly enable autonomous vessels to support navies at sea with extended sensor networks. This development pathway does make a lot of sense, it provides a sensor increase in a domain that is quite favourable to autonomy, compared to land at least. And the type of persistence that is essential for challenging missions like anti-submarine warfare. However, it is important to note that the area of operations plays a decisive factor in the type of autonomous vessels that can be used. For extensive oceanic deployments, for example, large vessels, and consequently conventional armaments, remain essential. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on October 28, 2025. The lead image shows the MCRV Victory as it was launched. Credit: ST Engineering.