Bedok - class mine countermeasures vessel The " Bedok " - class are mine countermeasures vessel s ( MCMVs ) of the Republic of Singapore Navy ( RSN ) . They play an important role in the maritime security of Singapore , ensuring that the Singapore Strait and the sea lanes surrounding Singapore remain mine - free and open to international shipping . It is estimated that closure of Singapore ' s ports would result in direct trade losses amounting to more than US $ 1 . 2 billion daily , posing a serious threat to Singapore ' s economy . The four ships form the 194 Squadron of the RSN . Planning and acquisition . The RSN first acquired mine countermeasure capabilities in 1975 , when the United States Navy ' s and were re - activated by the RSN ' s engineers and technicians in California . These s were commissioned as RSS " Jupiter " and RSS " Mercury " respectively . RSS " Jupiter " was scrapped on 15 August 1986 and RSS " Mercury " was decommissioned on 31 March 1993 . The need for modern minehunting vessels saw Singapore entering into an agreement with Sweden in 1991 to purchase four s . The ships were named after coastal areas in Singapore , and were selected from a name - the - ship contest held in 1993 . Design and construction . Platform . The ship ' s design incorporates a number of features important for mine countermeasures – low acoustic and magnetic signatures , as well as shock resistance to underwater explosion s . The " Bedok " class is made of glass - reinforced plastic , designed by the Swedish Navy and Kockums ( then known as Karlskronavarvet ) . Its low magnetic and acoustic signatures reduces the possibility of setting off mines . It is highly durable , fire - and shock - resistant , easy to repair and is maintained only by painting . The ship ' s bridge , major combat equipment and engines are also shock - mounted to cushion against underwater explosions . Each " Bedok " - class MCMV is powered by two independent vertical Voith Schneider Propeller s , designed specifically to ensure excellent manoeuvrability and low noise signature . The first ship , RSS " Bedok " , was built by Kockums in Sweden based on the " Landsort " - class design . The hulls of the remaining three ships were prefabricated in Sweden and transferred to Singapore for final assembly by Singapore Technologies ( ST ) Marine . Mine countermeasures . Each ship operates the ECA K - STER expendable mine disposal system from France , for the identification and destruction of mines . The MCMVs also work closely with the explosive ordnance disposal divers from the Naval Diving Unit for mine disposal . The " Bedok " class is equipped to operate the Kockums remote - controlled catamaran minesweepers , and are also capable of laying a defensive minefield . It has also been reported that the " Bedok " class operate two REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles as part of their mine countermeasures suite . Sensors . The " Bedok " class is equipped with a Thales Underwater Systems TSM 2022 MkIII hull - mounted minehunting sonar . The sonar has a detection range of for submarines and for mines . The classification range for a mine is typically . The ships are also equipped with a Thales Underwater Systems towed synthetic aperture sonar . The ship ' s navigation radar is the Norcontrol DB2000 operating at I band . Upgrade . In November 2007 , it was reported that three companies were shortlisted to compete for the supply of a new one - shot mine disposal system to equip the " Bedok " class . Atlas Elektronik , ECA and Gaymarine were selected for detailed technical and commercial evaluation following an initial assessment of five candidate systems . Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and L - 3 Ocean Systems , offering their Minesniper system and Mk 8x Expendable Mine Destructor respectively , were eliminated from consideration . BAE Systems was unable to provide its Archerfish system for evaluation within the required timescale . In November 2008 , the " Bedok " - class upgrade programme was revealed . Of the four vessels , two are planned to be fully refitted with modifications to the hulls and mine - hunting systems , while the other two will receive partial refits . A decision between two competing European bids was expected to be made by April 2009 , with completion of the first platform expected 18 months later . On 12 May 2009 , Thales announced that the Defence Science and Technology Agency of Singapore awarded it as the prime contractor for the " Bedok " - class Life Extension Programme . Thales will provide an integrated mine countermeasure combat system , including the mine information system , a hull - mounted sonar , a towed synthetic aperture sonar and expendable mine disposal systems . The towed synthetic sonar array is the DUBM 44 , an unmanned underwater vehicle that uses onboard processing of digital signals to provide high - resolution imagery . The DUBM 44 is not autonomous and is connected by cable to the surface ship . Thales will also be in charge of making any structural alterations to the vessels in relation to the integration of new systems and equipment . Operational History . After the crash of SilkAir Flight 185 on 19 December 1997 in the Musi River near Palembang , RSS " Bedok " , RSS " Kallang " and RSS " Punggol " were deployed as part of a Singapore Armed Forces contingent to assist Indonesian authorities in their search and recovery operations near the crash site . The RSN was the first navy invited by the Indonesian Navy to conduct mine countermeasure operations to clear World War II mines off Tanjung Awar Awar , north - east of Surabaya in February 1997 . RSS " Bedok " and RSS " Kallang " , together with two Indonesian Navy vessels , successfully neutralised eight buried mines . The ships were also involved in search and rescue operations after a Royal Navy Westland Lynx helicopter crashed into the South China Sea together with its two personnel onboard during a training exercise on 23 September 1998 . The RSN was the first navy in the world to fire a deployed expendable mine disposal vehicle , during a live firing on 23 April 2012 . Major exercises . The ships frequently participate in military exercise s with various countries . These include :