RSS Supreme

RSS Supreme (73) is the sixth ship of the Formidable-class stealth frigate of the Republic of Singapore Navy.

RSS Supreme arrives at Pearl Harbor during RIMPAC 2010.
History
Singapore
Name	Supreme
Namesake	Supreme
Ordered	March 2000
Builder	ST Engineering
Launched	9 May 2006
Commissioned	16 January 2009
Homeport	Changi
Identification	MMSI number: 552574101 Callsign: S6KN Pennant number: 73
Motto	Surpassing All Always
Status	Active
General characteristics
Class & type	Formidable-class frigate
Displacement	3,200 tonnes (3,100 long tons; 3,500 short tons)
Length	114.8 m (376 ft 8 in)
Beam	16.3 m (53 ft 6 in)
Draught	6.0 m (19 ft 8 in)
Installed power	4× ISM V1708 diesel generators, each producing 800 kilowatts (1,100 shp)[1] Total output: 3,200 kW (4,300 shp)
Propulsion	4× MTU 20V 8000 M90, each rated at 8,200 kW (11,000 shp)[2] (CODAD) Total output: 32,800 kW (44,000 shp)
Speed	Maximum: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) Cruising: 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range	4,200 nautical miles (7,800 km)
Complement	71, excluding air crew detachment of approx. 19
Sensors & processing systems	Search radar: Thales Herakles multi-function radar Navigation radar: Terma Electronic Scanter 2001 Sonar: EDO Model 980 active low frequency towed sonar (ALOFTS)
Armament	Anti-ship: 8× RGM-84C Harpoon SSM Anti-air: MBDA Aster 15/30 launched from DCNS Sylver A50 32-cell VLS Anti-submarine: EuroTorp A244/S Mod 3 torpedoes launched from 2× B515 triple tubes with reloads Guns: Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid gun (mounted in stealth cupola), 4× STK 50MG 12.7 mm (0.50 in) HMG
Aircraft carried	1× S-70B Seahawk multi-mission capable naval helicopter
Aviation facilities	Flight deck and enclosed hangar for up to two medium-lift helicopters

Construction and career

RSS Supreme was built by ST Marine Engineering company in Singapore in the late 2000s. Supreme was commissioned on 16 January 2009.^[3]

RIMPAC 2010

RSS Supreme participated in RIMPAC 2010 from 23 June to 1 August 2010. RSS Supreme fired her Aster 15 Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) off the coast of Hawaii. Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong was on board to observe the live-firing exercises.^[4]

CARAT 2011

RSS Vigour, RSS Stalwart and RSS Supreme conducted a joint exercise with USS Chung-Hoon on 23 August 2011.^[5]

Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501

Main article: Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501

In December 2014, Supreme was deployed in the search for Airasia Flight QZ8501 after it crashed into the Java Sea on 28 December 2014; along with the RSN ships Persistence, Valour, and Kallang, MV Swift Rescue, and two Lockheed C-130H Hercules.^[6][7][8]

PASSEX 2016

The Republic of Singapore Navy and the Royal Australian Navy conducted a passage exercise which consists of RSS Supreme, HMAS Darwin and HMAS Adelaide. One of HMAS Adelaide's MRH-90 helicopter lands on Supreme's deck.^[9]

On 6 April 2018, RSS Supreme and RSS Valiant underwent alongside USS Sampson and USS Theodore Roosevelt off Singapore.^[10]

RSS Supreme and USNS Carl Brasher conducted a replenish at sea on 26 June 2020.^[11]

RIMPAC 2020

RSS Supreme joined HMAS Stuart, HMAS Sirius, USS Rafael Peralta and KDB Darulehsan on their way to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in preparation for RIMPAC 2020 on 6 August. RIMPAC 2020 is scheduled to start on 17 August.^[12]

2024

Following a collision and resulting fire 30 nautical miles northeast of Pedra Branca between product tanker Hafnia Nile and shadow fleet VLCC tanker Ceres I, causing an immediate evacuation of the Hafnia Nile, RSS Supreme was the first to arrive and picked up 16 crewmembers from the Hafnia Nile while six others were rescued from a life raft by another ship and transferred to the Supreme for transport to Singapore.^[13]

SIMBEX 2025

The ship represented the Singapore Navy alongside RSS Vigilance and MV Mentor while the Indian Navy was represented by INS Satpura. This was the 32nd edition of the naval exercise — SIMBEX — and was hosted by Singapore between 28 July and 1 August 2025. The Republic of Singapore Air Force also participated in the exercise with an S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter, two Fokker-50 maritime patrol aircraft and two F-15SG fighter aircraft. The harbour phase was held at RSS Singapura base and was followed by a sea phase held in the southern parts of South China Sea. During the sea phase, the participating forces carried out advanced warfare drills, including gunnery firings, air defence exercises, and maritime security operations. The sea phase concluded with a ceremonial sail-past by the participating ships.^[14][15]

Gallery

• RSS Supreme Gallery
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  RSS Supreme passes by JS Atago in Pearl Harbor during RIMPAC 2010.
• 
  RSS Supreme alongside USS Freedom during RIMPAC 2010.
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  An MH-60S helicopter from USS Freedom approaches RSS Supreme during RIMPAC 2010.
• 
  An MH-60S helicopter from USS Freedom approaches RSS Supreme during RIMPAC 2010.