Singapore Ministry of Defence announced on 16 May, during the IMDEX 2017 exhibition that the country will purchase two more air-independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped Type 218SG diesel-electric submarines under a contract signed with ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS). Together with two other submarines of the same class that were ordered previously and expected to be delivered in 2021 and 2022, the platforms will complement each other in maintenance, logistics and operations, and have better capabilities to protect the country's sea lines of communications, according to the Minister of Defence. 

The deliveries of the new platforms, which has a length of 70 m, width of 6,3 m and a displacement of approximately 2 thousand tonnes, are expected to begin in 2024.