Singapore's defence and engineering powerhouse is making its mark deeper into the Middle East's maritime security landscape. ST Engineering's Marine business has secured a six-year sub-contract valued at approximately S$600 million from Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), tasking the company with designing and supplying platform systems for a fleet of eight Missile Gun Boats to be delivered to the Kuwait Naval Force.
Under the agreement, ST Engineering will build three of the vessels at its Singapore shipyard, while ADSB will construct the remaining five. The missile gun boats are based on ST Engineering's proprietary Fearless-class patrol vessel design, which the company describes as well-suited for deployment in Middle Eastern maritime environments.
The vessels will be equipped with advanced platform systems engineered for superior navigation accuracy, manoeuvrability, and operational effectiveness across a range of maritime conditions, including extended patrols and diverse deployment environments. Key design priorities include high system redundancy to maximize mission readiness and enhanced performance in littoral, or near-coastal, waters.
This contract follows a 2021 award from ADSB for four Offshore Patrol Vessels for the UAE Navy, reinforcing ST Engineering's growing footprint in Gulf naval procurement. The Fearless-class design has now been adopted by Oman, the UAE, and Kuwait, a regional track record that Marine business President Tan Leong Peng said reflects strong customer confidence in the platform's operational performance and adaptability.
The broader programme traces back to June 2025, when ADSB's parent company EDGE Group signed a Dh9 billion defence contract with the Kuwait Ministry of Defence for the supply of FALAJ3 62-metre missile boats, with EDGE serving as prime contractor and ADSB assigned as the build sub-contractor. The latest ST Engineering deal cements Singapore's role as a trusted partner in Gulf naval modernization.
