"The Swedish Navy is planning to stand down two of its submarines of the Vastergotland class," the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a statement.

"Mindef is now considering whether this might provide the Republic of Singapore Navy an opportunity to enhance its submarine capabilities by replacing some of its Challenger class submarines with the Vastergotland class submarines."

Singapore has already acquired four second-hand submarines, formerly known as the Sjoormen class, from the Royal Swedish Navy.

Several modifications were required to make the vessels suitable for tropical waters as they were designed by the Swedish for operations in the Baltic Sea.

Singapore, a tiny but affluent Southeast Asian island-nation, has one of Asia's best equipped sea, land and air forces.

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