Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle

Singapore Army commissioned it's newest armoured vehicle on 12 June 2019.  The Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) will replace the Ultra M113 AFVs.  The Ultra is a locally upgraded version of the M113 first introduced in 1973.

The Hunter AFV was jointly developed by the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in collaboration with the Singapore Army and ST Engineering. It is armed with a 30mm Cannon in a with a 7.62mm Coaxial Machine Gun (CMG) in a Remote Controlled Weapon Station.  Some variant of the Hunter will have a telescopic twin launcher for Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).  The defensive system includes a Warning System (LWS) and 8 x 76mm Smoke Grenade Launchers.

The crew of three sit in the hull in an Integrated Combat Cockpit. The vehicle commander and gunner to operate the vehicle and weapons using a common set of controls. The Hunter is equipped with an automatic target detection and tracking system, easing the workload of the gunner. The vehicle commander has an independent commander's sight, which allows him to concurrently scan for other targets whilst the gunner is engaging a target. The vehicle is equipped with a drive-by-wire system, which allows the vehicle commander to take over the driving functions from the driver if necessary.

Technical Specifications
Dismounted Troops : Up to 8
Dimension: Length 6.9m, Width 3.4m, Height 3.4m, Weight 29.5 Tonnes

Power to Weight Ratio: 24 hp/ton
Maximum Speed: 70km/h
Range : 500km




CyberPioneer

MINDEF

Brothers-in-arm: SAF and TNI

There can be no clearer symbol of the close ties between the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Soldiers from both armies operating together in the SAF's Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tanks as part of Exercise Safkar Indopura 2017.  This is 29th edition of the exercise and was conducted in Singapore from 13 to 24 November 2017. The 12-day exercise includes a series of professional exchanges, urban operations training, live-firing, a planning exercise, and the conduct of a combined battalion field exercise. What is really significant is that the SAF provided unrestricted access for the Indonesians to their main battle tanks.  The Leopard 2SG are upgraded Leopard 2A4 featuring advanced armour protection and battle management system. Indonesia also operates the upgraded Leopard 2A4, designated as Leopard 2RI (103 ordered). It is the first time that foreign soldiers are allowed to operate the Leopard 2SG in a joint exercise. Ex Safkar Indopura started as an annual Infantry bilateral exercise in 1989, hosted alternately in Singapore and Indonesia.

Straits Times

MINDEF

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Singapore Commissioned Elta Systems ELM-2311-based Safari Weapon Locating Radar

The Singapore Army has commissioned the SAFARI Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) into service. The new WLR joined other types of WLR already in service with the Singapore Artillery, namely, AN/TPQ-36, AN/TPQ-37 and ARTHUR.  Similar to the ARTHUR WLR which is mounted on a Bv206 vehicle, the SAFARI is mounted on the larger BRONCO all terrain vehicle.  The BRONCO will confer superb mobility as compared to the original 6 x 6 truck. The new radar appears to be the
Elta Systems ELM-2311 CRAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, Mortar) CRAM system.
AN/TPQ-53 which has a 360 degree coverage mode.



Detail of the new SAFARI WLR and its performance was not revealed. However, the performance should be an improvement on the Swedish designed ARTHUR WLR. The ARTHUR WLR was previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 to provide force protection for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel in Tarin Kowt. It boosted a 100% detection rate over its 15-months deployment. The ARTHUR WLR has a detection range of up 60 km and can be brought into action with 5 minutes by a crew of 11 men. It was first introduced into the Singapore Armed Forces service in 2003.


According to Elta, the ELM-2311 is a 3D Active Electronically Scanned Array radar with a persistent surveillance sector mode of 120º or 360º rotating mode. 




In separate news, a possible sale notification of six AN/TPQ-53V target acquisition radar systems was registered with the US Congress in 2013.[This post previously identified the AN/TPQ-53 as the radar for the SAFARI WLR. This is an error.]

Singapore Army Facebook Page

MINDEF

DSCA.Counter-fire-acquisition-radar-systems

The Three Rings: Singapore Armed Forces' Response to a Terrorist Attack

Like many countries, Singapore brace herself against possible terrorist attacks. The leadership has warned the country that a terrorist attack is just a matter of time.

The Home Team comprising of the Singapore Police and other law enforcement and security agencies is the first responder to any reported terrorist attack in the city state.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has the elite Special Tactical and Rescue (STAR) team, which is the equivalent of the American Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT). The STAR specialised in hostage rescue and tackling armed suspects. The STAR, together with the Police K-9 unit (with explosive detector dogs) and the 600 strong Police Tactical Unit (PTU) come under the umbrella of the Home Team's Special Operations Command. The SPF can also call upon troopers from the Gurkha Contingent.

When there is a large scale or multiple terrorist attacks, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be activated to swiftly neutralise the threats and assist in restoring order.

The First Ring : Direct Action

When there is a terrorist attack, the SAF Special Operation Task Force (SOTF) is expected to swing into action to directly confront the attackers. The elites of the SAF comprising of the Special Operation Force (SOF), Singapore Commando and the Navy Diving Unit (NDU) are trained for anti-terrorism duties on both land and sea.

The SOF saw action in 1991 when a Singapore Airlines flight was hijacked and landed at Changi International Airport. The then classified unit stormed the aircraft and rescued all passengers.

The Second Ring : Containment

The Army's newly set up Army Deployment Force (ADF) will be part of the second ring response. The specially trained ADF, supported by armoured Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicles, forms a security cordon around the area under attack. It will identify and block off the exit points for the area in order to contain the attackers. The ADF is expected to neutralise any attackers that slip through the security cordon. So the Peacekeeper PRV is equipped with a heavy pack. The roof mounted remote control weapon system can be configured with either a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, a 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun or the 7.62mm Light Machine Gun.

The Third Ring : Stabilise 

In the days after the attacks, more troopers will be activated to augment the SPF in conducting patrols in areas deemed important as part of the measures to restore order and public confidence.

While the forces brought to bear on any attackers seem overwhelming, the leadership is taking no chances. Especially in the wake of terrorist attacks that had occurred in major cities in Europe and elsewhere.


todayonline.com

STAR

SQ117 Hijack

The Strategic Partnership between the Kangaroo and the Lion: Australia and Singapore Deepen Defence Ties

Australia and Singapore has signed a joint declaration on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement. A major feature of the CSP is the expanded scope and depth of defence cooperation. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is allowed to expand existing training facilities to boost the number of troops on training from 6000 to 18000 each year. Singapore will invest about A$2.25 billion to upgrade the training facilities near the city of Townsville and at Shoalwater Bay.

Currently, the Singapore Armed Forces used Shoalwater Bay Training Area to conduct the Exercise Wallaby series. Joint tri-service exercises with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the form of Exercise Trident were also conducted when troops were deployed for Exercise Wallaby.

A  Lowy Institute paper on the defence and security aspect of the CSP argues that both countries should seek to expand defence ties further beyond the use of training space. Interestingly, the paper also acknowledged the long list of engagements between ADF and SAF.  It remains to be seen what other areas that the two advance military forces will cooperate on.

channelnewsasia.com

Straits Times

World Affairs Journal