Got this off Newsnow..

"Singapore plans multiple rocket launcher, IFV acquisitions
Jane's Defence Weekly 11:12 "

http://newsnow.co.uk/cgi/NGoto/221503341?

(ADDED)
Singapore plans multiple rocket launcher, IFV acquisitions
Robert Karniol JDW Asia-Pacific Bureau Chief
Bangkok

Key Points
Singapore is seeking to acquire its first multiple rocket system and first wheeled IFV


The Singapore Army is enhancing its firepower and mobility capabilities with the planned acquisition of its first multiple rocket launcher (MRL) and its first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).

The MRL requirement is for 18 systems, with the request for proposals currently in progress. First deliveries are expected in about 18 months.

Contenders for the contract remain unclear, but sources told Jane's that talks on the programme are under way with the US. This suggests that potential candidates include the 227 mm Multiple Launch Rocket System and the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System, both from Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

The IFV programme is aimed to equip three battalions, with initial deliveries expected around the end of 2008. The locally developed Singapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics 8 x 8 Terrex AV81 IFV is among several platforms under consideration; other options remain unknown.

The army most recently upgraded its artillery with the introduction of ST Kinetics' Pegasus 155 mm/39 calibre Singapore Lightweight Howitzer, unveiled in late 2005. This supplemented the ST Kinetics Primus 155 mm/39 calibre self-propelled artillery system that was revealed two years earlier.

The wheeled IFV would complement two tracked platforms in current service: the ST Kinetics Bionix IFV, operationally deployed since 1999; and the older Giat Industries AMX-10P infantry combat vehicle.

The Singapore Army will further bolster its capabilities with deliveries, due to start in mid-2008, of 66 ex-German Armed Forces Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, together with an additional 30 platforms earmarked as spares. These are intended to replace AMX-13 light tanks.

The planned acquisitions are linked to a broader force modernisation programme currently in progress and dubbed the third-generation Singapore Armed Forces.

This is an interesting development isn't it? B)

umm... 18 MRL systems and wheeled IFV... enhancing first-strike capability with improved mobility of troops? :rolleyes:

Hey thanks YF!

I think wheel IFV may be possible. A while ago, while travelling to boon lay MRT station, I notice a bunch of ST personnels operating and testing this TERREX on the ST test driving center. I also seen them test some ATV there too........... :blink:

I believe I saw some of the TV screens they might put into the Terrex as well. High-tech vehicle I must say.

Oh btw... HOLY SHIT! HIMARS!

So what's a HIMARS?

I compiled some information from the web below..



The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is the newest member of the Multiple Launch Rocket System family. It is a highly mobile artillery rocket system that offers MLRS firepower on a wheeled vehicle, making it an ideal system for the medium-weight brigades under the new Army Vision. The HIMARS launcher, a wheeled vehicle, is lighter in weight compared to the MLRS M-270 launcher. It weighs approximately 15 tons, compared to 27 tons for the M-270.

The HIMARS TD will provide a lightweight, C–130 transportable version of the M–270 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) launcher.

Mounted on a 5–ton family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTV) truck chassis, it will fire any rocket or missile in the MLRS family of munitions [MFOM]. The HIMARS launchers will some commonality with its older and heavier tracked cousins, the M270 and M270A1 launcher systems. The HIMARS design concept will include the familiar launcher module, fire control, and digital command and control systems, and a self-reload capability.

The HIMARS uses the same command, control, and communications, as well as the same crew, as the MLRS launcher but carries only one rocket or missile pod. It will roll on and off a C–130 transport aircraft and, when carried with a combat load, will be ready to operate within 15 minutes of landing. The HIMARS will fire either six MLRS rockets or one Army Tactical Missile. Because of the lighter weight of using one pod rather than two, it will have a faster time, compared to the current M270, from the point the fire mission is received to the actual munition firing.

HIMARS is based on the need for a lighter weight, more deployable MLRS that can be sent anywhere in the world to provide the maneuver commander lethal, long range fires at the very beginning of a conflict. HIMARS is being designed and produced by the Army to support its Early Entry Contingency forces and its Light/Airborne/Air Assault Divisions with long-range, general support rocket and missile indirect fires.

Well, what kind of ammo does HIMARS fire?

HIMARS is capable of launching the entire MLRS family of munitions, including the Extended-Range Rocket, the Reduced Range Practice Rocket and all future variants. HIMARS carries a single six-pack of MLRS rockets, or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile.

1. The Extended-Range MLRS Rocket (ER-MLRS) improves the basic M26 range of 32km to more than 45km and the area of influence by 107%.

2. In April 2004, HIMARS successfully test fired the new extended range guided rocket GMLRS, with a range of more than 70km.

3. HIMARS is also capable of firing the long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) guided missile. The ATACMS family includes the Block 1, Block 1A and Block 1A Unitary missiles. The Block 1 missile delivers 950 anti-personnel anti-material (AP/AM) baseball-sized M74 submunitions to ranges exceeding 165km.

4. The Block 1A missile range exceeds 300km by reducing the submunition payload to 300 bomblets and adding GPS guidance.


In November 2004, HIMARS successfully completed Initial Operational Test & Evaluation, and in June 2005 it entered US Army service with the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, NC.


HIMARS firing ATACMS missiles.

--

Information above gathered from Army-Technology and GlobalSecurity

Finally - some public news on the MLRS and wheeled APCs. A Terrex was used as part of a change of command parade recently, and hopefully, more developments can be made.
Equip 3 battalions? That's about 90-100 vehicles, going at about 10 per infantry/guards company, assuming a fully transported brigade, when needed.

Dammit, I hope it ain't the Stryker .....

I'm assuming they are evaluating 8x8s?
Boxer MRAV, AMV etc

Or is it an bailout for ST's Terrex?

The role of the MLRS as in US and IDF is changing to that of a land based strategic precision strike capability with their new LR GPS guided missiles, perhaps SAF going toward that direction as well.

Read this article:

Israel Seeks To Extend Precise Ground Strike

And I quote:

ATACMS is US version based on the US MLRS and there is one Israeli version called the Extended Range Artillery (Extra) munition system which could be adapted to fire from US MLRS as well.

This new capability I believe is why SAF is looking at MLRS.

More info from this thread:

Link

As for wheeled IFV, I think SAF is not only going digitally as in 3G army but also large structural change in almost all the Div level, one clue is the 9 Div Infantry, as stated in their report, 9 Div retained their CAD structure plus additional whatever unit left in 1st PDF and the command all infantry related training.

But what are the structure of 3 and 6 Div?

Remain as it is , I doubt so. Especially with introduction of plenty of BX( w/o the retiring of M113s), Primus SPH, Leo 2 MBT and now wheeled IFV and MLRS, major change on going now except SAF has not officially announce them.

Remember the collaboration with Ukraine to make 80mm rockets? Maybe ST can make a larger calibre projectiles. Besides both the Thais and Indons have made some of their own indegenious smaller calibre rockets with 10++km range, so I don't think it is difficult for us to make some local versions.
Talking abt 8x8 IFV, I think the Terrex may stand a chance. The recent middle east arms tradeshow, ST partner Otokar displayed an up armoured IFV of the Terrex. I think the Terrex has alot of potential for upgrades and all......

Will we buy russian? When I first saw the topic, US MRLS came into mind.

Well, who knows, a Lockheed Martin HIMARS platform with Ukranian ammo..

We've integrated Israeli FCR + Russian SAM + American platform already..nothing shocking. (M113 ADV)

Cool!!


anyway some politics !! :D i think Malaysian PM is a nice guy. :P Definitely.
In the past, all these acquisitions gonna make the MY PM hoping mad and start passing critic that will probably stir up rounds of singapore bashing.

Blk 1As with guidance - thats no rocket artillery
Gentlemen- welcome to the Age of BM :blink:

Remember the US Army's SRBMs during the Cold War? :blink:

You're welcome, Laser. Just posting whatever info I came across. I really don't see Ukranian ammo being integrated with HIMARS. First of all, that would require approval from LM and probably other parties. Second, why would Singapore pay the integration costs for just 18 vehicles? Third, why do so when the ammo coming with the HIMARs is already performing so well?

Gotta agree. Whatever his shortcomings, he is a blessing when it comes to cross-causeway relations.

Well, they got the Astros, and SU-30MKs that will dominates Asean Airspace, and Scorpenes to rule the depths ;)

Nothing to complain about :P

You're right too.

My example, well, was just an example for it's own sake. Heh.

Those rockets may yet be for something else? After all, even this was a bit out of the blue when I was looking through the news aggregator. :lol:

Yeah. Pleasant surprise for probably many of us. I'm sure we'll have our eyes peeled for what makes the selection. 18 months to delivery! Means we won't have to wait too long for a selection, assuming no NGFR-like delays. :)

The ATACMs ARE SRBMs

What we're see in public, would probably be the standard 6-pak and no ATACMs

My guess on variants would be HIMARS with Israeli munitions, which are designed to fit the launchers

Very true, on paper , we may get some M26 unguided rocket or even GMLRS , but we may also get some Israeli Ramam Trajectory Corrected System rockets or EXTRA GPS guided tactical missiles.

Something that never be officially disclosed. :ph43r:

ROCKETs ON TARGET

Wow!! damn accurate.

if UAE can have the atacms... i dont see why we cant...

It'd be introducing a new capability into the region. Remember the AMRAAM case where they had to be kept in the US? Might apply here.

Thought the Amraam Came back into singapore. From my understand US has loosen the arm procurement policy in dealing with singapore. Since we have shown unparalled support and assist to US war on terror and other issues. :P

But do you have to shout it out to everyone, that you DID? ;)
Parade with the 6-paks all you will, at NDP, SAF Day and new Fairprice store openings,
but keep everyone guessing if you bought the big gherkin :lol:

As Gary said, something that'll never be officially disclosed

In 2005,

"The Agreement recognizes Singapore's role as a Major Security Cooperation Partner and will expand the scope of current cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, counter-proliferation, joint military exercises and training, policy dialogues, and defense technology."

Interestingly, Frank Lavin, the former US Ambassador to Singapore mentioned this in a dialogue, "The past forty years have been a history of adapting and moving forward. Singapore has much to be proud of and the United Stateswill stand side-by-side with Singapore. My view of foreign policy is simple: we - America and Singapore– we are the "good guys." "

Yes it did. :) Just pointing out an example. Hopefully the designation of Singapore as a "Major Security Cooperation Partner" brings with it the benefit of exemptions from the "no introduction of new categories of weapons into a region" code of conduct they follow. Anyway, is "Major Security Cooperation Partner" an official designation/category the way "Major Non NATO Ally" is?

Can confirm if the system we are buying is GMLRS ?
If so, wow ! Arty boys really got something to cheer about.


Something interesting here …..

“ …..The American GMLRS (officially the "GMLRS Unitary rocket") rockets has been a great success. In the last year, U.S. Army artillery units in Iraq have been firing about ten GPS guided 227mm MLRS rockets a month. When the GMLRS (Guided MLRS) first went into action, the troops realized that this was a near-perfect artillery weapon. There have been no reliability problems with the GMLRS, which has a range of 70 kilometers and, because of the GPS guidance has the same accuracy at any range. Unguided rockets become less accurate the farther they go. The GMLRS is designed to put each rocket within a 16 foot circle (the center of which is the GPS coordinates the rocket is programmed to go for). In nearly all cases, the GMLRS rocket appears to land less than ten feet from the aiming point.

What makes the GMLRS most useful is not just its accuracy, which is about the same as air force JDAM GPS guided smart bombs, but because the 200 pound GMLRS warhead produces a smaller bang than the smallest JDAM (500 pounds). When it comes to urban fighting, smaller is better. Less collateral damage, and your troops can be closer to the target when the explosion occurs. In Iraq, the 200 pound GMLRS warhead is just the right size for your average Iraqi building. The structure, and the bad guys within, are destroyed, and adjacent structures suffer minimal, or no, damage. For that reason, even some Iraqi politicians have come out in praise of the GMLRS. In Afghanistan, most of the fighting is outside urban areas, but even there, in many cases the bad guys are in one building of a compound, while innocent civilians are in another. In such cases, the GMLRS could take out one building, without destroying the other.

In order to get more GMLRS rockets, all new MLRS rocket production is being switched to GMLRS, and a retrofit kit, that will turn unguided MLRS rockets into GMLRS, has been introduced. The army believes that GMLRS will remain the most useful smart weapon, even with the coming introduction of the hundred pound 155mm GPS guided Excalibur artillery shell, and the U.S. Air Forces 250 pound JDAM (the SDB, or small diameter bomb). Both of these weapons pack a smaller punch than the GMLRS, and that may be a drawback in some situations. Ground troops are certain that the GMLRS warhead is just right, at least in most cases. …….”
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/art...s/20070308.aspx


VIDEO CLIPS ON GMLRS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM2vW4_PxEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AHU6F6oEoo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpdfgUKWzys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rqduj8dDUI

nah, I think its still a different category, these are the MNAAs

But I think it could be the gahman that asked for a more neutral sounding and non-militant label, regional sensitivities considered.
Until Indo becomes a MNAA, I don't Sg will call ourselves that...

From Wiki ( sorry ! :P )

Australia (1989)
Egypt (1989)
Israel (1989)
Japan (1989)
South Korea (1989)
Jordan (1996)
New Zealand (1996)
Argentina (1998)
Bahrain (2002)
Philippines (2003)
Thailand (2003)
Kuwait (2004)
Morocco (2004)
Pakistan (2004)

But considering that their relationship with some of their MNNAs ain't that great, and consider Saudi Arabia is getting a way bigger military aid package ( though I assume with very little US financing ) being a MNNA is no big deal at all.

The Walk doesn't jibe with the Talk, if not the Filippino Armed Forces won't be floundering in 1970s hardware ... but maybe that's payback for Clarke Air Base and Subic Bay ....

I believe we might have asked to be labelled as MSCP than MNAA, for sensitivity purposes.

In any case, our level of access to American technology and policy cooperation is way higher than most MNAAs, except for the four below.

Australia (1989)
Israel (1989)
Japan (1989)
South Korea (1989)

I also believe that in terms of defense cooperation, the Singapore-US relationship places us one tier below UK, Israel and Australia, together with Japan and Korea.

x2. To state a few examples... F35, Global Hawk, F16 (with permission for modification by third party), F15 (with AESA radar), advanced targeting-pod for aircraft.

Not to mention we're the leading proponent of PSI in the region.

Also, joint projects like the Spartan USV and our trials of it in the Arabian Gulf.

given the limited volume of rockets that this MLRS force can fire (consider HIMARS: total 18 vehs x 6 shots), classic MLRS saturation attacks may not be possible. i speculate the emphasis might be on PGM rockets, ala GMLRS. STK may possibly develop some form of guided rocket too, to go with their wide range of other arty munitions.

Traditional rocket barrage using unguided rockets is already begining to be unacceptable by some western nations due to poor accuracy and high dud rate of DPICM munitions.

THat is why some nation have retired their MLRS and US army will be using only GMLRS & ATACM now and in the future.

Here the Link

and I quote:

Anyway , with our own 155mm tube arty at range within 40 km can have similar effect with our 155mm cargo rds at much better accuarcy as compare to unguided rocket.

So MLRS will be much better use for SAF in the role of land based strategic precision strike platform than as a traditional arty pieces.

I think SAF maybe splitting the role of artillery into the following in the near future:

For 40km to 100km range:

1. GMLRS &/or ATACM for land-based strategic precision strike
2. 155mm howitzer for traditional saturated artillery strike

Agree?

Agree, that is the future trend anyway.

And to add on :

1. GMLRS &/or ATACM for land-based strategic precision strike :Maybe non Div asset
2. 155mm howitzer for traditional saturated artillery strike : Div asset
3. 120mm mortar for traditional SR saturated artillery strike : Bn asset

It's been a few days yet no official confirmation from mindef.

Perhaps it's time some people from the media begin making repeated 'queries' ;)