Sep 13, 2007--/www.straitstimes.com/
S'pore to buy US rocket artillery system
$500m deal for army includes 9 Himars trucks, each fitted with six rocket tubes
By David Boey, Defence Correspondent
SINGAPORE has chosen a battle-tested, United States- made rocket artillery system for its army.
The US$330 million (S$500 million) deal would be the army's first rocket artillery system.
The order for the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars) includes -nine trucks, each fitted with a pod of six rocket tubes. At the press of a button, the trucks can launch their rockets to pound enemy positions some 60km away.
What makes the system lethal is the 644 armour-piercing bomblets - each smaller than a soft drink can - packed into each rocket warhead. A salvo of six rockets would thus rain 3,864 bomblets widely over enemy positions, and punch through armour up to 10cm thick.-
The US Department of Defence said on Wednesday that Singapore wants to buy the Himars.
'The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an important force for economic progress in South-east Asia,' said the Pentagon's Defence Security and Cooperation Agency.
The agency oversees US weapon system sales abroad.
In an interview with The Straits Times last month to mark the Army Open House, Chief of Army Major-General Neo Kian Hong said weapons that allow soldiers to find and destroy targets with precision form a key plank of the army's transformation into a deadly fighting force.
The sharp end of the Singapore Artillery's firepower now takes the form of 155mm heavy artillery guns and quick-firing 120mm mortars.
The Pentagon said the sales package for Singapore includes nine US-made five-tonne trucks, as well as communications sets -and 32 satellite-guided rockets suitable for the Himars.-
Under US law, the Pentagon must inform the US Congress before American-made weapons, or weapon parts, can be sold to foreign nations.
Congress holds the power to block such sales, but rarely does so, said defence industry watchers.
155mm Cargo Round
The 155mm Hollow Base and Base Bleed Cargo Rounds are Extended Range, Improved Conventional Munitions carrying dual-purpose bomblets, each with a mechanical self-destruct fuze.
C-130 transportable (combat loaded).---
US DoD request US Congress's approval to sell the followings to Spore:2 launchers for each truck.Good.
----18 units M142 launchers,each with 6 rockets tube,
----9 Himars 5 tons trucks
----32 XM31 GMLRS-U
----Comm sys
The Government of Singapore has requested a possiblehttp://www.dsca.osd.mil/
sale of Major Defense Equipment (MDE)
18 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
.... Launchers
32 XM31 Unitary High Explosive GMLRS Pods
30 M28A1 Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems (MLRS)
......Practice Rocket Pods
35 VRC-92E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios
... Systems (SINCGARS)
45 VRC-90E SINCGARS
35 VRC-990 Vehicular Radio Communications Sets
45 VRC-950 Vehicular Radio Communications Sets
9 M1084A1 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
.... (FMTV) 5-Ton Trucks
1 M1089A1 Wrecker
Also included are support equipment, communications equipment, spare and repair parts, test sets, batteries, laptop computers, publications and technical data, personnel training and equipment, systems integration support, support services of a Quality Assurance Team and a Technical Assistance Fielding Team, United States (U.S.) Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The estimated cost is $330 million. This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an important force for economic progress in Southeast Asia.
The HIMARS will enhance SingaporeÂ’s military capability by providing a highly effective indirect area fire artillery system that is critical to successful deterrence and national defense. HIMARS supplements traditional cannon artillery by delivering high volume firepower in a short time against time-sensitive targets.
At shorter ranges, HIMARS complements tube artillery with heavy barrages against assaulting forces, counter-fire and defense suppression. Singapore will have no difficulty absorbing and integrating this system into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractors will be: Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control at Dallas, Texas and Stewart & Stevenson at Sealy, Texas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
GMLRS ( 6 rds per pod)has a range above 70km as reported by many, not 60km.Originally posted by mr_sotong:only have a range of 60km?
now we know where the missile will b aiming..
2.Another news report this.But i think ST David Boey is moreOriginally posted by FG42:It should be:
18 M142 HIMARS Launchers
32 XM31 Unitary High Explosive GMLRS Pods (x 6 rockets per pod)
plus other accessories...
and a new munition crammed with tank-busting bomblets designed for artillery guns that fire 155mm shells.---DSTA showcases leading-edge technology projects at Army Open House 2002
Another news report this.But i think ST David Boey is moreActually it is part of the official US DoD new release , here the entire list for FMS to be reported to US Congress:
reliable in this matter.
http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2007/Singapore_07-48.pdf
18 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) Launchers
32 XM31 Unitary High Explosive GMLRS Pods
30 M28A1 Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems (MLRS) Practice Rocket Pods
35 VRC-92E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios Systems (SINCGARS)
45 VRC-90E SINCGARS
35 VRC-990 Vehicular Radio Communications Sets
45 VRC-950 Vehicular Radio Communications Sets
9 M1084A1 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 5-Ton Trucks
1 M1089A1 Wrecker
You reckon they're going to launch it off the top level of MSCPs here?Originally posted by Darkness_hacker99:Does Singapore need these? We are in Urban Area leh.
Sounds like the name of an old goat to me.Originally posted by LyonK:Himar sounds like a mid eastern name.
Well, thatOriginally posted by FG42:and the MOST potential target for our future HIMARS will be.... the Astros
Counter-battery fire and drop an over sized arty footprint on them.Originally posted by chino65:Well, that
s an interesting scenario.
(If the Astros is detected before firing no need to say...)
Assuming the Astros can remain undetected until firing, and then scoot seconds after shooting, how will the HIMARS target the Astros?
precision is the key to avoiding death and injuries of civilian. To be precise, location is important. If Astros is not undetected then there is nothing the airforce, the artillery, LSV, commando or anybody can do.Originally posted by chino65:Well, that
s an interesting scenario.
(If the Astros is detected before firing no need to say...)
Assuming the Astros can remain undetected until firing, and then scoot seconds after shooting, how will the HIMARS target the Astros?