STK 155mm FH-88 Gun Howitzer for Indonesia

26 Januari 2000

Ordnance Development and Engineering of Singapore (ODE), a company of Chartered Industries of Singapore, developed a 155 mm gun-howitzer with a 39 calibre barrel known as the FH-88. Early in 2000 the company became part of Singapore Technologies Kinetics. There were five prototypes produced over a period of four years beginning in 1983. These were followed by a pre-production batch of six 155 mm FH-88 gun-howitzers that incorporated a number of improvements as a result of trials with the prototype weapons.

First production FH-88s were completed in 1987, with the weapon becoming operational with the Singapore Army the following year. It is believed that a total of 52 systems were built for the Singapore Army. These replaced Israeli older Soltam Systems 155 mm M71S (with the S standing for Singapore, as they have been modified) systems which have been placed in reserve.
FH-88 of the Indonesia Army (photo : Sthirayudha2)

Indonesia took delivery of five 155 mm FH-88 systems in 1997. It is understood that these were brand new weapons. The 155 mm/39 calibre FH-88 has been followed in production by the Singapore Technologies Kinetics 155 mm/52 calibre FH2000 which is covered in a separate entry. The more recent FH-2000 artillery system uses some components of the FH-88 including the sighting system, APU and the complete family of 155 mm ammunition. More recently Singapore Technologies Kinetics has developed the new 155 mm/39 calibre Pegasus Light Weight Howitzer (LWH) which is already in service with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Sumber : Jane’s

Australia Selects MSTAR

1 Desember 1999
MSTAR gound surveillance radar (image : AIPM)

Racal Australia will supply 61 MSTAR ground surveillance radars to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of Project Ninox. The contract, worth more than A$50 million (US$31.8m), is due to be signed early next year. Vision Abell will assemble and test the radars, deliveries of which are due to begin in mid-2001.

The ADF will fit 28 of the radars to Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) operated by armored reconnaissance regiments, with the remainder being allocated to infantry battalions, artillery regiments and regional force surveillance units.

Sumber : Jane’s

Thailand Selects ASCOD Light Tank

27 Oktober 1999

Ascod 105 : Until 2009, this deal has not realised yet (photo : Army Technology)

The Royal Thai Marine Corps has selected the ASCOD light tank forits requirements and expects to place an order with Austria's Steyr-Daimler-Puch for 15 vehicles plus one command post vehicle and one repair and recovery vehicle. This is the first export orderfor the ASCOD light tank.

Other contractors understood to have been competing for this requirement include the US companies Textron Marine & Land System swith the latest Stingray II and United Defense LP with the M8 Armored Gun System, both of which are armed with a 105mm rifled gun. The Royal Thai Army already operates 106 of the earlier Stingray I light tank.

Sumber : Jane's

Singapore Strengthen Capabilities With AH-64D Apache And Hellfire II Missiles

14 Juni 1999

After more than a year of discussions and evaluations, the Singapore government chose AH-64D Apache attack helicopters to fulfill the country's development of its modern and balanced armed forces. The Apache was selected over several other attack helicopters, according to Dr. Tony Tan, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, who made the announcement. With the announcement, Singapore became the 8th nation to select the Apache.

AH-64D Apache Longbow of the Royal Singapore Air Force (photo : NTU)

The eight Apaches will be flown by the Singapore air force. The aircraft will not include Longbow Fire Control Radars. The brains and brawn of the Apaches are the Target Acquisition System/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS) and the Hellfire II missiles, both produced by Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles in Orlando, FL. The TADS/PNVS enables Apache pilots to fly at very low altitudes in total darkness and in poor weather, see ground targets, and destroy them at standoff ranges using Hellfire missiles. The Hellfire II missile achieves pinpoint accuracy by homing in on reflected laser energy aimed at the target from the TADS laser designator/rangefinder. The Hellfire II defeats advanced armor in the presence of severe electro-optical countermeasures.

When Singapore's orders are placed, total AH-64D orders will increase to 337, including 232 for the U.S. Army, 67 for the United Kingdom and 30 for The Netherlands. Over 1,000 Apaches, both A and D models, have been delivered since program inception. To date, nearly 8,000 Hellfire IIs have been delivered to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps and foreign government customers.

The AH-64D Apache is the world's only fourth-generation combat helicopter, featuring fully integrated avionics and weapons and a state-of-the-art modem that transmits real-time, secure digitized battlefield information to a wide range of air and ground forces. It incorporates a series of enhancements that make it more effective in combat, and more survivable, deployable and maintainable in the field. The Apache has been widely deployed on most U.S. military missions, including the 1991 Gulf War.

With company headquarters in Orlando, Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles is a world leader in electro-optics, smart munitions, anti armor and air defense systems. It is a unit of the Lockheed Martin Electronics sector, a leader in the design, development and manufacture of electronics systems for global defense, civil and commercial markets.

Sumber : Lockheed Martin

Australia Orders More Penguins

1 Juni 1999
Kongsberg's Penguin air-to-surface missiles (photo : Militaryphotos)

The Australian Department of Defence has exercised an option worth $76 million to buy additional Penguin air-to-surface missiles and related equipment for the Kaman SH-2G (A) Super Seasprite helicopters on Anzac-class frigates. A contract for additional missiles was signed in Canberra by Gunnar Tuisk, Director General Helicopter and Guided Weapons, and Vidar Sandengen, vice-president of Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace.

Super Seasprite heli with the Penguin missiles (photo : AeroplaneArt)

The contract for Phase 2 of the project follows the initial contract for $79 million signed with Kongsberg in February last year which provides for transfer of technology to Australian Defence Industries to allow manufacture of Penguin warheads in Australia. Since funds were available for the planned follow-on purchase, the Phase 2 contract was brought forward to take advantage of prices which will ultimately result in savings in terms of unit cost. Delivery of the missiles is expected to be completed by January 2003.

"Penguins are currently in service in the United States and Hellenic Navies as well as the Norwegian, Swedish and Turkish Defence Forces", said Tuisk after the signing, "but the missiles we are buying are optimised for countering surface threats that the Anzac ships could face in Australia's maritime approaches."

The action to secure phase 2 of the Penguin acquisition quickly will mean a considerable savings to the Commonwealth at the same time contributing to our national security.

Australian industry has had successful involvement in the program through development of an Australian insensitive munitions production capability which will provide the missile warhead."

Sumber : Jane’s

Australia's New Minehunter

1 Mei 1999
Royal Australia Navy's Huon class mine hunter ship (photo : GovAu)

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has taken on-time delivery of the first of six new coastal mine hunting vessels (MHC), HMAS Huon, following months of extensive acceptance trials. The Huon-class design is based on Intermarine's Gaeta-class MHCs currently in service with the Italian Navy. Huon's hull was constructed at Intermarine's Saranza Shipyard in Italy, and arrived at prime contractor ADI Limited's (Australia) Throsby Basin in Newcastle for fitting out in August 1995.

HMAS Huon is equipped with the Thomson Marconi Sonar Ltd. Type 2093 variable depth sonar, designed for simultaneous operation in combinations of search, detection, classification, and route survey modes. The dual-frequency search and classification capability of the Type 2093 enables the sonar to operate under most bottom and sea conditions, at a range claimed to be twice that of a hull mounted sonar and with a threefold increase in detection depth. The RAN's new MHC also has two remotely controlled mine disposal vehicles, equipped with a mine disposal charge, searchlights, closed circuit television, and high-definition sonar.

According to ADI, the Huon-class programme is the first instance in which the majority of the detailed design work for a major Australian high-technology maritime project has been carried out in Australia. The detailed design accounts for 80% of the total ship design and entails specifying and formulating installation requirements of all the ship's systems. ADI reports that the other Huon-class MHCs are also on schedule and within budget. The second-of-class, Hawkesbury, has commenced sea trials, and the keel for the final ship is expected to be laid in June 1999. All six Huon-class ships will be based at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney.

Sumber : Jane’s

Vietnam Stocking Up 'SCUDS'

14 April 1999

Vietnam has obtained a quantity of surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) from North Korea to supplement its inventory of Russian-made SS-1 'Scud B' SSMs, Asian-based intelligence sources have revealed to Jane's Defence Weekly.

The new SSMs are described as "modified Scuds", but neither the specific designation nor the quantity is known. The phrasing suggests they may be of the 'Scud C' variant, which North Korea began to develop in 1984.

North Korea's Scud C / Hwasong 6 (photo : Geocities)

Vietnamese Scud B (photo : Hoangsa)

Pyongyang produced 'Scud B' and 'Scud C' SSMs from the late 1980s to early 1990s but production probably ceased when its focus shifted to the more sophisticated Nodong and Taepo Dong ballistic missile programmes.

The 'Scud B' has a range of 300km and a payload of 985kg. The 'Scud C' extends this range to 550km and has a reduced payload of 770kg, along with improved guidance. The SSM purchase may have been finalised by Vietnamese vice defence minister Nguyen Thoi Bung, since retired, during his December 1996 visit to Pyongyang. It formed part of a package deal worth an estimated $100 million, probably paid in whole or in part through barter arrangements for commodities such as rice.

Other elements of the package included two Sang-o-class submarines (JDW 9 December), a quantity of Igla (probably SA-16 'Gimlet') man portable air-defence systems and, perhaps, other items. The report of North Korea's missile sale to Vietnam coincides with the unsuccessful conclusion of a fourth round of talks between Pyongyang and Washington on missile non-proliferation. The USA is seeking an end to North Korea's development, testing, deployment and export of ballistic missiles.

Sumber : Jane’s