SAF 3G weapons capabilities

[OPSSG]

On 9 May 2015, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) concluded its relief efforts in Nepal and the SAF relief contingent returned to Singapore on 11 May 2015 after a 12-day deployment. The SAF deployed 38 personnel comprising a medical team as well as staff from the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre. Seven personnel from the Ministry of Health and eight personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces worked together with the SAF medical team to provide medical support to over 3,000 people and also delivered aid to Gokarna and the outlying villages. The Gokarna civic body represented by Dr Hari Prasad Upadhyaya the Public Health Officer thanked the visitors for the gifts and thanked the medical team and the local volunteers for their invaluable medical help. Many local volunteers had supported the medical team with interpretation and translation services. Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 aircraft made a total of eleven flights into Nepal since 26 April 2015 to transport personnel, equipment and relief supplies, as well as to evacuate 71 Singaporeans, along with 24 other nationals, from Nepal.

On 12 May 2015, the Nepal Army, which has been leading search-and-rescue operations since the April 25 Great Earthquake, has said that it does not need any further foreign military support as its existing resources for airlift capacity were adequate. “We appreciate the incredible support from the military forces of our friendly nations,” said Nepal Army spokesperson Brig Gen Jagdish Chandra Pokhrel. “But we expect all foreign troops to return by the end of May.” The Nepal Army said that a total of 4,175 military personnel from 18 countries had arrived in Nepal for search-and-rescue and other humanitarian support, but most are returning home. As many as 1,552 army personnel from various countries have already left while 2,623 are still in the field. Army personnel from Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, Algeria, Bangladesh and Spain have all returned while those from six other countries are expected to leave in a week. However, troops from India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Indonesia are expected to leave by the end of this month. Thirty-four aircraft, including 14 from India, seven from the US and three from China, have also been mobilised in search-and-rescue and relief distribution.“The Nepal Army is already working in 546 areas in the 14 most-affected districts, so there is no need for additional foreign human resource,” said Basnyat. “But we definitely need other logistics.” The Nepal Army lacks equipment for rehabilitation and reconstruction, but it is well-prepared for any probable disaster during monsoon in the quake-affected districts, assured Maj Gen Basnyat.

http://bbc.in/1bTQ98u

Unfortunately, at 12:50 p.m. local time, on Tuesday, 12 May 2015, another magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Dolakha according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This 12 May 2015 earthquake is an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Gorkha District on 25 April 2015. According to UN OCHR, reporting on 13 May 2015, a total of 32 districts were affected, including those still recovering from the 25 April 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The Humanitarian-Military Operations Coordination Centre (HuMOCC) reported that 1,405 people were rescued by air, of which 1,307 people were rescued by the Nepal Army. Another 1,050 people were evacuated by road. There is an urgent need for tents, generators and fuel supply to ensure that radio stations continue broadcasting and collecting information from affected communities in Dhading, Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts. Debris removal remains a priority in all affected districts to ensure access to areas blocked by landslides. The HuMOCC serves as a one-stop shop for information-sharing and update, task sharing and division, and shared/joint planning on humanitarian needs and gaps (actual, anticipated or projected) and available military capacity on the ground. The HuMOCC services are geared towards optimising the use of available military assets to support humanitarian priorities in critically affected locations. The HuMOCC will deliver the following services in support of the Government of Nepal (GoN) to proactively address anticipated humanitarian-military operational coordination needs:

1. Facilitate access to rapid and comprehensive assessment information that identify priorities, needs, and requirements that are made the basis of operational planning of national and international efforts, including the use of Foreign Military Assistance (FMA);
2. Advise, as timely as possible, on the appropriate FMA to be deployed into the affected State and share priority locations for FMA deployment/coverage based on the priorities established by the GoN;
3. Contribute to achieving and maintaining common situational awareness that can be shared amongst all actors responding to the disaster in a coherent and systematic manner;
4. Raise awareness and understanding among humanitarian organisations and military actors of the humanitarian civil-military coordination (UN-CMCoord) function;
5. Facilitate identification of realistic indicators and benchmarks, including evaluation criteria and triggers for transition from military to civilian assets as well as drawdown and redeployment of military forces.

Delivering aid to Nepal has been anything but smooth. Nepal shut its only international airport in Kathmandu to large planes carrying aid on 3 May 2015 because of damage to the main runway. Besides the logistical bottleneck of operating from the damaged runway at Tibhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal's customs was slowing down aid delivery to the extent that UN OCHR chief Valerie Amos had to express her concern that customs controls during her visit there, during the same period. Despite the fact that more helicopters are desperately needed to get assistance to the farthest reaches of earthquake-struck Nepal before the start of the monsoon season, the Nepalese government, while thanking the UK for the offer, had rejected UK's offer of the use of three RAF Chinooks. "We are disappointed that our Chinooks will not be supporting the World Food Programme's request for help in distributing aid but all decisions in relation to the relief effort are ultimately for the Government of Nepal to take," said a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence.

Links to prior USAid Factsheets below:

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #19 - 4 June 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #18 - 28 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #17 - 26 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #16 - 22 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #15 - 20 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #14 - 18 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #13 - 15 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #12 - 13 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #11 - 11 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #10 - 8 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #9 - 6 May 2015
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE - FACT SHEET #8 - 4 May 2015

In more bad news, on 15 May 2015, a US Marine UH-1Y Huey helicopter on an earthquake relief mission in Nepal was found crashed on a mountainside (at an altitude of 11,200 ft or 3,400 m), 8 miles or 13 km north of the town of Charikot near dense forest and rugged terrain, with all eight on board presumed dead, US officials said. "It was a very severe crash. We believe there were no survivors," said John Wissler, lieutenant general of the US Marines. The helicopter had been flying from Kathmandu airport as part of the US Operation Sahayogi Haat, which means "helping hand" in Nepali.

As of 24 May 2015, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that approximately 21,600 people were sheltering in 64 displacement sites throughout Kathmandu Valley, including 15,100 people sheltering in 32 open spaces that were previously identified through IOM’s USAID/OFDA-funded Open Spaces program. The number of displaced persons in Kathmandu Valley, which comprises Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, and Lalitpur districts, has declined by nearly 50 percent — approximately 20,000 people — since early May. Providing shelter support in advance of the monsoon season remains an urgent response priority. As of June 2, 762,300 people have been reached with shelter assistance — approximately 40 percent of the 1.9 million people targeted to receive support.

 

[OPSSG]

Sorry for reviving a necro-thread but the topic is appropriate...

Singapore increases defence budget 6.4% to SGD13.97 billion

By Jon Grevatt, Bangkok and Craig Caffrey,
London - IHS Jane's Defence Industry

28 March 2016 -- Singapore has announced a 2016 defence budget of SGD13.97 billion (USD10.2 billion): an increase of 6.4% over 2015. The rate of growth is the fastest seen in the country since 2011 with increases having averaged around 3.5% annually over the past five years.

The 2016 budget will also see defence expenditure increase as a proportion of GDP for the second consecutive year, rising to 3.4%. Defence spending had been in gradual decline as a percentage of GDP since 2009 until the approval of the 2015 budget.

Budgetary documents published on 24 March show that the allocation includes SGD13.30 billion (or 95% of the defence budget) for operating expenses with the remaining SGD671 million for development expenditure....

<snip>

Speaking at the Committee of Supply or Budget Debate on 7 April 2016, Dr Ng told Parliament that although there was no specific intelligence of any imminent plot against Singapore, intelligence agencies had indicated that almost all cities, including Singapore, were targets. But as today’s threats continue to evolve, so too must the SAF adapt, said Dr Ng. "Studying what happened in Paris, Jakarta, and Brussels, the SAF will enhance its incident response." Terrorism was a challenge that the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had identified a decade ago. We should also take note of the fact that Singapore's defence budget has increased, in response to an urgent need to recapitalise certain categories of ageing defence assets - such as the retirement or upcoming end of life of the following:

http://youtu.be/agloikYoE9M

(1) the last F-5 squadron (replaced with a 2nd squadron of F-15SGs) and lethality upgrades to the F-16C/Ds (with AESA radar and new weapons),
(2) the 4 KC-135R (to be replaced with 6 A-330 MRTT),
(3) the 40 Searcher UAVs (replaced with the Heron-1 and Hermes 450 UAVs),
(4) the fleet of V-200s (replaced with the Protected Response Vehicle - Renault Higuard),
(5) the older suite of air defence radars, including the FPS-117A (replaced by the ELM-2084 Multi Mission Radar, the existing Giraffe AMB, the 200 SHIKRA radar and the future Ticom 55 aerostat); which will provide a extremely high resolution air picture for Singapore's air defenders,
(6) the older ground based air defence missiles, including the I-Hawk missiles (replaced with the Spyder air defence missile firing units and the ASTER 30),
(7) new helicopters to replace the old fleets of Super Puma and some of the CH-47D Chinook helicopters,
(8) old AEVs, ARVs and VLBs like the M728 AEVs (replaced with the AEV, known as the Pionierpanzer 3 Kodiak), the old ARVs (replaced with the Buffel Armoured Recovery Vehicle), and the old M60 based VLBs (replaced with the Biber Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge),
(9) old land-rover vehicles (replaced with the Protected Combat Support Vehicle - URO VAMTAC and the Ford 550 ambulances),
(10) older sat com 3 tonner (replaced with the MAN 5 Ton Very Small Aperture SAT Comm),
(11) the 11 Fearless Class Vessels (to be replaced with 8 LMVs),
(12) the last 2 Challenger Class submarines (to be replaced with 2 Type-218SGs),
(13) the replacement for the AMX-13S1 and so on (too lazy to list further).​

From Asia's Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific, by Robert D. Kaplan (Random House, 2014), Kindle Loc. 1619-1641:

Singapore’s independence began less with a declaration of such than with the building of a formidable military. “Spider-Man needs a suit to make him strong; we needed an outsized armed forces,” explained a defense official. While Singapore has only 3.3 million citizens, it boasts an air force the same size as Australia’s, whose population is 23 million. “Like the Israelis, the Singaporeans believe in air superiority. They pay their pilots well. They have AWACS,” a defense official from a neighboring country told me. In addition to its one hundred or so fighter jets, Singapore has twenty missile-carrying ships, six frigates, and, notably, six submarines—an extraordinary number given that far more populous countries in the region like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam each have fewer. “Nobody can squeeze us through a blockade.”

It is not enough that Singapore has these air and sea platforms. For it is deadly serious about using them effectively. Because Singapore lacks empty space for military training, it regularly has four air squadrons training in the United States, ground troops training in Taiwan, and helicopter crews training in Australia. It allots sixty-five days a year for army maneuvers with leopard tanks. “We will not be hemmed in by our neighbors.” Too, Singapore has a conscript military. Said the same defense official: “There are only three developed countries in the world that are very serious about national service—South Korea, Israel, and us.” But the vast latent power of China still unsettles the Singaporeans, so much so that they feel they have no choice but to rely directly on the United States. As another diplomat told me: “We see American hard power as benign. The U.S. Navy defends globalization by protecting the sea lanes, which we, more than any other people, benefit from. To us, there is nothing dark or conspiratorial about the United States and its vast security apparatus.”

In 1998, the Singaporeans built Changi Naval Base solely to host American nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. “We designed the piers to meet the dimensions of American warships,” a high-ranking military man here told me, in order to lure American naval platforms to Singaporean waters. “It’s kind of like, if you serve good coffee and tea, people will come.” Indeed, in 2011 there were 150 American warship visits to Singapore. Then there were the three American littoral combat ships that, it was announced in 2011, would be stationed in Singapore.

Finally, beyond military might, there is the power of diplomacy. Singapore externalizes its security not only through the American navy and air force, but through an alliance like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN is about “socializing other states to a set of core values.” Those core values revolve around the independence of small and medium-sized states banding together in the face of a rising great power like China, even though no diplomat in the region will ever say that on the record.

Learning from past mistakes, Singapore understands that to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed. Good intelligence is of crucial importance to a small state, like Singapore. The security problems faced by Singapore go beyond the traditional need for intelligence on state actors from the past. Today's threats faced are multi-faceted, trans-national and complex. Singapore understands the need to have the ability to gather information to conduct counter-terrorism operations against both state and non-state actors. Singapore is not shy about learning from others, and as events unfold, someone in Singapore, is observing, gathering intelligence, acting on that intelligence, and learning from that incident.

(i) To tackle the threat of ISIS at the source, the SAF has extended its deployment of an Imagery Analysis Team (IAT) in the Middle-East, Dr Ng announced. Last year, the SAF deployed a KC-135R tanker to support air-to-air refuelling operations, and an IAT as part of the multi-national coalition effort to combat ISIS. The IAT was tasked to monitor suspected terrorist facilities and activities to help the coalition in disrupting supply chains that feed networks in the region. Dr Ng noted that coalition commanders had commended the IAT's efforts, and asked the SAF to continue their deployment.

(ii) The SAF is also stepping up intelligence-sharing with Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States, and Australia. This will provide early warning for Singapore, allowing authorities to apprehend terrorist suspects that intend to do the country harm.

(iii) To strengthen practical cooperation, Singapore will co-organise the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise with Brunei, Australia and New Zealand in May 2016.

(iv) To guard against cyber-attacks, the SAF will double the number of cyber defence personnel in the Cyber Defence Operations Hub by 2020, he announced. These cyber defence personnel will use more artificial intelligence and big data analytics to better detect and respond to cyber threats. The SAF will also shore up the security of its network and hardware, and build greater security design into software design.​

Australia seals trade expansion and A$2.5b defence deal with Singapore

By James Massola and David Wroe for Sydney Morning Herald

6 May 2016 -- Australia will significantly deepen economic and defence ties with Singapore through an expansion of the countries' free trade agreement and a major boost to the number of Singaporean troops training in Queensland...

<snip>

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Robb and Trade Minister Steve Ciobo will on Friday announce the agreement, under which Singapore will build $2.25 billion of new defence infrastructure, including new barracks, making it the only country beyond the United States to invest in military infrastructure on Australian soil...

<snip>

"It takes our relationship to a whole other level, and in the region [it is] comparable to our very, very close relationship with New Zealand," Mr Robb said.

"It will lead to significantly more linkages and business across so many different sectors. It's going to lead to immediate multi-billion investments in Northern Australia. It's totally consistent with where we wanted the Defence white paper to go, where the northern Australia [white paper] commitments go..."

<snip>

For the next quarter of a century, Singapore will send up to 14,000 military personnel to Australia for training, up from the 6000 a year now. They will stay for up to 18 weeks, longer than they currently stay.

There will also be an expansion to air force training. Details are yet to be agreed upon, but Singapore pilots will now be able to train in Australia for up to six months a year.

The expanded troop training will be based in Shoalwater Bay and Townsville in Queensland. Singapore will spend $2.25 billion on training facilities, barracks, roads, fencing and other measures, with the investment roughly split between the two sites.

For the other 34 weeks of the year, the Australian Army will be able to use the facilities.

A boost to northern Queensland's economy, in such areas as tourism, is also expected to flow through.

The deal follows Mr Robb signing free trade deals with China, Japan, South Korea and the Trans-Pacific Partnership in the past three years and significantly expands the existing FTA, first struck in 2003.

It increases visa access for Australian contract workers and executives, and allows spouses and children to work. Singapore will recognise some postgraduate law and medical degrees from some universities.

And investments – aside from agricultural land investments – under $1 billion will avoid full scrutiny from the Foreign Investment Review Board, up from the current threshold of $250 million. Both countries will commit $25 million to a science and innovation fund.

Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University, said Singapore was desperate for "strategic depth" – relations with like-minded countries. But it was also good for Australia, he said.

"The context is in large part the rise of China, but it's not just about China. Singapore is famously pragmatic and recognises the need for smaller and middle powers to work together on security, because of uncertainties about Indo-Pacific power balance more generally, including the future US posture."

He said that given the wrangling between Canberra and Washington over who would pay for the US Marine facilities in Darwin, it was "ironic that Singapore, a non-ally, seems willing to stump up for costs to cover its forces' access to Australia, when our US ally has been so reluctant to do so".

Singapore and Australia have concluded a landmark agreement to deepen economic integration; to expand defence cooperation; to jointly promote innovation and entrepreneurship; and to strengthen people-to-people ties by facilitating tourism, cultural exchanges and educational opportunities. This agreement builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) adopted in June 2015 by the Prime Ministers of Singapore and Australia (A copy of the Joint Announcement made by both countries is at this linked Annex).

Thanks to this agreement, the Australian-Singaporean defence relationship will broaden in scope and deepen over the next 25 years, as the armed forces from both countries benefit from enhanced training facilities built in Queensland. In the short term, Australians can look forward to taking part in building projects as new infrastructure is constructed under a A$2.25 billion master plan. Upsized training facilities will more than double the number of SAF personnel who can train Down Under, to 14,000 personnel. This translates to war games that can take a Singapore Army division, including support arms like artillery and combat engineer battalions and combat service support battalions so vital for sustaining the pace and tempo of any military action. More importantly, the expansion of Exercise Trident will improve interopability in amphibious operations (see: http://youtu.be/Jd2OmellQGM ) that will be deployed when the need arises - especially in support of humanitarian relief operations after natural disasters.

Singapore and Australia will enhance military personnel exchanges and initiate civilian personnel exchanges. We will also enhance intelligence and information sharing, such as in counter-terrorism, and launch a Track 1.5 Dialogue in late-2016 to discuss regional and security issues. These initiatives will further strengthen institutional links and enhance greater understanding between our two countries.

Defence
• Australia and Singapore will jointly develop military training areas and facilities in Australia, enhancing Singapore’s training. Singapore will have enhanced and expanded military training access in Australia over a period of 25 years.
• Australia and Singapore to continue to exploit the benefits derived from the development of Exercise TRIDENT as the signature bilateral joint military exercise.
• Australia and Singapore will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance military personnel exchanges and begin civilian personnel exchanges.
• Australia and Singapore will enhance intelligence and information-sharing in areas of mutual interest, such as counter-terrorism.
• Australia and Singapore to hold a pilot 1.5 Track Dialogue in Australia in late 2016. The Dialogue will bring together Government officials and academia to discuss regional security issues.
• Australia and Singapore to work together on defence science and technology, in areas including combat systems/command, control, communications, computers and intelligence integration; and cognitive/human systems integration.
• These major areas of cooperation and collaboration demonstrate the extent of our strategic defence partnership.

 

[Nick underscore]

Thanks for the update OPSSG

14,000 rotating through SWBTA & Townsvile (February-May and August-November) is surprising IMV - up from 6,000 annually.

Is SAF moving some of the local-based training to Aus? I have read that the SAF training operations in Taiwan (Starlight Programme) may be shifted to Aus.

I wouldn't be surprised if the SAF establish an Army-based 'activity' set. Logistically makes sense over 25 years.

Overall, it's a win/win

 

[OPSSG]

Thanks for the update OPSSG

14,000 rotating through SWBTA & Townsvile (February-May and August-November) is surprising IMV - up from 6,000 annually.

Singapore is proud of our combined arms divisions and is one of the few armies in the region that conducts training at a divisional level and not just at subordinate HQ levels.

However the footprint in SWBTA is typically much less than 2k troops per frame - the large number arises from the number of frames/rotations of troops. A good way to think about 14k, would be to think of it as about 6 to 7 frames/rotations, give or take - except for the small number of ranger course trainees being cycled through SWBTA and they stay longer than a typical frame.

Is SAF moving some of the local-based training to Aus? I have read that the SAF training operations in Taiwan (Starlight Programme) may be shifted to Aus.

Local training remains (for core and basic soldiering skills). Exercise Starlight continues but some other activities there may be scaled down - can't say more in an open forum.

I wouldn't be surprised if the SAF establish an Army-based 'activity' set. Logistically makes sense over 25 years.

Overall, it's a win/win

Yes. The upgrading of Australia-Singapore security relations should be appreciated in a broader strategic context that extends to the South China Sea, as well as in the political context of the currently under-performing relationship with Indonesia.

 

[CheeZe]

the political context of the currently under-performing relationship with Indonesia

That's certainly a polite way of phrasing it.

(13) the replacement for the AMX-13S1 and so on (too lazy to list further).

Weren't those already replaced by the Leo 2SG? Or is there also a plan to buy new light tanks?

 

[Nick underscore]

...However the footprint in SWBTA is typically much less than 2k troops per frame - the large number arises from the number of frames/rotations of troops.. 6 to 7 frames/rotations, give or take - except for the small number of ranger course trainees being cycled through SWBTA and they stay longer than a typical frame.

Local training remains (for core and basic soldiering skills). Exercise Starlight continues but some other activities there may be scaled down - can't say more in an open forum.

Yes. The upgrading of Australia-Singapore security relations should be appreciated in a broader strategic context that extends to the South China Sea, as well as in the political context of the currently under-performing relationship with Indonesia.

Thanks for the response and the added colour regarding the size of the frames and frequency.

IMV, Singapore is a 'perfect' partner for many reasons.

 

[OPSSG]

That's certainly a polite way of phrasing it.

I aim to please (and I am grateful for the air I breathe). Don't you just love Indonesian politicians for the comic relief they bring?

Weren't those already replaced by the Leo 2SG? Or is there also a plan to buy new light tanks?

David Boey in his blog claims that there is a replacement planned for the AMX-13 SM1. It may appear in a NDP mobile column, one day soon - perhaps not this year but one day. But then, he could simply be wrong.

IMV, Singapore is a 'perfect' partner for many reasons.

Agreed.

We thankful to our Australian mates for making this possible. The Lowy Institute recently launched Euan Graham’s May 2016 research effort on the strategic partnership between Australia and Singapore (See this PDF on the Lion and the Kangaroo), where he states at the conclusion:

"The Singapore–Australia CSP needs to be seen in the context of Southeast Asia’s rising strategic profile. The 2016 Australian Defence White Paper suggests that Canberra is persuaded of the strategic need to pay more attention to Southeast Asia and to be more active in shaping its near region. Singapore is a natural partner for Australia because of commonalities in outlook and capability that are also unmatched elsewhere in the region. Beyond its national security and defence resources, Singapore also has the enabling capacity to serve as a hub for Australia’s growing security interests in Southeast Asia, including counterterrorism, just as it does in the economic sphere.

While Singapore in some senses represents Asia in microcosm, Australians need to be alert to the trap of perceiving it as a proxy for the region. The CSP is not an alternative to bilateral engagement with Indonesia, or other key ASEAN members. Nor would it be wise to cast Singapore in that light. But it can be an important source of strategic ballast and continuity for Australia..."​

 

[Nick underscore]

Cheers for the linky OPSSG and nice timing on the find.

My earlier statement - 'perfect partner for many reasons' is sufficiently evident in the the link you provided.

This hits the nail for me..

"..Singapore’s advanced technological and military capability is second to none within ASEAN, making it a natural peer partner for defence interoperability and defence industrial collaboration."

It's a shame that 'other' regional partners, can't be considered the same. Of course, that could change, within the coming years.

Having said that, I don't nessecesarily agree with this statement..

"Singapore’s core interest lies in consolidating its strategic depth, through enhanced access to military training and exercise areas in Australia. In return, Canberra is seeking enhanced trade and investment access to Singapore and Southeast Asia via an enlargement of SAFTA."

I wouldn't say this is purely economic from an Aus mindset.

 

[solbreak]

With regards to the long-awaited Super Puma replacement, it appears that a decision will be announced soon.

Earlier in the month, IHS Janes reported that Airbus and Leonardo-Finmeccanica were downselected to replace the medium-lift helicopters:

Singapore has downselected Airbus and Leonardo-Finmeccanica to replace its ageing Aerospatiale AS332M Super Puma platforms, it was reported on 3 May.

Sources familiar with the details of the procurement said that both European manufacturers will compete for the requirement to provide a dozen new helicopters to replace the 18 Eurocopter Super Pumas that have been fielded by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) since 1985, the Reuters news agency said, adding that defence minister Ng Eng Hen noted a decision would be made "soon".

Neither company would comment to Reuters on the disclosure, but Airbus Helicopters could offer its recently relaunched H215/H215M (Super Puma/Cougar), H225/H225M (Caracal), or NH90 (Airbus Helicopters is the major stakeholder in the multinational programme); while Leonardo-Finmeccanica's chief medium-twin offering is the AgustaWestland AW149. While the company's AW159 Lynx Wildcat is available in both land- and sea-based configurations, it is probably too light to be considered for this particular requirement.

As noted by Reuters, the new helicopter would be required for both land- and sea-based applications, with the tender being worth some USD1 billion. No details about timelines were released.

Source: IHS Janes

Further, CNA has reported that Singapore's Nanyang Technological University has signed an agreement for research collaboration involving helicopters with Leonardo-Finmeccanica:

SINGAPORE: Italian industrial company Leonardo-Finmeccanica on Monday (May 23) announced it signed an agreement with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to start a five-year research collaboration in integrated and innovative composites helicopter structure and aerodynamics.

The S$4.2 million research collaboration was signed in Rome and witnessed by Minister for Education, Universities and Research Stefania Giannini and Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran at the Ministry for Education, Universities and Research. The agreement follows the memorandum of understanding signed in Singapore this February, the press release said.

This collaboration will enhance Leonardo-Finmeccanica's lead in advanced helicopter technologies and research capabilities and will provide NTU faculties and students unique access to helicopter industry expertise and know-how.

It will seek to further technology opportunities in the rapidly evolving rotary wing sector - whose changes are characterised by the progress in composite materials, reduction in hydraulics and dynamic components and growing efficiency in industrial processes, the company, which in April underwent a rebranding exercise to eventually be named Leonardo, added.

Joint projects may include research in innovative methods to advance the manufacturing of Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s products, through the use of new composite materials which are lighter and stronger. The collaboration will also expand aerodynamics research modelling, which can potentially improve overall flight performance, it said.

NTU had said in February the collaboration is expected to boost Singapore’s aerospace industry, and is also “well-aligned” with the Government’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 plan.
Source: CNA

Speculation:
While this is by no means a confirmation that Leonardo-Finmeccanica will be selected, that outcome appears to be likely. Singapore's defence procurements have often involved technological transfer agreements, customisation inputs and joint-collaboration, and this may well be the case for the procurement of the SP replacements.

Although IHS Janes speculated that the AW149 could be the chief offering, one might note that it is a relatively new platform with no extant operators yet, and the SAF's procurement tends to be inclined towards mature and proven platforms. Moreover, it appears to have a smaller capacity compared to the SPs. Finmeccanica's AW101 (previously known as EH101) appears to be a more likely candidate, being a proven platform operated by Japan, Italy, Norway and U.K for utility transport and maritime purposes.

 

[solbreak]

Singapore has unveiled their next generation AFV, the M113 replacement. It will feature enhanced mobility, crew protection and networked warfare capabilities.

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will commission the next generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) by 2019.

It will replace the Ultra M113 Armoured Fighting Vehicle, the army's staple AFV which has been in service since the early 1970s and is a key component of its mechanised forces. The new vehicle, with its bigger calibre gun, will provide enhanced firepower and protection.

It also has a laser rangefinder. The soldier firing can use the laser to pinpoint the target. A digital control system will automatically adjust the direction of the gun so that the shot will hit the target.

In the Ultra M113 AFV, soldiers who are not on the vehicle can only communicate with those on board by talking, gesturing or through voice communication systems. However, as the next generation AFV is connected to the Army Battlefield Internet, they can exchange data and information through it.

The new AFV also offers better protection. In the Ultra M113, part of the vehicle commander's body is exposed. In the new AFV, he is seated within the vehicle, which can hold between three and 11 people. It weighs 29 tonnes and can travel up to 70 kmh.

The vehicle, which began development in 2006, is designed here. The SAF worked with the Defence Science Technology Agency and Singapore Technologies to develop the vehicle.

Source: The Straits Times

EDIT:

These are the specifications from MINDEF

Crew Size
Platform: 3
Dismounted: Up to 8

Measurements
Length: 6.9m
Width: 3.28m
Height: 3.2m
Weight: 29 tonnes
Power to Weight Ratio: 24.5hp/tonne

Mobility
Max Speed: 70km/h
Range: 500km
Vertical obstacle clearance: 0.6m
Trench Clearance: 2.1m
Max Front Slope: 60%​

Comments: Not much info to work with and it's probable that these specs will change as they are only for the final prototype, not the finished product. That said, expecting it to be the SAF's answer to the Puma IFV, designed to meet the local requirements.

 

[Joe Black]

Singapore has unveiled their next generation AFV, the M113 replacement. It will feature enhanced mobility, crew protection and networked warfare capabilities.

Looks like it will have an Elbit MT30 turret minus the Spike missile launcher.

see news here: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/landwarfareintl/singapore-unveils-next-generation-afv/

 

[searchfun]

Replacement for Bionix or ?

Both are designed as AFV, anyway Bionix is not that old. Don't make sense for SAF.

 

[Joe Black]

Replacement for Bionix or ?

Both are designed as AFV, anyway Bionix is not that old. Don't make sense for SAF.

The new AFV will first replace the M113 Ultra, then perhaps the original Bionix, before the Bionix2.