Hunter AFV | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Type | Armoured fighting vehicle |
Place of origin | Singapore |
Service history | |
In service | 2019 – present |
Used by | Singapore Army |
Production history | |
Designer | ST Engineering Defence Science and Technology Agency Singapore Army |
Designed | 2006 |
Manufacturer | ST Kinetics |
Produced | 2019 – present |
Specifications | |
Mass | Combat weight: 29.5 tonnes (32.5 short tons; 29.0 long tons) |
Length | 6.9 metres (22 ft 8 in) |
Width | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
Height | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
Crew | 3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver) plus 8 fully-equipped combat troops |
Main armament | Mk44 Bushmaster II 30 mm Cannon in Rafael Samson 30 Remote Controlled Weapon Station, Spike (ATGM) |
Secondary armament | 7.62×51mm NATO Coaxial MG, 8 x 76mm smoke grenade launchers. |
Engine | MTU 8V-199 TE20 Turbocharged Diesel 720hp (530kW) |
Power/weight | 24 hp/tonne |
Transmission | HMX3000 Hydro-mechanical Infinitely Variable Transmission |
Operational range | 500 km (310 mi) |
Maximum speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
The Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (or Hunter AFV in short) is a tracked Singaporean armoured fighting vehicle jointly developed by ST Engineering, Defence Science and Technology Agency, and the Singapore Army. Intended to replace the Singapore Army's aging Ultra M113 armoured personnel carriers, it was commissioned in 2019. [1] It is the Singapore Army's and the world's first fully digitalised platform, [2] and is designed to provide armoured forces with enhanced capabilities to operate more effectively and efficiently in various phases of military operations. It was formerly known as ST Kinetics Next Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle (NGAFV). [3]
Development of the Hunter started in 2006 as a project of the Singaporean Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)'s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA).
In March 2017, Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) announced that its land systems arm, Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics), had been awarded a contract by MINDEF for the production and supply of the Next Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle (NGAFV).
The NGAFV would replace the Ultra M113 AFV as a key component of the Singapore Armed Forces’ mechanized forces which has been in service with the Singapore Army since the early 70s. Delivery of the Hunter began in 2019. The vehicle would be delivered in troop carrier, command and recovery variants. [4]
The prototype model was exhibited at the Singapore Airshow in 2018. [5]
In June 2019, the Hunter AFV was commissioned for the Singapore Army, [6] with the 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment designated as the inaugural armour battle group operating the new platform. [7] The first armour battle group operating the platform was announced operationally ready by March 2022. [8] [9] The Armoured Recovery Vehicle variant of the Hunter platform was unveiled on 18 February 2022. [10]
In September 2022, the Singapore Army successfully concluded the inaugural overseas live-firing for the Hunter AFV in Oberlausitz, Germany. During which, the operational live-firing of the vehicle’s SPIKE-LR2 anti-tank guided missile was also successfully conducted. [11]
On 9 November 2022, social media releases from Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) confirmed the unveil and commissioning of the Hunter Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge (HT-AVLB) variant at the 55th anniversary event of the Singapore Combat Engineers. This variant is stated to progressively replace the Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridges based on the SM-1 platform, the only variant of the AMX-13 that is still in service with the Singapore Army. [12]
The vehicle has a tracked chassis [6] and is crewed by a commander, a driver, and a gunner. The vehicle is equipped with an integrated combat cockpit, which allows the commander and gunner to use a common set of controls to operate the Hunter, and a drive by wire capability, which allows the vehicle commander to take over driving functions from the driver. The commander and gunners also have independent sights. [14]
The Hunter has an MTU 8V-199 TE20 720hp (530kW) turbocharged diesel engine, & an HMX3000 Hydro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission. [15]
It has InArm Hydro-pneumatic suspension provided by Horstman of the UK, now a subsidiary of Renk. [15]
The AFV mounts an all-round surveillance system with a 360-degree field of vision, enabling closed-hatch operations, as well as a laser warning system. [14]
The Hunter AFV is equipped with the Army Tactical Engagement and Information System (ARTEMIS), a command and control system that allows the crew to operate the vehicle in a fully digitised environment and enabling the wireless exchange of information between vehicles and formations. This is also integrated with the remote controlled weapon station to enable sharing of target information. It is also equipped with a Health and Utilisation Monitoring System (HUMS) to monitor the vehicle's health and allow predictive maintenance. [14]
The Hunter AFV has a remotely controlled Samson Mk II turret from Rafael armed with a 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon, with a magazine for 200 30x173mm rounds, [15] two SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and eight 76 mm smoke grenade launchers. It has a maximum range of 500 km and speed of 70 km/h. [14]
An armoured fighting vehicle or armored fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured cars, assault guns, self-propelled artilleries, infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), and armoured personnel carriers (APC).
The Boxer is a multirole armoured fighting vehicle designed by an international consortium to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules. The governments participating in the Boxer programme have changed as the programme has developed. The Boxer vehicle is produced by the ARTEC GmbH industrial group, and the programme is being managed by OCCAR. ARTEC GmbH is based in Munich; its parent companies are Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Rheinmetall Military Vehicles GmbH on the German side, and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. for the Netherlands. Overall, Rheinmetall has a 64% stake in the joint venture.
The Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) is an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) developed by ST Engineering of Singapore and Timoney Technology of Ireland, and produced by ST Engineering Land Systems for the Singapore Army as well as by Turkish auto-maker Otokar as the Yavuz (AV-82) for the Turkish military.
The Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus is a self-propelled howitzer armed with a 155 mm howitzer. Developed jointly by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and Singapore Technologies Kinetics, it was officially inducted to the Singapore Artillery in 2004. Primus is derived from the Artillery motto In Oriente Primus.
The Bionix (BX) is a family of tracked Singaporean armoured fighting vehicles developed by ST Kinetics. Intended to augment the Singapore Army's aging M113 armoured personnel carriers, it is the first indigenous armoured vehicle to be developed in Southeast Asia. The Bionix has been operational with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) since 1999 in a wide variety of adaptations including the Bionix II, Bionix 25 and Bionix 40/50 variants.
The K21 is a South Korean infantry fighting vehicle. A replacement for the K200-series, it was formerly designated as K300 or XK21 KNIFV. The initial production began in 2009, with the Republic of Korea Army planning to field approximately 466 units. It is designed to effectively defeat other IFVs as heavily armed and armored as the BMP-3.
ST Engineering Land Systems Ltd (STELS), formerly known as ST Kinetics, is a strategic business area of ST Engineering and handles land systems and specialty vehicles.
The Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) is part of the Singapore Armed Forces's (SAF) move to integrate into 3G to progressively provide tactical units with network capabilities, including C4I capabilities in the field. The project costs about SG$100 million to maintain.
The Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC) is a twin chassis multi-purpose tracked articulated vehicle jointly developed by ST Kinetics and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) for the Singapore Army. The variant which was in service as a UOR with the British Armed Forces is known as the Warthog.
The Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) is a light fast attack vehicle used by the Singapore Army. In 2013, the Singapore designed and made Light Strike Vehicle Mark II entered service to replace the ageing Singapore and Australian made Light Strike Vehicle in service since 1998.
The Artillery is a formation of the Singapore Army, comprising four active battalions—the 20th, 21st, 23rd and 24th Battalions—and an undisclosed number of reservist battalions. The primary role of the Artillery formation is to deliver timely, accurate and effective fire in support of the manoeuvre force to accomplish missions. As an indirect fire support system, the gunners rely on the forward observer and target acquisition elements to provide the target's location, which is then passed to the command post to direct the gunners to fire.
The Marauder is an armoured, mine-protected vehicle that is produced by Paramount Group in South Africa. It was launched during the 2007 International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and Conference in Abu Dhabi, the largest arms exhibition in the Middle East.
Armour is the formation of the Singapore Army responsible for armoured warfare. It provides mobile firepower support and rapid mobility for the Army by helping to spearhead an advance past the enemy defences and seizing and holding key objectives on the battlefield. It has four active battalions—the 40th, 41st, 42nd and 48th Battalions, Singapore Armoured Regiment (SAR)—based in Keat Hong Camp and Sungei Gedong Camp, as well as an undisclosed number of reservist battalions.
Tulpar is a Turkish heavy infantry fighting vehicle designed by the Sakarya-based automotive manufacturer Otokar. It is named after the Tulpar, a winged horse in Turkic mythology.
The VBM – Freccia is a family of 8x8 armoured vehicles that was designed and manufactured for the Italian Army by IVECO for the hull, the engine and the suspension, and OTO Melara for the armament. The first variant to be developed was the IFV, the Freccia being equipped with a Hitfist turret, the same as the one installed on the Dardo IFV.
The Ajax, formerly known as the Scout SV, is a group of armoured fighting vehicles being developed by General Dynamics UK for the British Army. It has suffered serious development and production difficulties.
The Lynx is a German armoured fighting vehicle developed by Rheinmetall Landsysteme. The Lynx, configured as a KF31 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), was unveiled at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on 14 June 2016. The KF41 variant was unveiled at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on 12 June 2018. According to Rheinmetall, the Lynx family of tracked armoured vehicles is at the forefront of a new trend in IFV design toward armoured vehicles with lower unit and through-life costs and reduced complexity. One of the key principles of the Lynx concept is the integration of proven sub-systems with a high technology readiness level to reduce development time, cost and technical risk.
Maintenance and Engineering Support is the formation of the Singapore Army responsible for military engineering maintenance. It provides maintenance and engineering support to the Army by ensuring high operational equipment readiness for the Army and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) at sustainable budget and manpower resources. It also train technicians and operator-maintainers (OMers) to perform field repairs in military exercises and training.