The Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (or Hunter AFV in short) is a tracked Singaporeanarmoured fighting vehicle jointly developed by ST Engineering, Defence Science and Technology Agency, and the Singapore Army. Intended to replace the Singapore Army's aging M113Ultraarmoured 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]
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-LR2anti-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 armoured vehicle-launched bridge (HT-AVLB) variant at the 55th anniversary event of the Singapore Combat Engineers. This variant is stated to progressively replace the armoured 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]
Design
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 drive by wire capability, which allows the vehicle commander to take over driving functions from the driver without switching positions. [13] The commander and gunner also have independent sights.[14]
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 turret from Rafael armed with a 30 mmMk44 Bushmaster II cannon, with a magazine for 200 30x173mm rounds,[15] two SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles, a 7.62x51mmcoaxial machine gun, and eight 76 mm smoke grenade launchers. It has a maximum range of 500km and speed of 70km/h.[14]
Variants
Armoured fighting vehicle (30 mm cannon and 2 SPIKE-LR2 ATGM)
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