Singapore Requests HIMARS Rocket Artillery
Related Stories: Asia - Other, BAE, Contracts - Intent, Lockheed Martin, Missiles - Precision Attack, Signals Radio & Wireless
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On Sept 12/07, the US DSCA announced [PDF] Singapore’s formal request for M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) rocket launchers as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $330 million.
HIMARS is designed to be a more transportable counterpart to the tracked M270 MLRS system that can roll off a C-130 to deliver long-range artillery support. The HIMARS systems will complement Singapore’s own air-transportable Pegasus semi-mobile 155mm howitzers, providing longer range precision strike just as they complement the USMC’s M777A2 howitzers.
The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control at Dallas, Texas and BAE subsidiary Stewart & Stevenson at Sealy, Texas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, and implementation will require the assignment of a U.S. Government Quality Assurance Team of up to 5 contractor representatives to Singapore for 2 weeks to assist in the delivery and deployment of the HIMARS and sequential deliveries. A 3-man Technical Assistance Fielding Team will also be required for training missions for up to 2years. A U.S. Government representative will also remain in country for a minimum of 2 years in order to assist in the security assistance aspects of the proposed sale.
Nov 23/09: Singapore’s Army announces that HIMARS has been added to Singapore’s artillery, and used at Exercise Forging Sabre 09 at Fort Sill, OK:
“In addition, with its extensive range of up to 70 kilometres, we are able to do joint-missions with the Air Force such as suppression of the enemy’s air defences. This will help ensure the highest survivability of our air assets as well as availability to direct them for other missions.”
Another highlight of Exercise Forging Sabre 09 is the deepening of our air-land integrated strike operations through the collaboration between the Division Strike Centre (DSC) and the Air-Land Tactical Command Centre (ALTaCC). This is also the first time that the command posts from our Army and the RSAF are operating together in an exercise.”
Feb 3/09: A $7.3 million firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement contract for 38 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) chassis for Foreign Military Sales customers. Recent DSCA requests for HIMARS systems have included the UAE (20 in 2006), as well as Singapore’s 18, so the math adds.
Sept 12/07: The exact composition of the request is…
- 18 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) Launchers.
- 32 XM31 Unitary High Explosive GMLRS Pods. these have been used in the current Iraq war, where their sudden strike and GPS-guided ability to hit buildings and other hardened structures with their 196 pound single warhead have proven very useful. Each 6-rocket pod carries 227mm rockets with a range of about 60-70 km.
- 30 M28A1 Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems (MLRS) Practice Rocket Pods.
- 9 M1084A1 Family of Medium Truck Vehicles (FMTV); 5-Ton Trucks. FMTV trucks are also the basis for the HIMARS launchers.
- 1 M1089A1 Wrecker. the M1089 is an FMTV truck variant with towing and winching capability that can get a HIMARS vehicle out of trouble in case of treacherous sand, mud, making close friends with the local roadside ditch, etc.
- 35 VRC-990 Vehicular Radio Communications Sets.
- 45 VRC-950 Vehicular Radio Communications Sets.
- 35 VRC-92E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios Systems (SINCGARS). SINCGARS is the current standard for US radio systems.
- 45 VRC-90E SINCGARS.
- Plus 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.
Sidebar: Russia’s New Full-Punch Lightweight MLRS
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Since the 1960s, Russian firms have sold 122mm BM-21 “Grad” launchers to fill the rile of transportable rocket artillery firepower. While their 40-tube launchers can deliver a great deal of firepower, the size of 122mm rockets limits range, payload, and even guidance options.
MAKS 2007 show in Moscow featured a new 9A52-4 lightweight version of the Smerch MLRS from Motovilikha Plants Corporation. It is based on the KAMAZ-6350 8×8 truck, and carries a 6-round pack of 300mm rockets with far better range and payload than a BM-21. This package may be attractive to number of foreign customers.
