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On Sept 12/07, the US DSCA announced Singapore’s formal export request for M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) rocket launchers, designed to give Singapore’s forces long-range precision attack artillery punch.
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. But the 2007 request was just the beginning.
Contracts & Key Events
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Oct 29/13: More rockets. The US DSCA announces Singapore’s formal request for 88 x 6-round Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Pods. Each of the 528 M31 rockets would be GPS-guided, with a reach of up to 70 km and a Unitary High Explosive (HE) warhead which is triggered by a Tri-mode Fuse.
Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control in Grand Prairie, TX would also provide containers, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and other forms of US Government and contractor support. The estimated cost is up to $96 million.
The Republic of Singapore will have no difficulty absorbing these additional GMLRS pods into its armed forces, as their original 2007 request involved 18 M142 truck-mounted HIMARS systems and 30 GMLRS pods. US government and contractor travel to Singapore would center around a week of equipment deprocessing/fielding and Quality Assurance Team acceptance testing. Sources: US DSCA #13-54.
DSCA: GMLRS pods
Sept 14/11: Commissioned. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen officiates at a ceremony to mark the commissioning of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and operational status of the first HIMARS Battery at Khatib Camp, Singapore. The HIMARS will be operated by Bravo battery, 23 SA. Source: MINDEF release.
June 14/11: Rockets. Lockheed Martin’s Full Rate Production Lot VI order for GMLRS rockets includes weapons for Singapore – but they won’t say how many. Read “GMLRS Rockets: FRP-VI Orders”
Nov 19/10: Delivery & Exercise. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) successfully conducts a HIMARS battery live-firing exercise at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA. Singapore’s MINDEF calls this battery live-firing the first to involve the SAF’s HIMARS since it formally took delivery of the system in July 2010. This implies that the HIMARS platforms used in Forging Sabre 09 may have been training platforms supplied by the US Army.
The overall Daring Warrior 2010 exercise, held from Nov 10-21, also featured a joint firing with US Army HIMARS batteries. MINDEF release | MINDEF cyberpioneer.
Nov 23/09: Exercise. 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: HIMARS. 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.
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Sept 12/07: The exact composition of Singapore’s $330 million export request is:
18 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) Launchers, mounted on FMTV trucks.
* 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 for support. 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, an overly close relationship 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.
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 2 years. 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. Sources: DSCA #07-48.
DSCA: HIMARS MLRS systems
Additional Readings
* Singapore MINDEF – Fact Sheet: High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
