DTN News: Britain ~ ‘Urgent’ New Troop Carriers Get To War Zone 6 Months Late

DTN News: Britain ~ ‘Urgent’ New Troop Carriers Get To War Zone 6 Months Late

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including DailyMail.co.uk By Christopher Leake

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 15, 2010: A fleet of life-saving armoured vehicles is to be sent to Afghanistan nearly six months late because their armour was not thick enough to protect soldiers against roadside bombs.

Gordon Brown promised the much-needed Warthogs would be on frontline duty with the Royal Dragoon Guards in Helmand Province by April.

But the all-terrain vehicles failed blast tests. Nine were blown up at the Armoured Trials and Development Unit at Bovington in Dorset. Experts decided the troop carriers needed an extra two tons of armour.

The MoD says the Warthogs are now 'operationally fit' and pass all tests required. The first of the vehicles will be in Afghanistan by September

The MoD says the Warthogs are now ‘operationally fit’ and pass all tests required. The first of the vehicles will be in Afghanistan by September.

The last Government ordered 115 Warthogs two years ago from Singapore Technologies Kinetics in a £150 million deal, part of an Urgent Operational Requirement, when Treasury money is secured for new threats.

They replace the much-criticised, lighter Viking vehicles, which are vulnerable to the Taliban’s improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The 12-ton Viking Mark I vehicles are being withdrawn from service in Afghanistan after almost a quarter of the 108 there were blown up. A further 27 are too damaged to return to the front line.

Among nine British servicemen killed by bombs while in Vikings was Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. He was the most senior British Army officer to die on the front line since the Falklands War.

*Link to this article from source; "Britain ~ ‘Urgent’ New Troop Carriers Get To War Zone 6 Months Late - DailyMail.co.uk By Christopher Leake"

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Singapore Firm Vows Cooperation With India Probe

DTN News: Singapore Firm Vows Cooperation With India Probe

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI - June 18, 2009: A Singapore firm banned by India along with six other armaments companies said June 17 it was willing to cooperate in an ongoing probe into allegations of corruption in defense deals. Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd., which had been in the race for an artillery contract, also said it had not been informed of its blacklisting by the Indian defence ministry earlier this month. The firm "has not received any official advisory from the Indian authority on the said matter," United News of India (UNI) quoted company spokesman Gaius Ho as saying. The spokesman said the company "has offered all cooperation to assist with any investigation as appropriate." "And it hopes that the ministry will quickly clear the matter," UNI quoted Ho as saying. "Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd. is a responsible company bound by stringent corporate governance. It has not in any way contravened regulations imposed by governments where it operates," he said. India froze deals worth $1.5 billion with seven companies, including Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd., earlier this month after police arrested a top defence ministry bureaucrat on charges he accepted bribes allegedly from the now blacklisted units. India in 2007 also scrapped a $600 million deal with Eurocopter for 197 helicopters after allegations of corruption in the bidding process. The helicopter unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company denied media allegations about the involvement of middlemen in the project. Another deal for 22 attack helicopters was scrapped in March on similar charges. India plans to spend $30 billion on arms purchases until 2012.

DTN News: India Ban On Defence Firms Singapore Technologies (ST), Will Delay Artillery Upgrade: Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor

DTN News: India Ban On Defence Firms Singapore Technologies (ST), Will Delay Artillery Upgrade: Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor

*Source: Defense Media / Indian Express

(NSI News Source Info) NEW DELHI, India - June 15, 2009: Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said today that the Defence Ministry’s ban on dealing with Singapore Technologies (ST), which is being investigated by the CBI in connection with the corruption charges against former Ordnance chief Sudipta Ghosh, will delay Indian plans to acquire light howitzers for the artillery. “Till the time the CBI is able to carry out detailed investigation,” said Kapoor, “there will be a delay. To that extent, it will affect the acquisition of ultra light howitzers.” He was speaking on the sidelines of a defence function in the capital. The 155 mm, 39-caliber Pegasus is typically towed, but it is also equipped with an independent Lombardini 9LD625-2 engine unit to provide short-range self-propelled capability of up to 12 km/h (7 mph). It can be lifted by the Republic of Singapore Air Force's CH-47SD "Chinook" helicopter, making it the world's first heli-portable 155 mm howitzer with a self-propelled capability. In addition, the Pegasus can also be transported by the C-130 Hercules tactical airlifter. The Pegasus has a burst rate of fire of three rounds in 24 seconds and a maximum rate of fire of four rounds per minute. It can deliver conventional munitions up to 19 km. Extended range munitions can be fired up to 30 km away. A semi-automatic loading system is provided to increase the rate of fire and reduce crew fatigue. The design of the Pegasus also incorporates several innovative elements. It is built with titanium alloy and aluminium alloy materials that are lightweight and yet able to withstand the recoil force of the 155 mm artillery system. Special recoil management design is also employed to reduce the recoil force to a third lower than conventional 155 mm howitzers.* Interestingly, the Singapore-based firm is the only vendor offering its “Pegasus” gun to the Army for its requirement of ultra-light howitzers needed for deployment in mountainous regions. With the only other contender, BAE systems, backing out of the contract, the ST gun was the only one available that met the Army’s requirements. ST was banned after its name figured along with six other firms in the CBI inquiry against former Director General of Ordnance Factory Board Sudipta Ghosh. The defence ministry has put all dealings with the seven firms on hold till the CBI completes its probe. This is the second major blow for the Army’s artillery modernization plans after South African giant Denel was blacklisted in 2005 for allegedly paying kickbacks in a deal for anti-material rifles for the Army. General Kapoor also said today that the much-awaited comparative trials between the indigenous Arjun tanks and the Russian origin T 90 mainstay tanks of the Army will take place in October. The trials are considered vital as the induction of larger numbers of the tank will be dependant on how reliable the Arjun is found by the Army. “The tanks have been just delivered to the Army. It would take three to four months before the regiment is fully operationalised. After that, we will carry out comparative trials between the Arjun tanks and the T-90s,” Kapoor said.

DTN News: ST Engineering's Electronics Arm Awarded Contract for Advanced Combat Man System

DTN News: ST Engineering's Electronics Arm Awarded Contract for Advanced Combat Man System *Source: ST Engineering (NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - June 9, 2009: ST Engineering yesterday June 8, announced that its electronics arm, ST Electronics, has been awarded a contract to provide the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The project which is worth over S$100m will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by 2012.The Singapore Armed Forces' Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) is part of the SAF's move to integrate into 3G to progressively provide tactical units with network capabilities. Key Components *Personal Radio - The radio enables soldiers to share information, in the form of data and voice, with other soldiers. It has a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) that helps the soldier's command headquarters to track his location and that of friendly forces. *Communication Keypad - This portable keypad, designed for easy data input, also has hotkey buttons such "On-Contact" and "Call-For-Medic" to enable quick updates of the team's status to the command headquarters, and request assistance from nearby forces at the push of a button. *Portable Computer - The brain of the ACMS, the portable computer processes data collected by sensors, GPS, other ACMSs and user input to provide real-time information updates on the battlefield. *Head-mounted display (HMD) - The HMD can switch its displays from a digital map to satellite images of the terrain to videos captured by the various sensors. Through the HMD, soldiers can see locations of targets and friendly forces which are plotted on the digital map. *Weapon Interactor - The section commander will also have an additional camera attached to his SAR 21, so that he can capture and send back images to the command headquarters through the quick buttons on the handguard. The sensor also allows him to survey and fire around corners without exposing himself. In addition to the ACMS, soldiers are equipped with remote sensors such as a surveillance ball, a remote-control surveillance car and a key-hole sensor.* The award of this contract is not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year. The ACMS is a 3rd Generation Networked Warrior system fully equipped with advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) and network capabilities. The ACMS is a joint development effort that started in 1998 among the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and ST Electronics with the support of Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) in the area of weapon sub-system. It features innovations from ST Electronics and ST Kinetics. For this contract, ST Kinetics is a subcontractor to ST Electronics. The development of the ACMS focuses on two key areas - to ensure seamless integration of individual soldier's capabilities and to integrate the soldier as part of a network-centric force. As part of the design of the ACMS, key elements such as the weight of the systems, Man-Machine Interface and the networked and interoperable capability of the ACMS with other systems are defined as some of the requirements for its development. This system aims at improving the situational awareness, mobility, command and control, lethality and survivability of the soldier, resulting in a quantum leap in his fighting capabilities. The introduction of the ACMS is a part of SAF's 3rd Generation Transformation to progressively provide tactical units with network capabilities, which are vital for ensuring mission success. The ACMS allows section commanders and team leaders to become a part of a larger network that is able to tap into the wider resources of the battalion and call for more responsive and precise fire support. These sections function not only as fighting units but also as ground sensors, tracking the positions of various forces and feeding images and information back to the command headquarters for enhanced command and control of the battlefield. "With our strong electronics systems expertise, ST Electronics is committed to delivering solutions that aim to enhance the fighting effectiveness and capabilities of our soldiers," said SEAH Moon Ming, Deputy CEO, ST Engineering & President, ST Electronics. ST Electronics (Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited), the electronics arm of ST Engineering, delivers innovative system solutions to government, commercial, defence, and industrial customers worldwide. ST Engineering (Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd) is an integrated engineering group providing solutions and services in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. Headquartered in Singapore, the Group reported revenue of $5.34b in FY2008 and ranks among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. ST Engineering has more than 19,000 employees worldwide, and over 100 subsidiaries and associated companies in 24 countries and 42 cities.

SLWH Pegasus Howitzers Strong Contenders For Indian Army USD 1 billion Contract

SLWH Pegasus Howitzers Strong Contenders For Indian Army USD 1 billion Contract

(NSI News Source Info) March 25, 2009: Singapore is the front runner to supply the Indian military's planned purchase of ultralight howitzers, the Republic's first major defence contract from South Asia's dominant power, people familiar with the developments said. "Most of the technical evaluation of the contract to buy 145 pieces of the ultra-lightweight 155mm cannons has been done," said an Indian official who has proved reliable in the past.

Should the deal come through - possibly after field trials - it will be a major breakthrough for Singapore into India's arms market and help boost its economy's sagging export order-book. The value of the contract is believed to be about US $1 billion (RM2.3 billion). ST Kinetics confirmed that it had participated in the tender for the Indian army's ultra-lightweight howitzer and towed howitzer requirements.

"As with all our commercial and defence negotiations, we are bound by customers" confidentiality requirements," a company spokesman in Singapore said. New Delhi, reliant on the Soviet Union and its successor state Russia for most of its defence needs, has embarked on a plan to diversify its arms purchases. Israel is nudging Russia to be the top supplier while US companies are eyeing major deals with the Indian Air Force and IndianNavy.

ST Kinetic's Pegasus ultralight howitzers, which weigh just above 5 tonnes, are capable of firing three rounds in 24 seconds. Heavy use of titanium and light alloy aluminium gives the machines both mobility and ruggedness. The Pegasus can be transported by helicopter as well as fixed wing aircraft.

In the case of India's military that would probably mean Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters and Ilyushin 76 aircraft. Only two companies, ST Kinetics and BAe Systems have weapons that match India's specifications for the ultralight guns. It was not clear if BAe had bid for the contract, though the Britain-based company is said to have displayed the weapon at a trade event in India last year.

Singapore also was included in the list of nations to which India sent the Request for Proposals for the heavier 52-calibre howitzers, people familiar with the issue said. That contract, for which there are several more bidders, envisages the outright purchase of 400 artillery pieces and licensed production in India of another 1,180 pieces.

The tender for the ultralight cannons does not include a clause for licensed production in India, according to people who have seen the documents.

Singapore Firm Running For Key India Arms Contract: Report

Singapore Firm Running For Key India Arms Contract: Report

(NSI News Source Info) Singapore - March 13, 2009: A state-linked Singapore firm is bidding for a key contract worth one billion Singapore dollars (650 million US) to supply mobile artillery to the Indian military, a newspaper said Thursday. The Straits Times quoted an unnamed Indian official as saying the South Asian giant's army was happy with an ultra-lightweight cannon from defence and engineering firm Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics). "We like the artillery," the Indian official said. ST Kinetics, the land systems and specialty vehicles arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering, confirmed it had made a bit for the contract. "We are participating in the tender which is currently at the evaluation stage," a company spokeswoman said. "As it is still under evaluation and we are bound by customer confidentiality agreements, we are unable to comment further." The report said the Indian army evaluated the Singapore-made Pegasus ultra-lightweight cannon -- said to be the first self-propelled, helicopter-portable weapon of its kind and capable of firing three rounds in 24 seconds. The contract is for 145 cannons, it said. India, which has long had uneasy relations with fellow nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan, is looking to modernise its military hardware, in the past sourced mainly from the former Soviet Union. The Indian military has said it cannot cut defence spending even during the current financial crisis and plans to hand out contracts worth 30 billion US dollars in the next three to four years. The defence budget accounts for 2.5 percent of GDP and India has imported military hardware worth 28 billion dollars since 2000. ST Engineering is listed on the Singapore exchange and reported a turnover of 5.34 billion Singapore dollars (3.47 billion US) in 2008. It is one of the companies under state investment agency Temasek Holdings.