News Story: Singapore's defense ministry awards contract for new Armored Fighting Vehicle

SINGAPORE, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has awarded a contract to Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd for the production and supply of the Next Generation Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV), said the ministry in a statement on Wednesday.

MINDEF revealed the Next Generation AFV will replace the ageing ULTRA M113 AFV, which has been in service since the early 1970s.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Industry: ST Marine celebrates the launch of the second Littoral Mission Vessel - Sovereignty

Independence class Littoral Mission Vessel

Singapore, 16 April 2016  – Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine), the marine arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering), held the Launching Ceremony today for the second Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV), Sovereignty, designed and built for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

The Launch Ceremony was officiated by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security. Initiating the launch of the vessel at ST Marine’s Benoi Yard was DPM Teo’s wife, Mrs Teo Chee Hean. The event was witnessed by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence; Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Senior Minister of State for Defence, and many senior officials from Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

News Story: Lockheed Martin confident of more F-16V upgrade sales

by Chris Pocock

Having secured three customers, Lockheed Martin (LM) is discussing the F-16V with five more countries, and sees potential for up to 1,000 such upgrades to the evergreen Fighting Falcon. In a briefing here at the show yesterday, the company’s F-16 business development manager Randy Howard declined to identify Taiwan, Korea and Singapore as the three committed countries.

Northrop Grumman’s APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) is the centerpiece of the upgrade, which also includes a new mission computer with 10 times the memory and twice the power of its predecessor, a high-speed 1Gb databus, and a 6- by 8-inch center pedestal display.

The test flight program for the upgrade is due to end early next year after some 80 sorties. Taiwan is the lead customer, with some 150 aircraft to convert. AIN understands that LM has agreed to a plan for Taiwan’s AIDC to do the upgrade work on all except the first two aircraft at its Taichung facility.

Read the full story at AINonline

Think Tank: ANZACs under armour - the future Australian IFV

Mitchell Yates

There’s been a lengthy and lively debate on The Strategist lately regarding the future of Australia’s surface combatants, specifically the SEA 5000 future frigate. Attracting little attention on the other hand was last months’ closure of the RFT deadline for LAND 400 Phase 2—the LAND 400 phase that will provide the Army with its future Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) capability. Given that this programme will completely redefine and reshape the Army’s ground combat capabilities, it needs greater attention.

The nature of the LAND 400 project is well known; about six months back The Strategist played host to a debate on this particular topic. But now that the Phase 2 process is well underway, it’s time to re-examine the possibilities for Phase 3. Army’s legacy fleet of M113 APCs, by the time of their complete replacement in 2030, will be almost 70 years old. The M113, which Tom Clancy once called an ‘old aluminium box’, isn’t survivable on a modern battlefield. Army’s ASLAVs wouldn’t fare much better—although acquired from the mid-1990s onwards, their original design (based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha) dates from the 1970s.

Editorial: Asia's Largest Naval Warfare Exhibition - Focus on Subs and UVs

By Franz-Stefan Gady

This year’s IMDEX conference is bigger than ever — a telling sign of an accelerating arms race in Asian waters?

This week, Singapore will once more play host to Asia’s largest maritime defense trade fair, the Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX). Taking place from May 19 – 20 at Singapore’s Changi Exhibition Center, the 10th biennial IMDEX will feature military hardware from more than 180 participating companies, high-level delegations from around 40 and navy chiefs from 24 countries, along with 20 warships from 12 nations.

IMDEX 2015′s principal focus will be on unmanned vehicles (both in the skies and underwater), vessels suited for littoral waters, and underwater technology, according to the event organizers.

Defense News quotes Leck Chet Lam, IMDEX Asia’s head organizer, as saying that “unmanned vehicles will feature in several areas of IMDEX Asia 2015.” UV exhibitors will include Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, ST Engineering, SAAB AB, Atlas Elektronik and Microflown Maritime.

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) in particular are expected to play a larger role in future underwater warfare (see: “The End of the Submarine as We Know it?” ) and will be a topic of discussion during the 15th Asia Pacific Submarine Conference (APSC), which will be held in conjunction with IMDEX Asia.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: Asia's Biggest Maritime Expo To Kick Off

By Wendell Minnick

TAIPEI — Singapore's quest for a new maritime patrol aircraft, a mid-life upgrade for F-16s and possible purchase of the F-35 are among the expected areas of interest at this year's Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX), experts say.

The 10th biennial IMDEX will be held at Singapore's Changi Exhibition Centre from May 19-20.

Show officials have said this year will have many new attractions, including the first India pavilion. The India pavilion will join seven other country pavilions: France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States.

The US presence will include three naval vessels: the littoral combat ship Fort Worth, the destroyer Mustin and an unidentified fast-attack submarine.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Is a Light Carrier in Singapore's Future?

By WENDELL MINNICK

TAIPEI — For years, Singapore’s ST Engineering Marine has been parading a ship model of a landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel that could handle the jump-jet variant of the F-35 joint strike fighter.

The model was most recently on display at last month’s Singapore Airshow. And while Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) won’t confirm that it has plans to build such a vessel, it’s also not denying it.

The model shows a variant of the Endurance-160 multirole support ship configured as an LHD.

MINDEF confirmed that Singapore has expressed an interest in the F-35B, as illustrated by the recent inspection of the aircraft by Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen during his visit to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in December.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: ST Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi set to deliver last of 12 M-346 aircraft ordered by RSAF

M-346 Master (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

Singapore, 12 February 2014 – ST Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi will deliver the last of the 12 M-346 new generation advanced trainers to the RSAF in March 2014, following the contract that was signed in late 2010. Currently, a total of 10 aircraft have been delivered along with the delivery of the relevant ground based training system and the associated M-346 initial logistics support package. 

In February 2013, the RSAF commenced the pilot training in its Advanced Training School at the Cazaux Air Base in France, while in March 2013 the first training flight for a pilot trainee in the M-346 was successfully conducted. This event marked the beginning of the full spectrum 3rd Generation Integrated Pilot Training System for the RSAF and it was also an important milestone for the M-346 programme. The close collaboration between ST Aerospace ("Prime Contractor") and its partners, Alenia Aermacchi and The Boeing Company, has allowed for the achievement of these important milestones. 

ST Engineering

News Story: ST Engineering Parades New Defense Products and Deals at Air Show

By WENDELL MINNICK

SINGAPORE — Singapore-based ST Engineering exhibited a variety of new systems and equipment at the Singapore Airshow in what was the largest exhibition space at the show — 2,000 square meters.

“The exhibits are a concrete demonstration of the group’s response to the needs and requirements of modern military and paramilitary forces,” said an ST Engineering press release.

ST Engineering showed off the new STK 5.56 Bullpup multirole combat rifle and the STK conventional multirole combat rifle, a new family of rifles with multirole capabilities; the bionic regenerative active energy system, which converts the mechanical energy generated by the soldier from moving during missions into electric energy to power soldier systems or other low-power electronic devices; and the new USTAR family of modular unmanned aerial vehicles.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Industry: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems receives major submarine order from Singapore

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, a company of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions, has signed a contract for the delivery of two submarines of HDW Class 218SG to Singapore.

HDW Class 218SG is a customised design from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The submarines, which will be fitted out with an air independent propulsion system, are going to be built at the Kiel premises of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

Compared to the present ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems submarines, the new design has been customised to house additional equipment for present and future operational requirements. Special attention has also been paid to the ultra-modern layout of the tailor-made Combat System of these submarines. ST Electronics, being part of the ST Engineering group, will co-develop such Combat System with Atlas Elektronik GmbH.

Dr. Hans Christoph Atzpodien, Chairman of the Management Board of Business Area Industrial Solutions of ThyssenKrupp AG, underlines the importance of the order: “We very much look forward to continue the co-operation with the Republic of Singapore Navy which has already been a customer of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The new order is an affirmation of our high-end products and services and will further strengthen our position as a world market leader in the sector of non-nuclear submarines. The contract does not only safeguard jobs at ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, but also several hundred jobs at subcontractors.”

ThyssenKrupp

News Story: India's AW101 Contract Faces Cancellation

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

NEW DELHI — Cancellation of India’s contract to buy 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland appears imminent, despite the fact that the helicopter-maker has until Nov. 26 to plead its case with the Indian Defence Ministry, according to MoD sources.

However, while India wants to send a strong message against corruption, going so far as to blacklist AgustaWestland is not the preferred option among bureaucrats in New Delhi, an MoD source said.

AgustaWestland is accused of using corrupt practices to win the contract in 2010. The Indian government halted the contract to buy 12 AW101 helicopters this year after Giuseppe Orsi, who was CEO of AgustaWestland at the time of the contract before becoming CEO of parent company Finmeccanica, was arrested in Italy and charged with paying bribes to secure the Indian deal.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Scandal Shines Spotlight on India’s Procurement Problems

AgustaWestland AW-101 Merlin

By Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — While moves by the Indian Ministry of Defence to cancel a helicopter contract with AgustaWestland over alleged kickbacks have drawn headlines, some military officials and analysts say a complex, lumbering procurement process creates conditions where such actions are more likely and represents the larger problem for India’s military.

“The procurement process takes place at various levels and by various agencies, and there are chances that suppliers use dubious means to push through their product,” a senior MoD official said. “The media is unduly blowing up the issue, which could hamper the purchase of much-needed weapons and equipment.”

Bureaucratic delays in procurement and the over-cautious approach taken by the MoD, especially in the past five to six years, have slowed weapons acquisition, with several tenders canceled and overseas companies blacklisted. Some service officers said in private that the procurement system is at fault and there is no need to cancel previous contracts.

The Army has yet to buy a single howitzer gun since 1987 because tenders had to be rebid midway through the competition after first Denel of South Africa in 2005 and then Singapore Technologies in 2008 were blacklisted.

The big-ticket bids floated in 2008 for purchase of 155mm/.52 caliber tracked and wheeled guns have yet to be concluded.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

ST ENGINEERING WINS NEWBUILD CONTRACT FOR EIGHT NAVAL VESSELS FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE NAVY

Existing Fearless class Patrol Vessel

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) today announced that the Group has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) for the design and build of eight new vessels.  This new development attests to the Group’s core strength of providing integrated capabilities and solutions to support its customers.

The Group’s marine arm, Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine) will build the eight vessels at its Singapore Benoi Yard.  Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited (ST Electronics), the Group’s electronics arm, will supply the core combat systems and combat system integration solutions.  ST Marine will carry out the platform system integration as the lead system integrator.  

Design of the vessels will commence immediately and the delivery of these vessels is expected to be from 2016 onwards. These new vessels will replace the Republic of Singapore Navy’s existing Fearless-class Patrol Vessels, indigenously designed and built by ST Marine in the 1990s.

“We are honoured to be awarded this contract by MINDEF, which reflects the excellent partnership between MINDEF and ST Engineering.  It also demonstrates our continuing efforts and commitment to develop indigenous capability to better support MINDEF in the area of design, construction, operations and support.” ~ NG Sing Chan, President, ST Marine

As we are under contractual obligation to observe confidentiality in respect of the contract, we are unable to disclose any further details.

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.

ST Engineering

ST AEROSPACE & ALENIA AERMACCHI ROLL-OUT FIRST M-346 FOR THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AIR FORCE

M-346 Master (Wiki Info)

Venegono Superiore (Varese), Italy 7 August 2012 – The first M-346 advanced trainer for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was rolled out in a ceremony held at Alenia Aermacchi’s plant in Venegono Superiore, Italy.

In September 2010, ST Aerospace, as the prime contractor, teaming with Alenia Aermacchi (a Finmeccanica company) and The Boeing Company, was awarded a contract to supply 12 M-346 aircraft and ground based training system for the RSAF’s Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) programme.

The roll-out ceremony was attended by officials from the RSAF, key representatives from ST Aerospace, The Boeing Company and Alenia Aermacchi, as well as staff representatives involved in the programme.

“We signed the contract less than two years ago and today we have rolled out the first of twelve M-346 aircraft for the RSAF’s Advanced Jet Trainer programme. This is a particularly important moment for our company, a great team job has been achieved in strict collaboration with our industrial counterpart, ST Aerospace, and we are proud to celebrate together with them”. ~ Giuseppe GIORDO, Alenia Aermacchi’s CEO, and Responsible for Finmeccanica’s Aeronautics Sector

“The successful rollout of the first M-346 illustrates the firm commitment by ST Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi, in support of the RSAF’s next generation training needs. Together with our partners we will continue to marry the strengths of one another to deliver an outstanding solution to our customer.” ~ CHANG Cheow Teck, President, ST Aerospace

The rollout follows the obtaining of the type certificate and the first flight made by this aircraft in July 2012. The delivery of the first M-346 is scheduled for the end of 2012.

Background

The M-346 is the ideal platform for a latest-generation integrated training system. The versatility of the M-346 allows for its configuration as an affordable advanced combat aircraft. The innovative technical characteristics of the M-346 provide for a high degree of safety and low acquisition and operating costs. The M-346 has been designed using the latest “design-to-cost” and “design-to-maintain” concepts, with an avionics system modeled on those used in new-generation fighter aircraft, such as Eurofighter, Gripen, Rafale, F-22 and the F-35.

The M-346 received its Military Type Qualification Certificate from the Italian Ministry of Defence - National Armaments Directorate in June 2011, an essential requirement to certify the full correspondence to aircraft specifications and to international military requirements.

In September 2010, the Singapore Government signed the contract for 12 M-346 and ground-based training systems under the AJT replacement programme. This contract was signed with the consortium, formed by ST Aerospace (prime contractor), Alenia Aermacchi and Boeing. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery this year. Alenia Aermacchi also finalised contracts in June 2011 with ST Aerospace to provide logistics support to the RSAF’s fleet of M-346.

ST Engineering

News Story: New vessel joins (Thai) fleet

The Royal Thai Navy will today add a new vessel to its fleet.

Built at a cost of 4.94 billion baht in Singapore, HTMS Ang Thong is intended to serve as a support vessel for the navy's aircraft carrier, HTMS Chakri Naruebet which has been in service for about 15 years.

HTMS Ang Thong, a landing platform dock ship built by Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd, is expected to arrive in Sattahip district of Chon Buri today.

The core future mission of HTMS Chakri Naruebet will be to assist in operations to rescue victims of disasters at sea.

The new ship has a displacement of about 7,600 tonnes and can reach a maximum cruising speed of 20 knots. The vessel will be able to stay at sea for at least 45 days and can carry about 500 personnel.

Read the full story at The Bangkok Post

ST ENGINEERING'S MARINE ARM SECURES S$880M CONTRACT TO DESIGN AND BUILD FOUR PATROL VESSELS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY OF OMAN

Singapore, 9 April 2012 – Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) today announced that its marine arm, Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine) has secured a contract worth €534.8m (about S$880m) to design and build four patrol vessels (PVs) and the provision of associated logistic support for the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO).

This contract was awarded by the Ministry of Defence of the Sultanate of Oman through a competitive international tender. ST Marine will build four 75-metre PVs based on its proprietary Fearless Class of PVs. The project will commence immediately with the first vessel expected to be delivered in 2Q 2015 and the final vessel in 3Q 2016.

“We are honoured to be entrusted by the Royal Navy of Oman with this project. This is a significant contract to ST Marine and we are confident that we will live up to our reputation as a total naval solutions provider – from design to construction to logistics support and hopefully through life support for our customer’s vessels.” ~ NG Sing Chan, President, ST Marine

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.

ST Engineering

ST MARINE DELIVERS 141M LANDING PLATFORM DOCK TO ROYAL THAI NAVY

Endurance Class LPD (Wiki Info)

Singapore, 3 April 2012 – ST Marine today held a ceremony for preliminary acceptance and delivery of the 141m Landing Platform Dock (LPD), which it designed and built for Royal Thai Navy at its Benoi yard.  The ceremony held in the morning was graced by Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, and His Excellency Mr Marut Jitpatima, Ambassador of Thailand to Singapore.

The design of the LPD is proprietary to ST Marine and is based on its Endurance Class of LPDs.  The design is proven by the four 141m Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) that ST Marine built for theRepublicofSingapore Navy.  The LSTs have been deployed successfully on many occasions to provide peacekeeping duties in the Gulf, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts during the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and more recently as part of the international anti-piracy Combined Task Force in the Gulf of Aden.

With a displacement of about 7600 tonnes, the LPD has a well-dock with a stern as well as a side ramp designed for expedient embarkation and disembarkation of equipment and personnel.  This versatile vessel is capable of supporting myriad missions, ranging from sea transportation, naval support operations, civil search and rescue to disaster relief missions.  To support these missions, its heli-deck can land up to two medium-sized helicopters of about 10-tonnes each.

ST Marine secured this contract worth some S$200m, to design and build this LPD as well as two units of 23m Landing Craft Mechanised and two units of 13m Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel.  Work for the LPD commenced in mid 2009 and the vessel was launched in March last year.  After going through the mandatory and comprehensive acceptance sea trials, the LPD is now ready to sail to its base in Thailand for the final acceptance trials.  Final delivery of the LPD is expected to be by 2Q2012.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to ST Marine for their efficient supervision and construction of the ship as well as their kind support to the Royal Thai Navy personnel throughout the period when they were working here at the yard.” ~ Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom, Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy

“ST Marine has always pride itself on our design capability as well as being able to deliver quality ships and excellent services to our customers.  Through this LPD programme, we hope to be able to continue to build on our precious relationships with the Kingdom of Thailand and Royal Thai Navy in the years to come.  We are very proud that we have once again delivered on our promise.” ~ NG Sing Chan, President, ST Marine

ST Engineering

ST ENGINEERING’S MARINE ARM FORMS JOINT VENTURE COMPANY WITH SWEDISH COMPANY KOCKUMS AB

RSS Archer

Singapore, 3 April 2012 – Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) today announced that its marine arm, Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine), has partnered with Swedish Kockums AB (Kockums) to form a joint venture company (JVC) called Fortis Marine Solutions Pte. Ltd. (Fortis Marine Solutions).

ST Marine will hold 51% stake in Fortis Marine Solutions and Kockums the remaining 49% stake.  ST Marine and Kockums will inject $510,000 and $490,000 respectively as equity into the new JVC.  Consequent to its incorporation, Fortis Marine Solutions is now a subsidiary of ST Marine.

ST Marine and Kockums have a long standing partnership managing several contracts for the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) submarines.  The RSN’s Challenger and Archer classes of submarines were designed, constructed, tropicalised and delivered by Kockums; while ST Marine has been providing up to Depot level maintenance of the submarines.  The JVC is formed with the primary objective of providing a higher level in-country capability in the refitting and life cycle support services for the submarine fleet of RSN.

“Kockums is proud to have been supplying the RSN with advanced naval solutions, since 1995.  Fortis Marine Solutions is an important widening of our activities in Singapore and a strong sign of our long-term commitment to provide the RSN with the best support throughout the life time of our products.  We look forward to establish this in-country capability together with our qualified partner ST Marine.” ~ Ola ALFREDSSON, Chief Executive Officer, Kockums AB

“We are confident that the design and systems engineering capability of Kockums, combined with ST Marine’s skilled workforce capability will result in maintenance regimes that ensure high availability, safety and readiness for RSN.” ~ NG Sing Chan, President, ST Marine

The set up of Fortis Marine Solutions 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.

ST Engineering

News Story: Despite Ban, IMI, Rheinmetall Air Defence Go To Defexpo

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

NEW DELHI — Although they have been banned from conducting business with the Indian Defence Ministry for the next 10 years, Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Rhienmetall Air Defence will be among the 567 participants in Defexpo India 2012, to be held here March 29-April 1.

India’s permanent defense production secretary, Shekhar Agarwal, told reporters here March 26 that an advisory has been issued instructing Indian bureaucrats not to interact with the blacklisted companies during the show. Sources said IMI and Rheinmetall Air Defence, based in Zurich, would be permitted to have stalls at Defexpo because they registered before the March 6 announcement that the two companies, along with four others, had been banned from doing business in India.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

ST Kinetics and SAIC Team For Marine Personnel Carrier Programme

TERREX 8x8 (Wiki Info)

Singapore, 23 March 2012 - ST Kinetics, the land systems arm of ST Engineering, and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) today announced they will team for the upcoming U.S. Marine Corps Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) programme.

The MPC will provide U.S. Marine infantry formations with an advanced generation eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier.  The MPC is intended to be a highly protected and swim-capable vehicle, with requirements shaped to provide a balance of performance, protection, and payload to ensure it is effective across the full range of military operations.  The MPC programme calls for the production of approximately 100 units per year for up to 7 years, with initial awards for the testing and demonstration phase expected in April 2012.

"The SAIC and ST Kinetics team will base its offering on the modern TERREX 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier already fielded by the Singapore Armed Forces.  By using existing and proven technology, tailored to Marine expeditionary requirements, we will be able to quickly deliver a simple, elegant, enduring and USMC-usable capability to meet the programme's critical needs and schedule." ~ Dan ZANINI, Senior Vice President and Landforce Systems Operation Manager, SAIC

Under the teaming agreement, SAIC will serve as the prime contractor for the MPC programme, with both companies combining their ground vehicle integration, design, production, fielding, and support expertise to field and provide the best solution to the U.S. Marines.

"We are proud to field ST Kinetics' TERREX as the basis for our team's offering for the USMC MPC programme.  We are confident that the advanced design of the TERREX, particularly in the areas of survivability and crew habitability, will underpin an effective and affordable solution usable by the US Marines in a myriad of tough environments." ~ Patrick CHOY, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, ST Kinetics

ST Engineering