Singapore Beefing Up Army's Artillery Punch

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http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131113/DEFREG03/311130024/Singapore-Beefing-Up-Army-s-Artillery-Punch

M142 HIMARS

Singapore is moving to boost its long-range rocket arsenal through the acquisition of guided, multiple-launch rocket system (GMLRS) pods.

The effort is part of the Singapore Army’s “3rd Generation Transformation” program. The Army’s 23rd Singapore Artillery Battalion at Khatib Camp is responsible for high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS).

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced Oct. 29 the planned acquisition by Singapore of 88 unitary high explosive GMLRS pods with tri-mode fuze and related equipment.

The Singapore military declined to comment on the $96 million sale.

Singapore commissioned its first M142 HIMARS in 2011.

Singapore’s HIMARS acquisition dates back to 2007 when the Army began making inquiries with the US government about procuring 18 HIMARS launchers, GMLRS pods and nine FMTV 5-ton carrier vehicles. The unit went operational in 2009.

The HIMARS carries a single pod of six multiple launch system rockets, including the 227mm GPS-aided rocket with a 15-70 kilometer range.

Western defense analysts in Singapore say part of the problem is Singapore’s vulnerability as a small city-state of just over 5 million people. Singapore’s “geo-strategic vulnerability” and the armed forces “resultant doctrinal stress on offensive operations” have forced Singapore to seek advice from like-minded countries that experience similar constraints, such as Israel, Taiwan, Switzerland and Sweden, an analyst said.

The US and Singapore have been increasing military cooperation over the past five years. The US Navy will deploy a rotational force of littoral combat ships in Singapore and the US military, in general, has been increasing joint training and cooperation exercises. The Singapore Strait and Malacca Strait are key transport waterways for oil and natural gas from the Middle East to East Asia.