Originally posted by AkiraDen:
Why Primus and not modified or upgraded Paladins?
> Got something to do with the Isrealies. Saw the turret on the Merkava before.
>>>??? Don't follow.
Why AV81 with 105mm gun and not modified or lightened Leopard A4s?
> A Terrex is a total different concept from a MBT. Alot of the neighbours bridges cannot take heavy loads. Also, the roads are relatively well developed, allowing rapid deployment. MBT's usually will go in later and hold ground.
>>> I dunno about this. Replacing the whole SM-1s with wheels? I can understand 7th Brigade having it BUT the ABGs?
Why not leverage on the peace dividend?
> Huh?
>>> With the cold war now gone. A lot of European and American forces are re-structuring. As a consequence many hardware basically are going for scrap.
Why not use them as baseline for SAF's needs instead of building from ground zero?
Singapore is a small country with little industrial base......till today we don't design and manufacture powertrains......
> Why re-invent the wheel. We kind of have enough money to buy companies that have done ground work like Timothy (Engineering) from Ireland, which did the Terrex system.
>>> My point exactly. Why re-invent the wheel? An APC/IFV is no different from another especially if they share the same powertrains! Isn't it more cost effective to modify an existing chassis? Eg Canadian (or is it Netherland) YPRs which are steel hulls.
>Was at For Knox for exhibition, spoke to Ameriacan tankys which evaluated the BX. They love it. It beat alot of competion through most of the test. Techincaly it even beat the Mowag Pirana. But, for political reasons, the Pirana was chosen.
>>> Again, that's my point. Most times countries buy military hardware not based on engineering decisions alone. In fact, most times I would think it's not that important - just get in the ball park.
>>> Politics count alot - SAF don't really contribute in UN or US sponsored operations in a big way to generate the 'gratitude' contracts to follow on.
>>> Also independent ILS - at least CV30s had their own scania engines etc.
>>> Quite frankly Bx can be the best in the world BUT it's unlikely anyone will buy and that's provided SAF allowed it in the first place.
>>> The big question then is how many Bx can SAF buy to justify the returns? Is it worth the resources and TIME to learn and then set up infra to build?
>>> Remember these resources needs to continue and have a happy ever after......who is going to feed the production line?
I can understand Singapore developing weapons systems that's not readily available on the 'open market' with no strings attached. Eg AMRAAM, Stand off missiles, EW stuffs, even CnC software and sensors.
But APCs/IFVs.......or even Primus......or even ATTC.......very impressive for a small country but is it a smart move? Mega bucks for tax payers! All for deterrence.
Sigh. Easy to say this now. But how did we come to this and what is SAF stand going forward.