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.
