Factsheet – Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus

Technical Specifications

Combat Weight : 28.3 ton Maximum Rate: 6 rds / min

Length: 10.21 m Burst Rate: 3 rds / 20 s

Width: 3.00 m Sustained Rate: 2 rds / min for 30 min

Height: 3.28 m Secondary Weapon: 7.62 mm GPMG

Chassis Length: 6.60 m Operating Range: 350 km

Chassis Width: 2.80 m Top Speed: 50 km/h

Ground Clearance: 0.45 m Transmission: GD HMPT-500-3EC

Ground Pressure: 180 kPa Engine: 550 HP Detroit Diesel

Calibre: 155 mm , 39 Calibre Emplacement Time: <1 min

Max. Range : 30 km with ER projectile Displacement Time: 1 min

Crew: 4 men

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The SSPH 1 Primus

The SSPH 1 Primus is a 155 mm, 39 calibre track-based, self-propelled howitzer developed
jointly by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Defence Science & Technology Agency
(DSTA) and Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics), to meet the operational
requirements of the SAF.

A fusion of the range and firepower of the artillery, with the protection, speed and
manoeuvrability of armoured vehicles, the Primus is a highly accurate, mobile artillery
platform that will bolster the fighting capabilities of our Combined Arms Divisional forces
with its 'hide, shoot, scoot' capability.

Arguably the lightest and most responsive self-propelled howitzer in its class, the Primus
packs a big punch to any target within its range. Onboard, the indigenous integration of
technologies allows a crew of four to effectively operate the system autonomously, affirming
the Primus not only as a formidable force in the modern battlefield, but also as an invaluable
asset to our technologically advanced Army.

Designed, developed and produced in Singapore , the Primus is a clear testament of our
innovation and industry. An achievement that Singapore can be proud of.

Development

The realisation of six years of development, the Primus is the latest in a line of projects that
the three organisations have collaborated on. Others include the Artillery's Field Howitzer 88
(FH88), the Field Howitzer 2000 (FH2000), the 'BRONCO' All Terrain Track Carrier, the
'BIONIX' Armoured Fighting Vehicle, and the 'SAR 21' Assault Rifle.

The experience garnered from these past successes has proven beneficial in the development
of this new system. The Primus is our most technologically complex product designed to date,
as it includes sophisticated on-board computers and innovative automation. It is also the
lightest and most responsive, fully autonomous self-propelled howitzer in its class, setting it
apart from its towed predecessors and other self-propelled howitzers alike.

The genesis of a self-propelled howitzer within the SAF was conceived in the early 1990s,
with the aim of providing better fire support to the Combined Arms Divisions, while
providing the range, firepower and accuracy that the artillery is renowned for. The 155mm
Self-propelled Howitzer was seen as the obvious choice.

Several commercial-off-the-shelf systems (COTS) such as the M109A6 Paladin (USA), Type
75 ( Japan ), 2S3M1 (Ex-Soviet) and the AS90 Braveheart ( UK ) that fulfilled the
prerequisites of possessing firepower with high mobility and battlefield survivability were
considered. However, none could cater to our unique requirements in terms of lightweight
mobility. Hence, the decision was made by DSTA to develop a completely new SPH with ST

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Kinetics.

With that, in May 1996, the Primus development began.

From the outset, the major challenge the team encountered was in designing a platform that
could satisfy all the required specifications. DSTA and ST Kinetics had to deliver an SPH
that not only matched the performance of other SPHs available in the market, but one that
would suit the SAF's unique operational needs.

Some of these specifications included the ability to navigate and move on paved and soft soil
terrain, common in our area of operations, as well as the capability to ‘come into action'
rapidly. Being lightweight would provide our SPH with this unprecedented mobility, thus
emphasis was placed on limiting its weight. As a result, most of the system and its sub-
components were customised to suit the SAF, and a large portion of the design work went
into enhancing the weapon system performance through automation, increasing its efficiency
and effectiveness.

The result is a closed loop automated fire control system (AFCS) consisting of 5 main
subsystems ranging from the patented Ammunition Handling System to the Laser Ring
Gyroscopic Navigation & Positioning System.

In developing the Primus , DSTA was involved in assessing and reviewing the various design
proposals by ST Kinetics and subsequently integrating the various components and
subsystems into what it is today. ST Kinetics, meanwhile, worked on the system, bringing its
technical expertise and production know-how on artillery systems, leveraging the experience
it has gained through other large calibre weapon systems previously developed such as the
FH88 and the FH2000.

Both agencies conducted extensive and intensive trials to test design reliability and safety as
well as to prove that the SPH could deliver the desired operational performance. During the
rollout phase, they looked into quality assurance issues and conducted acceptance tests on
each SPH before delivery. Long term equipment maintenance, promulgation and retention of
knowledge were other areas of focus.

Finally in April 2000, the first working prototype of the Primus was rolled-out by ST Kinetics.
The next 2 years saw the system undergo a series of comprehensive tests to ensure that the
Primus was able to withstand the rigours that were required of it. In September 2002, the
Primus was officially certified to have met the SAF's stringent criteria, bringing to a close the
successful evolution of an idea realised.

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SPH DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE

MAY
CONTRACT SIGNED
1996

SEP
1996
PRELIMINARY DESIGN
REVIEW
DEC
1996

JUL
1999
CRITICAL DESIGN
REVIEW
DEC
1999

APR
PROTOTYPE ROLL-OUT
2000

APR
2000
DEVELOPMENTAL TESTS
& EVALUATION
DEC
2001

JAN
2002
USER TRIAL
JUNE
2002

JULY
2002
FINAL DESIGN REVIEW
SEP
2002

SEP
PRODUCTION
2002

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The evolution of the Primus, from drawing board to final product, is proof of Singapore's
capabilities to not only operate state-of-the art equipment, but also the capacity to produce
them indigenously. This speaks volumes of our home-grown industry in developing world-
class systems that are on par, if not better than systems currently available in the global
market. The SAF together with its partners, DSTA and ST Kinetics, has once again proven,
with the development of the SSPH 1 Primus , that we need only look within our borders for
solutions to our needs.