KUALA LUMPUR: While our army still formulating the requirements for an advanced Land Warrior system, our next neighbour took a bold step towards realising the dream of a Stormtrooper ala Star Wars. SAF ordered the the Advanced Combat Man System through the the government owned ST Electronics (see story below). The timeline meant that Singapore will be among the first nation to field a Land Warrior system
How ironic it is that we are still mired in discussions which assault rifles or the universal need for body armour for all, an armed forces which started later than us keeping leaping us with boundless enthusiasm. I apologised for being so depressing but at the moment I did not see the light at the end of tunnel.
Singapore Armed Forces buys ST Engineering’s Advanced Combat Man System
ST Engineering today announced that its electronics arm, ST Electronics, has been awarded a contract to provide the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The project which is worth over S$100m will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by 2012.
The award of 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.
The ACMS is a 3rd Generation Networked Warrior system fully equipped with advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) and network capabilities. The ACMS is a joint development effort that started in 1998 among the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and ST Electronics with the support of Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) in the area of weapon sub-system. It features innovations from ST Electronics and ST Kinetics. For this contract, ST Kinetics is a subcontractor to ST Electronics.
The development of the ACMS focuses on two key areas – to ensure seamless integration of individual soldier’s capabilities and to integrate the soldier as part of a network-centric force. As part of the design of the ACMS, key elements such as the weight of the systems, Man-Machine Interface and the networked and interoperable capability of the ACMS with other systems are defined as some of the requirements for its development. This system aims at improving the situational awareness, mobility, command and control, lethality and survivability of the soldier, resulting in a quantum leap in his fighting capabilities.
The introduction of the ACMS is a part of SAF’s 3rd Generation Transformation to progressively provide tactical units with network capabilities, which are vital for ensuring mission success. The ACMS allows section commanders and team leaders to become a part of a larger network that is able to tap into the wider resources of the battalion and call for more responsive and precise fire support. These sections function not only as fighting units but also as ground sensors, tracking the positions of various forces and feeding images and information back to the command headquarters for enhanced command and control of the battlefield.
“With our strong electronics systems expertise, ST Electronics is committed to delivering solutions that aim to enhance the fighting effectiveness and capabilities of our soldiers,” said SEAH Moon Ming, Deputy CEO, ST Engineering & President, ST Electronics.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (21)
Don't worry, we have semangat.
Actually all these Land Warrior type things are a curse as they promote micro-management.
Money better spent on training and individual leadership skills.... OK, we ain't blowing a wad on that either.
Don't get all wound up by what they do. many of the roads they are embarking on are foolish ones. Which is not to say we are not travelling in circles....
At least all malaysian infantryman must be equipped with light body armour to protect themselves from fragmentation. It should be cheap and lightweight. On battlefield, explosive fragmentation (from artillery, mortar, air strike, grenade) is the major threat to infantryman, which inflict more casualties than gunfire.
It should not be cheap. It should be lightweight, durable and reliable, unlike some of our helmets.
As for the fragmentation model, methinks we should study more contemporary evidence that shows that the primary lethal threat on the battlefield is in fact bullets and that Level IIIA equivalent soft armor does diddly squat for that.
The likelihood of engaging in LIC is far higher than 'conventional warfare'.
Even in body armour and protective equipment, national interest is paramount. See the helmets etc.
Infantryman is core to all armies therefore we have to provide our soldiers with the best equipments. Semangat alone cannot defeat technology. We need the right tools and strategies.
In terms of technology application, our army is always few years behind, we don't even have Digipat camo. Thais, Sin, ABRI and even Philipine Army have them...sigh
What i mean by cheap is actually "cheaper than advance body armor that only small percentage of our soldier will have a chance to use it in future battle". Of course in Low Intensity Combat, such is is Iraq now, the primary threat to infantryman is bullets, since opposing force are less likely to deploy heavy weapon (artillery, tank or ground attack aircraft). Heavy armor plate (mounted on chest and the back) that are now being used by some of US army infantry at iraq is proven effective to stop 7.62mmx39 round fired from AK47 rifle. Wearing any type of body armor will increase combat surviveability and confidence to push forward.
Forget about the Digipat camo. Whats the point in having Digipat camo when most infantryman dont have NVGs and body armour let alone sights for their rifles. Of the 20 odd infantry battalions in the Malaysian army,not a single one has enough NVGs or body armour for all its companies. Lets start off with better quality uniforms, boots and webbing before we even consider something like digital uniforms.
Marhalim: Actually I am told they are actually in the process of changing to a digipat camo but its looks like its one of the projects that got hit by the budget cut.
The news report on the 1st contract award - specifies a 3-4 year contract delivery period, which means it is a phased introduction of the ACMS (but the press release provides no additional contract details). ACMS may be bulky now, but by the time the 1st contract ends in 2012, the newer, smaller and better hardware would be come available.
does this acms thingy work in the thickness of the jungle? since most malaysian prospective battle zone will be initiated within the jungle surroundings and its boundaries, do the traditional eyeballs mk II systems of the maf jungle warfare doctrine still remain valid for the foreseeable future?
Marhalim: yes such systems will work in the jungle although whether or not it can stand the humidity without breaking down all the time is something that has to be thoroughly tested, I believed thats the reason the project is incremental to ensure that it would workable in their operational environment. Will the Mark II eyeballs will be superseded by electronics? Yes and No, eyeballs will work all the time without the need for batteries although one may need ballistic glasses or goggles to reduce eye injuries. the electronic eye and sensors will be an advantage especially at night, dusk and whenever the need arises.
The ACMS has been tested streneously and successfully in the jungle as SAF soldiers are expected to traverse through vegetation of all types. Singaporeans projects cannot be initiated unless proven effective in all the relevant conditions. The entire project took more than a decade from concept to realization. And it is just one portion of a tapestry of systems and new combat approaches with regards to the 3G SAF. You cannot implement the ACMS successfully until most of the other elements of the SG SAF are in place; a wide variety of computing systems, sensors and shooters; C4I et al. Singapore was racing to get it done and it has already taken 10-12 years. More still needs to be done.
The project is more for the benefit of ST than the SAF. They would have got significantly more tangible benefit by implementing the SAR-21 P-rail upper and issuing a Red Dot Sight like the Aimpoint and/or some ACOGs.
ACMS is just the last vestige of the Land Warrior me-too of the last decade with the OICW-clone dying off.
8 years of real fighting have shown what is important and what works, Land Warrior not being one of them. 90% of the stuff is unnecessary if the troops are well trained and motivated.
The more rubbish like this you have, the more time is devoted to teaching its use rather than actual combat and field skills.
The really sad part is that the troops neither get the quantity or quality of trigger pulling that is necessary to excel.