Primus 155mm 39 Caliber Self-Propelled Howitzer
Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer-1 (SSPH-1)
Six years in the making and the fruit of local R&D and engineering was finally unveiled in 2003. The Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer-1 (SSPH-1) is the latest pride and joy of the SAF. Known as the Primus, the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer is also the lightest and mist responsive self-propelled howitzer of its class, tipping the scales with a combat weight of less than 30 tonnes. This makes it highly compatible with the SAF's aim of delivering a lethal edge to its unique operational needs. A fusion of range and firepower, with protection, speed and maneuverability, the Primus is a highly accurate artillery platform that will bolster the fighting capabilities of the SAF's Combined Arms Divisional armoured forces. The ingenious integration of various cutting-edge technologies also offers the Primus the option of autonomous operations in the modern battlefield.
The highly mobile Primus adopts the "hide, shoot, scoot" capability, This means upon receiving a firing mission order, the Primus can emerge from its gun hide and deploy at a designated area of operations in a minute, Within the next minute, the firing would be executed. The Primus can fire six rounds a minute at a range of 30km. It also has an array of six different types of ammunition to choose from, depending on the specific needs of the mission. Mission executed, it takes less than a minute for the Primus to disengage and 'scoot' from its firing position. Easily reaching a top speed of 50km per hour, it tackles undulating terrain with ease, thus greatly enhancing its survivability in terms of evasion from enemy fire. All these are made possible by the host of systems built into the Primus that has significantly reduced the crew size to four as compared to the eight-man crew required to operate traditional towed guns such as the FH-2000.
The Inertia Navigational System (INS) allows the Primus and its commander to be constantly aware of its whereabouts and firing direction. It is supported by the Command Control Information System, which displays in real time the location of each Primus involved in the mission. Similar information is relayed to the Battery Command Post. This has led to a quantum leap in terms of situational awareness. Communication aids, such as short messages and electronic mails capable of graphical attachments, also keep the crew of each Primus up-to-date with the latest development in the battlefield. During the execution of a firing mission, the Ballistic Calculation software in the Primus enables the selection of the optimum and most suitable ammunition, to achieve top-level precision. A closed loop automated fire control system (AFCS), consisting of five main sub-systems ranging from the patented Ammunition Handling System to the Laser Ring Gyroscopic Navigation & Positioning System, completes the compact yet sophisticated Primus and ensures effective delivery of timely and deadly accurate fire.
The Primus' birth is testimony to the close working relationship between the SAF, the Defence Science & Technology Agency and Singapore Technologies Kinetics. Since its conception in 1996, the three agencies had undertaken in-depth work on the design, prototyping, and tests and evaluation of the Primus. The development of the Primus does not end here though. It has been designed to allow future upgrades to be carried out in a cost-effective manner, and it can fire ammunition currently in use and even those that are likely to be deployed in future.
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