Singapore preps Paramount Marauder for 2017 rollout

Kelvin Wong, Singapore - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
27 July 2016


The Singapore Army is set to boost its battlefield logistics operations with the 4x4 Paramount Marauder protected vehicle. Source: MINDEF

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will soon gain a new protected logistics capability with the planned introduction of the 20-tonne 4x4 Protected Combat Support Vehicle (PCSV) by 2017.

Based on the South African Paramount Marauder mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) platform, the PCSV has been specifically designed to enable logistics units to support the army's motorised infantry combat vehicles in high threat environments.

According to official specifications released by Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in late June, the PCSV is operated by a crew of two seated in a protected cabin and features a payload capacity of 4,000 kg or up to eight dismounts. The modular design of the rear compartment enables the vehicle to be configured for a range of missions, with mortar, battlefield casualty evacuation, and resupply variants being planned.

Unlike the present soft-skinned 5-tonne 4x4 MAN military utility trucks that are employed for logistics operations, the PCSV features passive protection against ballistic and mine threats, although the specifics were not revealed by MINDEF. Vehicle self-protection has also been enhanced with a roof-mounted remote-controlled weapon station armed with a 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun, as well as six smoke grenade launchers.

According to MINDEF the vehicle is also equipped with an on-board command and control suite that provides the crew direct access to voice and data communications offered by the SAF's Army Battlefield Internet (ABI) network. This feature enables the PCSV to manoeuvre closely with the army's 8x8 Terrex infantry carrier vehicles for integrated operations.

It is believed that 12 PCSVs were transferred to Singapore between 2013 and 2014 for local trials, although MINDEF declined to reveal details on further deliveries.

The PCSV programme can be traced back to June 2012, when Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics) - the land systems division of defence prime ST Engineering - and Paramount agreed to jointly promote their respective armoured vehicle products in Singapore and the wider region, including its Terrex and Paramount's 4x4 Maverick security vehicle, 4x4 Matador and Marauder mine-protected vehicles, and 6x6 Mbombe armoured fighting vehicle.

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Singapore to commission Paramount Marauders in 2017

Written by defenceWeb, Tuesday, 26 July 2016



Singapore’s military will next year commission the Paramount Marauder armoured vehicles into service.

Twelve vehicles were delivered between 2013 and 2014. According to Shephard Media, the vehicles were transferred to Singapore for trials and system integration by local company ST Kinetics. In Singapore Armed Forces service they will be known as the Protected Combat Service Vehicle (PCSV).

Singapore’s military unveiled the PCSV at the end of June as part of Singapore’s efforts to improve force readiness in light of transnational challenges such as terrorism. Singapore recently set up the Army Deployment Force to respond to terrorism and other threats.

Shephard reports that the PCSV is linked to the Army Battlefield Internet (ABI), a network connecting all computer systems used by land forces. It facilitates communication between all communications systems in the battlefield. The network is able to support data communications between all land forces primarily through a vehicle-mounted Software Defined Radio that allows for voice and data communication. The Singapore Armed Forces said the ABI will link the Terrex armoured vehicle to the network, allowing motorised infantry to fight as an integrated force.

Singapore’s Marauders are fitted with a single FN MAG 7.62mm machine gun in a remote-controlled weapon station. The vehicles can be configured to carry modular loads weighing up to 4 tons such as mortars, battalion casualty stations or combat supplies.

Singapore’s acquisition of the Marauder comes as a result of a 2012 agreement with Paramount. In June that year Paramount and ST Kinetics announced a strategic collaboration to jointly market, manufacture and support a range of armoured wheeled vehicles, including ST Kinetics’ Terrex 8x8 armoured personnel carrier, and Paramount Group’s Mbombe 6x6 armoured fighting vehicle, Maverick 4x4 Internal Security Vehicle, Marauder 4x4 wheeled troop carrier and Matador 4x4 multi-role mine protected vehicle.

At the time, Ivor Ichikowitz, Executive Chairman of Paramount, said the collaboration with ST Kinetics represented a springboard into the Asia-Pacific region for Paramount Group.

Paramount has supplied Marauders to Algeria (2), Azerbaijan (85), Congo (52), Malawi (6) and Oman (1), according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

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