Singapore introduces new Hunter tracked armored fighting vehicle

The Hunter AFV. Photo c/o IHS Markit.

The Singapore Army (SA) has revealed the new name of their Next Generation Armoured Fighting Vehicle (NGAFV), now called the Hunter AFV, with the first vehicle placed into service and appeared in the SA Armoured Formation’s 50th Anniversary parade on 11 June 2019.

The vehicle has been in development since 2006 by the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in cooperation with ST Engineering Land Systems. 

The Hunter will replace the ageing M113A2 Ultra tracked armored personnel carriers in service since the 1970s, and will be complementing the smaller Bionix II infantry fighting vehicles. 

Limited information were provided by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) although it known that the baseline version of the Hunter AFV will have a length of 6.9 meters, a width of 3.4 meters, and an overall height of 3.4 meters. It has a crew of three comprising of a driver seated on the front left, while the gunner and commander will be seated side-by-side immediately behind the powerpack. The Hunter AFV can carry up to eight (8) fully-equipped dismounts on its rear troop compartment.

The vehicle is armed with a 30mm autocannon with armour piercing and high explosive ammunition, mounted on a Rafael Samson unmanned turret. It will also have 2 anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) and a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun, plus 76mm smoke grenade launchers.



The vehicle prides of having a fully digitized integrated combat cockpit, allowing the commander and gunner to operate the vehicle using a common set of controls. The vehicle als has an enhanced C4 system using the new Army Tactical Engagement and Information System (ARTEMIS) supporting networked warfighting capabilities.

It also has an enhanced all-round surveillance system through cameras mounted on the vehicle’s exterior, allowing a 360-degree field of vision for the crew. A laser warning system (LWS) also provides early warning if the vehicle is targeted.



[1] Singapore Ministry of Defence
[2] Jane’s International Defence Review
[3] Channel NewsAsia