September 12, 2009: Singapore is buying 135 Terrex Infantry Combat vehicles (ICV). The first infantry units will receive them in February 2010. The 25 ton Terrex is optimized for urban environments. The U.S. Army’s use of the Stryker ICV and its success on the battlefield influenced the selection of Terrex, and subsequent modifications.
Costing $1.5 million each, the vehicle is externally similar to the Stryker, with 8 wheels and a remote controlled weapons turret atop the hull. The hull has a V shape for mine protection. The vehicle is 7 meters long (22.96 feet), 2.7 meters wide (8.85 feet), and 2.1 meters high (6.88 feet). The vehicle carries 13 soldiers and 2 crewmen (driver and commander), in its armored personnel carrier (APC) role. If a turret is used, 8 troops may be carried in addition to the driver and two men (commander and gunner) to operate the turret. Weapons such as the 25 mm cannon and 7.62mm machine gun are used against armored vehicles or structures. A 7.62mm machine gun is situated alongside and traverses with the gun. A 40mm Grenade launcher with 7.62mm machine gun may replace the cannon.
More ballistic protection is available in the form of bolt on or welded armor (slat, cage type), which is fitted alongside the hull for defense against Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG’s). If hit, the tires are designed for run flat operation and include a central air inflation system permitting the driver to control the amount of air in each tire. The driver sits in front to the left of the engine. Top speed is 110 kilometers per hour with a range of 800 kilometers. The vehicle is amphibious, using water jets mounted on either side of the rear hull to propels the vehicle at 10 kilometers per hour in the water.
Electronics a Battlefield Management System (BMS) which permits full awareness of a battlespace providing sharable information to other vehicles or soldiers. A Weapon Detection System (WDS) is provided to spot enemy fire. All information is displayed on colored screens in the commander’s position just aft of the driver.
The vehicle is intended for modularity and may be further configured into an armored recovery vehicle, mortar carrier, ambulance, 105mm mobile gun platform, and rocket launcher. In any configuration Nuclear Biological or Chemical protection is standard regardless of weather or combat environment.
Indonesia expressed the desire to acquire 420 vehicles with a license to produce it locally. Turkey has also licensed the vehicle for production.
The closest counterpart to the Terrex, the Stryker, is similar in specifications with a cost of 1.42 million per vehicle, length of 6.95 meters (22.92 feet), width of 2.72 meters (8.97 feet), and a height of 2.64 meters (8.72 feet). Weight is 16.47 tons (33,400 pounds). It has a speed and range of 100 kilometers per hour and 500 kilometers respectively. It may be configured in similar vehicle guises as Terrex and can carry identical armament. -- Mike Perry
