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The Bionix AFV (Armoured Fighting Vehicle) was commissioned by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1997. Designed and developed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics (formally ST Automotive), it is a medium-weight tracked vehicle weighing between twenty-two to twenty-eight tonnes. The Bionix was the replacement for the ageing M-113A2 armoured personnel carriers in the Singapore Armoured Regiments (SAR). Image File history File links Bi25. ...
Image File history File links Flag_of_Singapore. ...
Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ...
Caliber: 25 mm NATO Firearm action: Chain gun Manufactured by: ATK Barrel Length: 85. ...
The Bushmaster II is a derivative of the M242 Bushmaster cannon. ...
Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC), headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA. There are today two individual divisions that share this name: the off-highway division which is owned by Tognum, which EQT IV formed along with MTU Friedrichshafen, and the on-highway division which is owned by DaimlerChrysler. ...
The Detroit Diesel Series 92 is a two-stroke cycle, V-block diesel engine, produced with versions ranging from six to 16 cylinders. ...
Hydropneumatic is the name given to a suspension system invented by Citroën and fitted to Citroën cars, as well as being adapted by other car manufacturers, notably Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot. ...
An M2 Bradley Infantry fighting vehicle. ...
The Singapore Armed Forces (abbreviation: SAF, Malay: Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura, Simplified Chinese: ) comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). ...
Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics) is the land systems and specialty vehicles arm of ST Engineering. ...
A tonne or metric ton (symbol t), sometimes referred to as a metric tonne, is a measurement of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms. ...
The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family of vehicles in use with the US military and many other nations. ...
Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport infantry on the battlefield. ...
The Bionix has been succeeded by the Bionix II, which was "jointly developed by the Singapore Armed Forces, the Defence Science and Technology Agency, and Singapore Technologies Engineering".[[1]]
Production History and Development
Along with the growth and development of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) during the mid 80's, came a need to bolster (and eventually replace) the ageing fleet of M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs). This prompted the Ministry of Defence to source for a fleet of armored vehicles to operate in tandem with the current fleet of AMX-13 SM1 light tanks. The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family of vehicles in use with the US military and many other nations. ...
The Ministry of Defence (abbreviated MINDEF) is entrusted with overseeing the defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. ...
Design work on the AMX-13 light tank began in 1946 at the Atelier de Construction dIssy-les-Moulineaux and the first prototype was completed two years later. ...
The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ...
With Defence Material Organisation (DMO) being the systems acquisition house, and the participation of the SAF, DMO was appointed to conduct a technology study and recommend the direction ahead for this project. A market survey was conducted in which various armored vehicles including the Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle, the M2 Bradley, and the Schützenpanzer Marder were evaluated. The findings from the market survey showed that none of the off-the-shelf vehicles met the unique requirements of the SAF. The FV510 Warrior tracked vehicle family, are a series of British armoured vehicles originally developed to replace the older FV430 series of armoured vehicles. ...
The M2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and M3 Bradley CFV (Cavalry Fighting Vehicle) are American infantry fighting vehicles manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, (formerly United Defense, originally FMC). ...
Marder is a German infantry fighting vehicle operated by German Army from the 1960s through the present day. ...
Therefore, the decision was made to develop the AFV locally. Local development was necessary not only because of a lack of suitable off-the-shelf designs, but also this would also serve as a good opportunity to build up the capability of the local defense industries.
Development of the Bionix began in 1988. It took several years before leaving the prototyping phase in 1995 and finally being commissioned in 26 March 1997.
Design
Engine The Bionix is a compact design produced to meet the conditions of Pacific rim countries where small size is a great asset when it comes to travelling among rubber plantations and over roads and bridges not designed for heavy vehicles. The power provided by the 475 hp Detroit Diesel engine to drive its 23 tonnes, ensures the Bionix is able to overcome the most difficult terrain. Future upgrades in horsepower ratings can be developed according to needs.
The integrated power pack is mounted to the right of the vehicle and can be removed from the Bionix as a complete unit in under 15 minutes. The engine is coupled to the General Dynamics Defense Systems HMPT-500EC fully hydro mechanical transmission, with the final drives being provided by David Brown Defence Systems. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD) is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2006 it is the sixth largest defense contractor in the world[2]. The company has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation. ...
Interior The layout of the Bionix is conventional with the driver at the front left, the power pack situated at the front right and the turret in the center with the troop compartment at the rear. The driver enters via a roof hatch that opens to the left rear. When driving closed-down, observation is via three day periscopes, while the center periscope can be rapidly replaced by an image-intensification periscope for driving at night. The driver guides the vehicle using a small steering wheel rather than tillers and, as an automatic transmission is fitted, there are just two pedals - accelerator and brake. The instrument panel is mounted on the left, with the transmission selection box on the right.
The basic production models lacks an in-built NBC protection and air conditioning system, but can be fitted if/when needed. NBC is an initialism used to indicate nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. ...
Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ...
Aiming The gunner has a twin-control handles and a day/thermal sight, with a magnification of x8 and two fields of view (high and low), with stadia for the 25mm cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The commander has an optical relay from the gunner's sight and a single control handle. The vehicle commander has a further five day periscopes to give observation to the turret front, left side and rear; the gunner has three periscopes (1 x M17 and 2 x L794D) to give observation to the right and rear. the gunner has the turret control box mounted to the right of his position and both turret-crew members have an adjustable seat. The communications equipment is installed in the turret bustle.
Variants
Prototypes - XV1 and XV2
 One of the two experimental vehicles built. Note the different camouflage paint job and turret design In the experimental phase, two experimental vehicles were made. The first experimental vehicle, XV1, was conceptualized in August 1989 and rolled out in Jan 1990 while the second vehicle, XV2 was based on a new design. They were used to test the new running gear and power pack systems as well to firm up the IFV specifications. 3 test-beds were built in 1991. A total of 9 trial platforms were built in the years up to 1997. Image File history File links Bionix-prototype. ...
Image File history File links Bionix-prototype. ...
- Bionix Main Battle Tank
Stemming from a need to replace/augment the current fleet of AMX-13 SM1 light tanks, MINDEF and United Defense conducted a series of studies to mount the Thunderbolt Armoured Gun System's 120mm cannon turret (and alternatively, 105mm) on a variety of chassis, namely an extended Bionix chassis, the Universal Combat Vehicle Platform (which the SSPH Primus was based on) and a variant of the Thunderbolt's chassis. Early extensive attempts to mount an Oto Melara 120mm turret on the Bionix have been unsuccesful. [2] Design work on the AMX-13 light tank began in 1946 at the Atelier de Construction dIssy-les-Moulineaux and the first prototype was completed two years later. ...
United Defense Industries was a United States defense contractor which is now part of BAE Systems Land and Armaments. ...
The United Defense M8 Armored Gun System was a development of the private venture Close Combat Vehicle - Light (CCV-L) and was to have been the successor of the M551 Sheridan in the 82nd Airborne Division, as well as expected to replace TOW-equipped HMMWVs in the 2nd Armored Cavalry...
The Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 (SSPH 1) Primus is a self-propelled artillery unit armed with a 155 mm howitzer. ...
Oto Melara is a Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. ...
MINDEF has since decided to procure refurbished Leopard 2A4 MBTs. [3]
The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ...
Production Models - Bionix 25
First production model. Armed with 25mm Bushmaster cannon turret and 2 x 7.62 GPMG. The first Bionix 25 production vehicles were completed in September 1997 and, under the phase 1 production contract awarded to Singapore Technologies Automotive, production continued until 2001. A total of 300 were built for the SAF. Caliber: 25 mm NATO Firearm action: Chain gun Manufactured by: ATK Barrel Length: 85. ...
- Bionix 40/50 IFV
Variant with Cupola 40mm AGL/0.5-inch HMG twin weapon station. Approx. 300 were built. Image File history File links Bi40. ...
Image File history File links Bi40. ...
- Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
25 tonne winch and 30 tonne crane. - Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB)
Variant in use by the Singapore Combat Engineers (SCE) - Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV)
The ICV variant was designed as an entry for the US Army's operational requirements for an Interim Armoured Vehicle for its Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) concept in 2001. The original turret was replaced with a US-designed and built Recon/Optical stabilised Remote Weapon Station armed with either a 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun, a 7.62mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The replacement of the original turret decreases the overall weight to 17 tonnes, light enough to be air-lifted by a C-130 Hercules plane. It eventually lost the competition to the Stryker and never went into production. The Brigade Combat Team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. ...
It has been suggested that K6 HMG be merged into this article or section. ...
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ...
The Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled all wheel drive (AWD) armored combat vehicles (ACVs) produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in current use by the US Army. ...
- Bionix II
At the turn of the century, the Bionix design received an upgrade. What resulted was the creation of the Bionix II; which was jointly developed by Defence Science and Technology Agency, and Singapore Technologies Engineering. The main turret was upgraded to the 30mm Bushmaster and armour was improved. Air-conditioning is also now standard. The new turret has an increased penetration rate of 50%, while the upgraded armour has 50% improved protection against conventional and chemical weapons. Image File history File links BX_mk2. ...
Image File history File links BX_mk2. ...
The Bushmaster II is a derivative of the M242 Bushmaster cannon. ...
The Bushmaster II is a derivative of the M242 Bushmaster cannon. ...
The Bionix II enhances survivability and deadliness with the incorporation of a digital Battlefield Management System.[1] This allows it to interface in real time with linked assets such other Bionix, UAVs and artillery. Upgrades also include improved laser range finder, minefield protection and enhancements on an already excellent 30mm cannon.
Trivia The Bionix AFV is often referred to as the B.X. in the SAF, with "BX" being the acronym for "Bionix".
See also
Other Singapore-designed weapons - Armoured Vehicles
- Heavy Weapon Systems
- Small Arms
- SAR-80 - 5.56 mm Assault Rifle
- SR-88 - 5.56 mm Assault Rifle
- SAR-21 - 5.56 mm Assault Rifle
- Ultimax 100 - 5.56 mm SAW
The Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 (SSPH 1) Primus is a self-propelled artillery unit armed with a 155 mm howitzer. ...
A U.S. M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer Self-propelled artillery (also called mobile artillery or locomotive artillery) vehicles are a way of giving mobility to artillery. ...
The Terrex AV-81 is an armoured fighting vehicle developed by Singapore Technologies. ...
The MATADOR LAW MATADOR is an unguided tube launched rocket developed by Singapore. ...
Lady Justice or Justitia is a personification of the moral force that underlies the legal system (particularly in Western art). ...
This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...
This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...
The SAR-21 is an indigenously built bullpup assault rifle from Singapore. ...
This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ...
A squad automatic weapon (SAW) is a light or general-purpose machine gun, usually equipped with a bipod and firing a 7. ...
References - ^ "SAF Unveils Battlefield Management System". ST Electronics Review 19 (3).
Janes Information Group (often referred to as Janes) was founded by John F.T. Jane in 1898. ...
Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...
is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...
Janes Defence Weekly (abbreviated as JDW) is a weekly magazine reporting on military and corporate affairs. ...
The Ministry of Defence (abbreviated MINDEF) is entrusted with overseeing the defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. ...
The Ministry of Defence (abbreviated MINDEF) is entrusted with overseeing the defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. ...
The Ministry of Defence (abbreviated MINDEF) is entrusted with overseeing the defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. ...
External links - The Official MINDEF Bionix II Website
- The Official MINDEF Website
- Singapore Army Official Website
- Singapore Technologies Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle product catalogue
- Bionix at Army-Guide.com
- Bionix IFV specifications at one35th.com
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