Singapore’s ST Engineering announced on 15 July that its land systems division has signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to set up a joint venture in Singapore to market and sell naval missile systems ST Missile, including a next-generation anti-ship missile (ASM) system.
Proteus Advanced Systems
Both companies will each hold a 50 percent stake in the new firm, which will be named Proteus Advanced Systems, although further details of the partnership have not been disclosed.
IAI has developed a range of naval missiles, including the Barak family of surface-to-air missile (SAM) and the Gabriel ASM systems.
Barak MX
The latest Barak MX is a vertically launched air and missile defence system that is designed to engage a range of threats – including sea skimming and cruise missiles, fighter aircraft, ballistic missiles, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles – at maximum ranges from 35km to 150km depending on the model.
Gabriel ASM
The company also offers the secretive Gabriel ASM, which has entered service with the Israeli Navy and several other navies around the world. The sea skimming missile has evolved over the years since the first model – Gabriel I – was introduced in the 1960s.
The latest version, understood to be designated the Gabriel V/Advanced Naval Attack Missile (ANAM), resembles the US-made RGM-84 Harpoon ASM and has been selected by the Finnish Navy in July 2018 as a replacement for its ageing MTO 85M (Saab RBS15) missiles.
According to the Finnish Navy announcement, the Gabriel V has a length of 5.5 metres and a launch weight of 1,250kg. The missile has a stated range of over 200 kilometres and is equipped with an active radar seeker featuring advanced anti-jam features, all-weather operation, as well as enhanced search and discrimination capabilities.
Smart Systems
The new joint venture will not be the first of such companies to be set up in Singapore. ST Engineering had earlier announced in July 1999 that it will partner with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to set up Smart Systems, which is presently the prime contractor for the local manufacture, supply, and maintenance of the Spike anti-armour missile for the Singapore Armed Forces.
It has also begun to market the weapon and its training system in the Southeast Asian region.
by Jr Ng
