FLIGHT OF THE PEGASUS

Named after the mighty winged horse in Greek mythology, Pegasus, the new Singapore Light Weight Howitzer (SLWH) may not have wings to fly, but it is the world's first self-propelled and heli-transportable 155mm gun.

Meet the mighty Pegasus, the newest addition to the Singapore Artillery's arsenal.

The 155mm SLWH is in a class of its own.

An independent engine unit mounted on the gun gives it short-range self-propelled capability, while the use of lightweight materials allows the gun to be comfortably airlifted by the CH-47D/SD Chinook helicopter or flown in the C-130 Hercules plane.

Jointly developed by the SAF, the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA) and Singapore Technologies (Kinetics) [ST (K)], the 39-calibre howitzer delivers range and firepower comparable to heavier systems like the Primus and the FH-88.

Weighing 5.4 tonnes, the Pegasus will replace the older 105mm light guns in the SAF.

The metal matters

Mr Kenneth Quek, Project Manager at DSTA, who has been involved in the project from the start, said: "When we saw the operational requirements, we had to translate them into technical specifications."

"Since it is the first of its kind, we had to think, 'Is this possible?', 'Can this be achieved?'"

"We researched world-wide, talked with possible partners in other countries, but we found nothing that met our requirements. So we went into developing it ourselves."

"In the process, we had some failures, but each time, the team went back to the drawing board to see what went wrong and how to do it better," said Mr Quek.

The Pegasus took more than a decade to develop. Mr Quek explained that this long development time was a result of several challenges faced. One key obstacle was finding appropriate materials for the system.

"This is the first time we are using high strength titanium and aluminium alloys for gun design," he said.

Commanding Officer of the 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery (23 SA), LTC Lawrence Lim , added: "We were waiting for some of the technology to mature and stabilise before we made the decision to equip."

"It was essential to use materials that would be light enough to be heli-transportable, yet strong enough to withstand the firing shocks."

Ammunition Loading System - With the APU, ammunition is automatically loaded into the gun, reducing fatigue on the crew and increasing their sustainability on the battlefield.


Mechanical Sight - An advanced mechanical sight withstands firing shocks of up to 90 times the force of gravity (or 90 Gs), critical for sustained operations given the system's lightweight structure.


Ease of deployment - Without any lifting support in the field, the Pegasus is easily configured for mobility, firing and heli-lifting. With just eight men, it takes less than three minutes to quickly engage the gun for deployment.


Innovative Recoil Management - A unique design system brings the peak recoil force of the gun down a third lower than conventional 155mm howitzers.


Auxillary Power Unit (APU) - An independent engine unit on the weapon provides it with a short-range self-propelled capability, moving up to a speed of 12 km/h.

Gunning for the future

While all three parties involved in the project admitted that along the way, there were differences of opinion, they also agreed that everyone was professional and ready to iron out any disagreements.

Mr Teo Chew Kwee, Vice President (Engineering) from ST(K) said it was a "very supportive" working relationship.

"The SAF was very clear in its operational requirements and the characteristics it needed for the gun, and DSTA functioned as the moderator, weighing the operational with the technological feasibilities. As for us, we provided the technological solutions," Mr Teo said.

LTC Lim nodded in agreement. "Everyone involved was working towards the common goal of delivering this system and meeting the specifications. Now that we are ready to deliver this system, we all feel a deep sense of accomplishment."

For LTC Lim, working closely with industry partners also highlighted the creativity and ingenuity of the people working in Singapore's defence industries. He said their input definitely enhances the Army's drive towards the future.

"The transformation of the SAF includes the involvement of our industry partners, and the development of this system speaks volumes of the strong innovative spirit of all our people."

"By working together with our partners, the Army can definitely evolve further into a 3G force," added LTC Lim.

Mr Quek commented that the success of the project was only possible by synergising the competencies of the three parties. He also highlighted the contributions of Air Logistics Department in providing technical advice in the area of heli-transportability.


Enter the Pegasus

Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean commissioned the Pegasus on 28 Oct.

After viewing a short demonstration of the gun's capabilities, a clearly impressed Mr Teo said that with the Pegasus, the SAF can bring heavy firepower further into the field, to support the troops more quickly.

"This is a very unique howitzer because it has its own power unit which gives it self-mobility in the field. This is something other light weight howitzers of its class do not have. This unusual degree of mobility makes it very survivable, and more able to support our forces in the field."

The men of 23 SA will be the first to use the Pegasus. After it is fully phased into other artillery units over the next few years, all SAF's artillery systems will be standardised at 155 mm.

"It is a great feeling to succeed in a difficult task that no one has yet done." - Mr Teo Chew Kwee, Vice President (Engineering), ST (K)

Singapore Light Weight Howitzer Pegasus microsite

31 Oct 05 - Enter the Pegasus