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ST Kinetics FH-2000

1993 MODERN

History

The Singapore Army adopted the FH-2000 155mm towed howitzer system in 1993. The product was developed locally by ST Kinetics in 1990 and has been produced under the company's brand label since 1993.

The FH-2000 was partly influenced by ST Kinetics' previous attempt at the 155mm caliber system, the FH-88 (described in detail elsewhere on this site), which entered service in 1988 and found customers in the Singapore Army and the Indonesian Army. The FH-88 is the first indigenous 155mm weapon designed, developed and manufactured by Singapore.

The newer FH-2000 first appeared in pilot (prototype) form in 1991 and was tested in New Zealand before being accepted into service in late 1993. The FH-2000 features a longer 52-gauge barrel and adds an auxiliary power unit (APU) to propel the weapon over short distances (reducing the crew's reliance on the battle center mobile vehicle).

This APU system becomes a more conventional diesel-powered air-cooled engine capable of reaching speeds of up to 6.2 mph. The six-man operating team consists of specialists who have specific roles in the normal operation of the weapon.

The total weight of the weapon system is 29,100 pounds, the length is 42.3 feet, and the barrel is 26.4 feet long. The barrel and breech system can fire all recognized 155mm NATO caliber projectiles, which are strongly favored by Western powers such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The breech is semi-automatic with an intermittent screw design with electric rammers to reduce reload time.

The van unit has four rubber tire wheels spread over two axles. The barrel mount provides an elevation range of -3 to +70 degrees and can rotate the barrel +/- 20 degrees from centerline.

Trained crew members can fire up to six rounds per minute for up to three minutes, or two rounds per minute for up to thirty minutes. Effective range is up to 12 miles with standard ammo types, although rocket-assisted projectiles increase the weapon's range to 25 miles.

Quantitative data for the FH-2000 system in service with the Singapore Army was obtained in 1995. Since then, it has only been taken over by another foreign power - also Indonesia.