The Singapore Army has confirmed that a fully automated truck-mounted gun will become its next-generation howitzer, following the emergence of images of a new wheeled artillery system on social media on 2 October.
The images appeared in posts commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Army’s 6th Division and show a system closely resembling Elbit Systems’ SIGMA 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled howitzer (SPH). In a response to a media query, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) confirmed on 6 October that the fully automated truck-mounted gun would be introduced as the Army’s Next Generation Howitzer.
“The introduction of these systems is part of the Army’s continuous transformation and modernisation efforts,” MINDEF stated.
The ministry said the system would provide a precision-strike capability, enabling the Army to respond with greater precision and speed in increasingly complex and urbanised operating environments.
The wheeled howitzer will be progressively introduced into service, replacing the Army’s existing Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH) PRIMUS and FH-2000 artillery systems. The FH-2000 is a towed howitzer rather than a self-propelled system.
Elbit announced a US$106 million contract in November 2021 to supply SIGMA howitzers to an unnamed Asia-Pacific customer. Singapore has not publicly confirmed that it was the customer. SIGMA is also in service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) under the name RO’EM, meaning “Thunderous”. The first system was delivered in January 2026.
The highly automated SPH features an all-electric, remote-controlled unmanned turret capable of 360° traverse. It is capable of fully automated gun laying, ammunition handling, fuze setting, loading and firing operations. An operating crew of only 2–3 soldiers are present within the protected cabin. Elbit claims the integrated and automated loading system significantly reduces crew workload and improves overall artillery unit efficiency by up to 30%.
The 155mm/52-calibre howitzer is mounted on a 10 × 10 wheeled platform and can transition into or out of a firing position in approximately 30 seconds. It carries up to 40 projectiles, 216 modular charge units and 45 primers in automated magazines.
Elbit quotes a range of up to 41 km with standard ammunition and up to 70 km with rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP), with a maximum rate of fire of eight rounds per minute. The system also supports Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI), allowing several projectiles to arrive on a target at approximately the same time.
Multiple SIGMA units can be connected through wired or wireless communications and controlled from a centralised command post. Elbit also claims its automated gun-resupply system can improve overall artillery-unit efficiency by up to 30%.
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