History of SAF Armour

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The 1990s - Dawn of a new age

Image Copyright of Muhammad Shah

(ABOVE) The Bionix IFV with the development team.

The 1990s is indeed an exciting decade for the Armour Formation. The development and commissioning of new hardwares have promoted the SAF's defence capabilities to a higher level. Most significantly, the procurement of the Bionix IFV have ushered the SAF Armour into a new technological era of high-tech weaponary.

1990
Unknown date	Armour was tasked to organise National Day Parade 1990.
Unknown date	MINDEF awarded Giat a contract for 22 AMX-10 PAC 90 Fire Support Vehicle and 22 AMX-10P ICVs with 25mm Dragar turret.
Unknown date	Integration of HQ 8 SAB into HQ 3 Division as part of the reorganisation of the SAF into combined arms divisions. It became the armoured element of HQ 3 Division. HQ 8 SAB switched from being a reserve HQ element to an active one.
1 January	40 SAR was was restructured as an Armoured Battle Group (ABG). The first experimental vehicle XV 1 of the IFV project was made ready.
1 April	HQ Armour was relocated to SAF ARMOUR CENTRE at Sungei Gedong Camp.
13 September	The 4 SAB logo was commissioned by BG Ng Jui Peng.
October	EX Wallaby was held in Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Australia.
December	The second experimental vehicle XV 2 of the IFV project was made ready.

1991
Unknown date	Formation of two more NS Bde HQs(reserve), HQ 54 SAB and 56 SAB due to expansion of the SAF. 54 SAB serves HQ 6 Division; while 56 SAB is the armour element of HQ 9 Division.
March	The third experimental vehicle XV 3 of the IFV project was made ready.
12 April	42 SAR was raised again at Sungei Gedong Camp. MAJ Ong Boon Hwee, the first CO of the new 42 SAR played a key role in the raising and development of this "new" unit.
18 April	The inauguration parade of 42 SAR was held.
Mid 1991	MINDEF issued a call for tenders for the upgrading of her transport capability. Following field trials, the sales (for an undisclosed figure) was awarded to the Swedish firm Hagglunds Vehicle AB.
29 October	46 SAR received her colours.

1992
October	Armour was put in-charged of the organising of the National Day Parade 1993. The EXCO was chaired by COL Lee Boon Loi.

1993
January	Testbed 1 of the IFV project was made ready.
June	Testbeds 2 and 3 of the IFV project was made ready.
August	MINDEF awarded STA a contract for the upgrading of its fleet of M113. The upgraded vehicles are to be called "Ultra".
October	40 SAR participated in EX Wallaby which held in Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Australia.

1994
Unknown date	Initial deliveries of the BV206 with STA assisting in systems integration.
Unknown date	STA delivered upgraded M113s for trials.

1995
January	After extensive trials, MINDEF awarded STA a contract for the building of the new IFV (Bionix).
July	Final prototype of the Bionix IFV rolled-out.

1996
June	Pre-production model of the Bionix IFV rolled-out.

1997
26 March	The new IFV (Bionix) was unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Tony Tan at a ceremony held at the ST Automotive's Portsdown Road facility.
27 March	A "Name the IFV" contest was introduced to involve the public in choosing a name for the first locally-produced IFV.
31 July	The army received a total of 8483 entries for the "Name the IFV" contest which closes at this date.
31 August	The result of the "Name the IFV" contest was announced on the local papers. Teddy Tay Gwan Joo, 27, who coined the winning name "Bionix" was to be presented with a cheque of S$5000 on the Bionix official roll-out ceremony in September.
5 September	Bionix IFV officially rolled-out at a ceremony held at the ST Automotive's Portsdown Road facility witnessed by the guest-of-honour, Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Bey Soo Khiang.
20 December	41 SAR was activated at 0800 hrs and put on stand-by for possible Search and Rescue of the victims from the crashed MI 185 in Indonesia.
23 December	A team of 10 men from 41 SAR flew at 1100 hrs to Palembang to lend logistics support to the RSAF in the Search and Rescue work. The team returned on the same evening after completing their mission.

1998
16 June	40 SAR became the SAF first ULTRA battalion when it was declared to be operationally ready by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Tony Tan at a ceremony in Sungei Gedong.
3 July	The Armour Heritage Centre was officially opened.
1 Oct - 14 Nov	41SAR took part in Ex Wallaroo. First official deployment of the Bionix overseas.