The howitzer was developed in the 1990s for fire support of armored vehicles of combined arms units. The howitzer was created as a modern technology capable of performing assigned tasks, while possessing the necessary modern combat and mobile characteristics. During the development of the Primus project, a study was carried out of the best at that time samples of self-propelled guns - M109 Paladin, AS90 Braveheart, Japanese Type 75, 2S3M1. It was no accident that the choice fell on the 155mm gun - as the experience of using similar guns abroad has shown, this is the optimal solution to achieve the required characteristics of a combat weapon.
The Armed Forces of Singapore needed a self-propelled gun up to 30 tons, no more than 3 meters wide for movement through local bridges and vegetation. Research helped to decide on its own development of a new tracked howitzer.
ST Kinetics together with DSTA began to create a self-propelled gun in 1996. The engineers already had experience in the development and creation of towed artillery systems and howitzers such as "FH-88" and "FH-2000".
By the summer of 2000, a prototype self-propelled howitzer had been built. The gun was installed on the UCVP chassis (universal combat platform). The chassis included components from the M109 Paladin gun, the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M8-AGS. Over the next two years, the self-propelled howitzer was tested. Fire tests took place in New Zealand in 2004.
In the fall of 2002, the Primus self-propelled howitzer was found suitable in accordance with the requirements. Self-propelled howitzer "Primus" is adopted by 21 artillery battalions in Singapore.
The chassis is based on the versatile platform on which the American M109 self-propelled howitzer is built. Also used some systems and units from the BMP "Bionix", which only simplifies the training of personnel and re-suitability. Crawler chassis with seven road wheels.
Diesel engine "6V 92TIA" with 550 hp was used as the engine. The transmission is automatic. Howitzer travel speed - up to 50 km / h. The range is up to 350 kilometers. Full weight - 28.3 tons. All this allows the use of the machine in the troops of Singapore to ensure the assigned modern combat missions. Transportation of the SSPH 1 is possible with an Airbus A400M transport aircraft.
The turret carries a 155mm howitzer gun with a muzzle brake and an extractor. The firing range of a conventional projectile is up to 19 kilometers, and a special projectile is up to 30 kilometers. Used ammunition - high-explosive, armor-piercing, smoke and lighting.
Charging is of a semi-automatic type. The rate of fire is three rounds per minute, maximum - up to 6 rounds per minute. The fire control system is digital. It monitors all available ammunition, as well as its consumption during firing. Navigation equipment installed. Digital equipment provides receiving and processing information from the command post within 60 seconds.
The main characteristics of the self-propelled howitzer "Primus SSPH 1":
- full weight - 28.3 tones;
- crew - three people;
- engine power - 550 hp;
- travel speed up to 50 km / h;
- cruising range up to 350 kilometers;
- gun caliber - 155mm;
- additional armament - 7.62mm machine gun
- guidance angle vetrikal / horizontal - (-3) + 85/360 degrees;
- transportable ammunition - 90 ammunition;
- rate of fire up to 6 rds / min;
- range of destruction up to 30 kilometers;
