Singapore Army replaces British-made FV180 CET with new Hunter Armoured Engineer Vehicle.

On January 11, 2025, the Singapore Army commissioned the Hunter Armoured Engineer Vehicle (HT-AEV) during a visit by Chief of Army, Major-General (MG) David Neo, to the 38th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (38 SCE). The HT-AEV, developed with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and ST Engineering, is set to replace the British-made FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor (CET), which has been in use since the 1990s.
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The Hunter Armoured Engineer Vehicle (HT-AEV) is based on the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (HT-AFV) platform, and is equipped with an excavator arm, a front loader system, and a gripper arm for obstacle-clearing tasks in various environments. (Picture source: The Singapore Army)

The Hunter Armoured Engineer Vehicle (HT-AEV) is based on the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (HT-AFV) platform, designed for mobility, protection, and digitized operations. It is equipped with an excavator arm, a front loader system, and a gripper arm for obstacle-clearing tasks in various environments. The vehicle supports closed-hatch operations with an all-around camera system, reducing crew exposure. It is operated by a two-person crew.

The HT-AEV is part of the Hunter platform series, which includes the Hunter Recovery Vehicle (HT-HRV) and the Hunter Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge (HT-AVLB). The HT-HRV, introduced in February 2022, features a telescopic knuckle boom crane with 360-degree operation, a recovery winch with a pull capacity of 25,500 kilograms, and stabilization systems for recovery operations. The HT-AVLB, commissioned in November 2022, deploys modular bridges and replaces the SM-1-based Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridges.

The Hunter platform’s development began in 2006 as a collaboration between DSTA, ST Engineering, and the Singapore Army, aimed at replacing the Ultra M113 armored personnel carriers from the 1970s. The Hunter AFV, commissioned in 2019, was the Singapore Army’s first fully digitized armored platform. Variants such as the HT-HRV, HT-AVLB, and HT-AEV have since been added. The platform integrates the Army Tactical Engagement and Information System (ARTEMIS) for real-time mission planning and coordination, and its modular design supports roles including combat, recovery, bridging, and engineering tasks. An integrated combat cockpit enables shared controls between the commander and gunner, while a health monitoring system aids maintenance.

The Hunter platform’s development began in 2006 as a collaboration between DSTA, ST Engineering, and the Singapore Army, aimed at replacing the Ultra M113 armored personnel carriers from the 1970s, and variants such as the HT-HRV, HT-AVLB, and HT-AEV have since been added. (Picture source: The Singapore Army)

The HT-AFV variant features a remotely operated turret with a Mk44 Bushmaster II 30mm cannon, two Spike anti-tank guided missiles, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and smoke grenade launchers. It measures 6.9 meters in length, 3.4 meters in width, and has a combat weight of 29.5 tons. Powered by a 720-horsepower MTU 8V-199 TE20 turbocharged diesel engine paired with a hydro-mechanical transmission, it achieves a maximum speed of 70 km/h and an operational range of 500 kilometers.

The Hunter Armoured Engineer Vehicle (HT-AEV) replaces the FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor (CET), a tracked engineering vehicle introduced in the 1970s. Designed for tasks such as terrain preparation and obstacle clearance, the CET was used by the British Royal Engineers and is still in service with other armed forces such as India. It features a tandem crew configuration, a rear-mounted earthmoving bucket, an 8-tonne pull winch, and a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) filtration system. Amphibious operations are supported by Dowty water impellers and a rocket-propelled anchor. The Auxiliary Lifting Attachment (ALA), which could lift loads of up to four tonnes, was discontinued in the 1990s.

The CET weighs 17.5 tonnes, measures 7.54 meters in length, 2.94 meters in width, and 2.67 meters in height. It is powered by a 320-horsepower Rolls-Royce C6TFR engine, achieving a road speed of 56 km/h and a water speed of 8.5 knots, with an operational range of 480 kilometers. Its aluminum alloy armor provides lightweight protection. Although retired from British service in 2013 and replaced by the Terrier Armoured Digger, the CET remains in use by India, Singapore, and Ukraine.

In Ukraine, the FV180 CET has been deployed by the 3rd Assault Brigade in the Kursk region. Its capabilities, including amphibious operation and earthmoving equipment, are suited to the area's geographical challenges, such as river networks and difficult soil conditions. The CET supports terrain preparation and obstacle clearance in these operational contexts. The transition to advanced systems like the HT-AEV reflects evolving requirements for engineering vehicles in modern military operations.