Latest news with #NeeSoon
CNA
4 days ago
- CNA
Cyclist shot near SAF range: How far do Singapore military rounds travel?
SINGAPORE: A 42-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound on Sunday (Jun 15) while cycling in a restricted forested area of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, near where the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was conducting a live-firing exercise. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) confirmed that the activity was taking place at the Nee Soon 500m Range, about 2.3km from where the incident occurred. Investigations are ongoing, and the authorities have not identified the specific weapon involved. It is also unclear how a bullet could have travelled such a distance and struck someone outside the training perimeter. While the circumstances remain under review, the incident has prompted questions about the range and reach of weapons used in SAF training. Here's a look at some of the firearms commonly used by military personnel in Singapore, including their effective range, or the distance at which a weapon can reliably hit a target. SAR 21 Technical specifications Calibre: 5.56mm x 45mm Length: 805mm Barrel length: 508mm Weight: 3.98kg Rate of fire: 450-650 rounds per minute (rpm) Effective Range: 460m The SAR 21 is described by MINDEF as the quintessential assault rifle of the Singapore Armed Forces. Introduced in 1999 to replace the American M16, the Singapore-made SAR 21 is about 20 per cent shorter than its predecessor, allowing soldiers to move more easily in confined spaces. The rifle also features a built-in aiming scope with 1.5x magnification. Its low recoil gives soldiers better control over the rifle, allowing for faster recovery between successive shots. It can also be equipped with a grenade launcher. Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle 6940E-SG Technical specifications Calibre: 5.56mm x 45mm Length: 849mm – 933mm Barrel length: 406mm Weight: 4.3kg Rate of fire: 700rpm – 1,000rpm Effective range: 600m Made by United States-headquartered Colt's Manufacturing, the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) 6940E-SG light machine gun (LMG) is Singapore's replacement for its indigenous Ultimax 100 Section Automatic Weapon (SAW), which had been in service since 1982. Compared to its predecessor, the Colt IAR is shorter, lighter and has a longer effective range. It also has a higher fire rate, and is capable of longer, sustained firing bursts thanks to improved cooling from its heat sink. Its red dot sighting system helps with faster and more accurate target acquisition over the iron sights of the Ultimax 100. 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) Technical specifications Calibre: 7.62mm x 51mm Length: 1,255mm Barrel length: 569mm Weight: 11.4kg Rate of fire: 650rpm – 1,150rpm Effective range: 1,200m SAF's 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), known colloquially as simply GPMG, is the Singapore-licensed production of the Belgian FN MAG. Manufactured by ST Engineering, the GPMG is a fully automatic belt-fed machine gun that can be used as a light weapon and in a sustained fire role. The GPMG has two versions - an infantry assault variant with a bipod, and a co-axial variant for use in armoured vehicles, such as Singapore's Leopard 2SG main battle tanks. STK 50 MG Technical specifications Calibre: 12.7mm x 99mm Length: 1,670mm Barrel length: 1,141mm Weight: 30kg Rate of fire: 400rpm – 600rpm Effective range: It is difficult to find definitive data on the effective range of the STK 50 MG, as the weapon was developed in the 1980s, and detailed technical specifications have not been widely published online. However, estimates place this between 1,000m and 2,000m, depending on factors such as ammunition type, mounting platform, and firing conditions. The STK 50 MG is a locally developed, belt-fed, heavy machine gun for fire support against infantry, light armoured vehicles and low-flying targets. Formerly known as the CIS 50 MG, the STK 50 MG was developed by then Chartered Industries of Singapore (now ST Engineering Land Systems) in the late 1980s to replace the American ".50 cal" M2HB Browning machine guns. A unique feature of the STK 50 MG is its dual-feed ammunition mechanism that allows for the fast and easy switching of different types of ammo. Knight's Armament M110 Technical specifications Calibre: 7.62mm x 51mm Length: 1,190mm Barrel length: 508mm Weight: 6.27kg Rate of fire: Semi-automatic Effective range: 800m The M110 is an American sniper rifle developed by Knight's Armament Company. Used by the SAF since the early half of 2010s, it replaced older sniper rifles in Singapore's use, such as the SR-25. Equipped with an adjustable scope, the M110 can fire off multiple rounds without the need to cock the weapon between rounds. Because it can engage faster, it is used for covering troops in built-up areas. Sako TRG-22 Technical specifications Calibre: 7.62mm x 51mm Length: 1,150mm Barrel length: 660mm Weight: 6.2kg Effective range: 1,000m Rate of fire: Bolt-action As with the M110, the Finnish Sako TRG-22 was brought into service in the SAF in the early 2010s to replace older sniper rifles, such as the United Kingdom's Accuracy International AWM rifle. Compared to the M110, the TRG-22 has a longer barrel length, allowing it to hit targets farther away. However, as it is a bolt-action rifle, the gun is slower as it needs to be cocked after every round. The TRG-22 is used for field firing, which includes stalking enemy targets.
CNA
5 days ago
- CNA
Man suffers gunshot wound while cycling in restricted area near SAF live-firing activity
A 42-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound about two kilometres away from a live-firing activity conducted by the Singapore Armed Forces yesterday. The police said the man was cycling with his friends near the Nee Soon 500m Open Range, a restricted area that the public does not have access to. He is in a stable condition at the National University Hospital. Under the Military Manoeuvres Act, the public is not allowed to enter gazetted areas meant for live-firing exercises. Investigations are ongoing and foul play is not suspected. Nee Soon Range has suspended live-firing activities as a precautionary measure. Rachel Teng reports.
Independent Singapore
05-06-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
New Nee Soon MP to call for more penalties for animal welfare offences in wake of community cat deaths
SINGAPORE: After a spate of recent cat deaths, Lee Hui Ying, one of the newly elected Members of Parliament (MP) for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC), said earlier this week that she will raise the issue of enhancing penalties against animal welfare offences. Since May, at least three community cats have been found dead in Nee Soon and Punggol. After a second cat was found lifeless in Nee Soon within a short amount of time, CNA reported that a bounty of S$5,000 had been put up in the hopes of finding the person responsible for the deaths. Ms Lee noted in a Facebook post late on Tuesday night that the National Parks Board (NParks) finished investigations into the death of King Kong, the Nee Soon community cat found dead early last month, saying that it had likely been due to a vehicular accident. The death of the second cat from the area is still under investigation. See also Strange goings-on at SPH 'There is an important need to care for our community, including animals, in our estate. Most importantly, creating a safer environment for all,' the MP wrote, adding that she intends to speak on more penalties for animal welfare offences when Parliament reopens. Ms Lee wrote that Singapore needs stronger laws and enforcement, stricter penalties for cruelty, and better protection for voiceless lives. 'Our animals don't have a voice — but we do,' she added. CNA reported on Jun 4 that NParks has looked into the deaths of four cats, two in Yishun, one in Punggol, and one in Tampines. NParks' group director of enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok said that a road accident was also the likely cause of the death of the Punggol community cat. 'NParks understands the concerns on cases of alleged animal cruelty, and we would like to assure the public that we take all feedback received from the public on alleged animal cruelty seriously and will investigate them thoroughly, including looking at any new evidence presented,' she added. Meanwhile, a petition calling for stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws in Singapore has been shared on the platform. 'Community cats in Singapore are increasingly becoming victims of abuse, with more reports of physical harm, poisoning, and neglect surfacing in recent months. These animals, who often rely on the care of volunteers and kind-hearted residents, suffer silently with limited protection. Beyond the cats themselves, caregivers and animal welfare groups are also affected emotionally and financially as they scramble to treat injuries, report abuse, and seek justice within a system that often falls short,' it reads. /TISG /TISG Read also: S$5K bounty offered to find cat killer at Nee Soon; petition for stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws shared
CNA
03-06-2025
- General
- CNA
Yishun, Punggol cat deaths likely caused by vehicle accidents, not abuse: NParks
Authorities have debunked suggestions that a serial cat killer is on the loose in Nee Soon. Investigations by the National Parks Board conclude that, out of the two dead felines found there over the past few weeks, at least one was likely a victim of a vehicle accident. NParks said its post mortem on community cat King Kong's carcass found no evidence of penetrating or sharp force wounds, which would have been likely in a case of abuse. Rather, the cat had fractures on its pelvis and breastbone, and a slight jutting out of its right eye. Rachel Teng reports.
Independent Singapore
03-06-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
S$5K bounty offered to find cat killer at Nee Soon; petition for stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws shared
SINGAPORE: After a second cat was found killed in Nee Soon within a short span of time, a bounty of S$5,000 has been put up in the hopes of finding the person responsible for the deaths, CNA reported on Tuesday (Jun 2). The report says that animal welfare groups believe that a serial cat killer could be on the loose, adding that in addition to the bounty, a private investigator has been hired by the community to help solve the killings, and that the Cat Welfare Society intends to do more house visits to determine if a witness can be found. Early in May, a community cat at Yishun Street 51 named King Kong was found dead. Its killing had been particularly horrific, and photos of the cat were shared online showing that it had been cut open and some of its internal organs had been exposed. Moreover, King Kong was believed to have been tortured, as its eyes had been gouged out. See also Litterbug dumps big pile of old clothes at void deck in Nee Soon Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, a Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, described the killing of King Kong in a Facebook post as an act of 'appalling cruelty.' 'What kind of person will do this? This is not who we are as a people,' he added. Some days later, a community cat in Punggol named Shere Khan was discovered with severe injuries near Block 326B Sumang Walk. Despite receiving medical care immediately, Shere Khan, fondly known as Papa Cat, died. 'What happened to him was not just cruel — it was unthinkable,' wrote LUNI Singapore, a group that rehomes and cares for street cats, in a Facebook post. Then, on May 24, another community cat was found dead, wrapped in plastic and paper beside a garbage bin at the void deck of Block 897 Tampines Street 81. The cat, named Sunshine, had been cared for by members of the community over the past decade. CNA reported that the second dead cat was discovered in Nee Soon on Sunday morning (Jun 1) with its hind legs 'in an odd position, suggesting an unnatural death' just a short distance from where King Kong's body was discovered. Meanwhile, a petition for a stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws has been shared on the platform. 'Community cats in Singapore are increasingly becoming victims of abuse, with more reports of physical harm, poisoning, and neglect surfacing in recent months. These animals, who often rely on the care of volunteers and kind-hearted residents, suffer silently with limited protection. Beyond the cats themselves, caregivers and animal welfare groups are also affected emotionally and financially as they scramble to treat injuries, report abuse, and seek justice within a system that often falls short,' it reads. /TISG Read also: Alert issued after 2 community cats at Toa Payoh suspected to be 'captured, beaten, scalded & drowned'
