logo
NDP 2025: Leopard tank which hit traffic light had faulty component, Singapore News

NDP 2025: Leopard tank which hit traffic light had faulty component, Singapore News

AsiaOne4 days ago
The incident involving a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) tank from the National Day Parade (NDP) mobile column which bumped into a traffic light was caused by an isolated faulty component based on preliminary investigations.
At a media event on Tuesday (July 8), Colonel (COL) David Kwek, co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, said the faulty component "led to the loss of steering and braking power".
"The safety and well-being of the public and our crews are of paramount importance," said COL Kwek, who added that "more detailed reviews" are still ongoing.
He said the Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank (L2SG) will resume its participation in the NDP mobile column and the Heartlands Celebration only "after all the necessary safety checks and clearances are completed".
During the NDP National Education show on July 5, an L2SG was captured bumping into a traffic light while making a right turn outside Parliament House and the Supreme Court.
The Ministry of Defence issued a statement on July 6 saying that the L2SG experienced a technical issue at 7.22pm.
"This resulted in an incident along North Bridge Road, where the tank came into contact with a traffic light," the ministry said, adding that the L2SG was travelling within the speed limit of 20kmh when the incident took place.
No injuries were reported and the tank remained within the cordoned area, away from the public.
The traffic light had minor damage, but has since been repaired.
[[nid:719925]]
dana.leong@asiaone.com
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light had faulty part
NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light had faulty part

New Paper

time36 minutes ago

  • New Paper

NDP 2025: Tank that bumped into traffic light had faulty part

A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) tank that bumped into a traffic light during a National Day Parade (NDP) National Education show was found to have a faulty component that led to the loss of steering and braking power. Speaking to the media at an NDP media event on July 8, Colonel David Kwek, the co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, said preliminary investigations show that the incident resulted from "an isolated component" on the Leopard 2SG main battle tank (L2SG). "Out of an abundance of caution, we are doing more detailed reviews and the L2SG will resume its participation in the NDP mobile column and the heartland celebrations after all the necessary safety checks and clearances are completed," he said. The accident happened on July 5 during an NDP National Education show - a preview of the parade primarily for students. A video of the incident showed the tank unable to stop and bumping into a nearby traffic light when it made a right turn outside Parliament House and the Supreme Court. No injuries were reported and the tank remained within the cordoned area, away from the public. The accident did minor damage to the traffic light, which was left askew, but which has since been repaired. The tank is part of a mobile column, where military hardware is displayed, for NDP 2025. The Ministry of Defence earlier said the L2SG tank had experienced a technical issue and that the accident came after the mobile column segment of the parade. Col Kwek said the safety and well-being of the public and the crew are of paramount importance. The Straits Times has asked the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) whether this was the first time the component had experienced failure and on the expected duration of the checks. Mindef said it will give more details after the checks are done.

NDP 2025: Leopard tank that hit traffic light to return to mobile column after fault identified
NDP 2025: Leopard tank that hit traffic light to return to mobile column after fault identified

New Paper

time37 minutes ago

  • New Paper

NDP 2025: Leopard tank that hit traffic light to return to mobile column after fault identified

A Leopard tank went momentarily out of control during a National Day Parade (NDP) National Education show on July 5 will resume its role in the NPD mobile column and heartland celebrations. The Ministry of Defence (Mindef), in a statement on July 11 after the Singapore Army concluded its investigations into the matter, said the incident happened because an internal component within the transmission had malfunctioned. This resulted in a loss of transmission oil pressure, causing the tank to experience a partial loss in its steering and braking power. The tank was found to have sustained no major damage and the traffic light has since been repaired. The cause of the malfunction was traced to a failure in the channel taking the transmission fluid to the service brake, Mindef added. The tank operator, a full-time national serviceman, responded according to standard procedures and activated the parking brake to bring the vehicle to a stop. The Leopard 2SG main battle tank, which features in the NDP mobile column, hit a traffic light on July 5 while making a turn near Parliament House and the Supreme Court. The incident took place at about 7.20pm in North Bridge Road, just after the mobile column segment of the show had ended. The tank was moving within the 20kmh speed limit inside a cordoned area, and no injuries were reported. The next day, Mindef said the vehicle had experienced a technical issue which resulted in the accident. In video footage of the incident, put up later that day on the SGRV Facebook page, the tank can be seen making a right turn before hitting the traffic light, leaving it slightly askew. The clip was widely watched online, racking up nearly half a million views overnight. Several people online speculated that the cause could be a mechanical fault, including a possible steering issue. Preliminary findings on July 8 said a "faulty component" caused the tank to lose both steering and braking power. Colonel David Kwek, co-chairman of the NDP 2025 Heartland Celebrations Committee, said the issue was linked to "an isolated component" in the Leopard 2SG, and that safety checks are ongoing. Mindef, on July 11, said this is the first time the army has experienced such a fault in its Leopard 2SG fleet. The affected tank underwent standard checks before deployment and no issues were detected. The ministry said: "Comprehensive checks performed across the L2SG fleet since the incident have determined that it was an isolated one." Renk, the German manufacturer of the tank's transmission system, said the malfunction had not previously occurred in its systems. It will work with the army to establish a maintenance regime for the affected component. All transmissions in the fleet have since been verified to be in good working order.

Myanmar junta thanks Trump after recognition in tariff letter
Myanmar junta thanks Trump after recognition in tariff letter

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Straits Times

Myanmar junta thanks Trump after recognition in tariff letter

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing endorsed Mr Trump's false claim that the 2020 US election was stolen. Myanmar's military leader lauded Mr Donald Trump and asked him to lift sanctions, the junta said on July 11 after a tariff letter from the US President believed to be Washington's first public recognition of its rule. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing endorsed Mr Trump's false claim that the 2020 US election was stolen, and thanked him for shutting down funding to US-backed media providing independent coverage of conflict-wracked Myanmar. The military ousted Ms Aung San Suu Kyi's elected civilian government in 2021, plunging the country into civil war. The US State Department sanctioned the junta chief and others for using 'violence and terror to oppress' Burmese people and 'denying them the ability to freely choose their own leaders'. US diplomats do not formally engage with the junta, but Mr Trump sent a letter to the senior general by name on July 7 telling him the US would impose a 40 per cent tariff from Aug 1, down from a threatened 44 per cent. 'It's certainly the first public indication I've seen of US acknowledgement of MAH and the junta,' said Mr Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group. Any earlier private communications 'would almost certainly not have been from Trump of course', he told AFP. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore boosts nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funding Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Singapore Over 150 e-bikes and other non-compliant mobility devices impounded in last 2 months: LTA Singapore S'porean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times Singapore Over 12,000 lower-income households to receive $60 in transport vouchers by end-July Business CEO salaries: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column Gen Min Aung Hlaing seized the opportunity to respond with a multipage letter released in both Burmese and English by the junta information team on J uly 11 . In it, he expressed his 'sincere appreciation' for Mr Trump's letter and praised the US President's 'strong leadership in guiding your country toward national prosperity'. He sought to justify the military's seizure of power, saying: 'Similar to the challenges you encountered during the 2020 election of the United States, Myanmar also experienced major electoral fraud and significant irregularities.' Both Voice of America and Radio Free Asia – created by the US with a mission to deliver news in countries without free media – have shut down their Burmese-language operations since the Trump administration cut their funding. The junta leader said he 'sincerely appreciated' Mr Trump's move. The junta is increasingly dependent on its allies China and Russia for economic and military support. Gen Min Aung Hlaing asked Mr Trump to 'reconsider easing and lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar', and sought a tariff of 10 per cent to 20 per cent. He thanked Mr Trump for the 'encouraging invitation to continue participating in the extraordinary economy of the United States, the No. 1 market in the world'. Mr Trump's punitive tariff letters have left many nations scrambling to secure last-minute deals with Washington before they come into force in August . AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store