Turkey, Indonesia advance joint armor lineup with new troop carrier

ISTANBUL — Local armored-vehicle manufacturer FNSS has unveiled an armored personnel carrier in cooperation with Pindad Indonesia, continuing a teaming arrangement that previously saw the two vendors make mid-size tanks for the Southeast Asian country.

Company executives unveiled the conceptual design for the envisioned troop transporter, dubbed “Kaplan,” at the Saha Expo arms fair here in late October.

Manufacturing is set to begin in 2025, with the first unit to be produced at FNSS facilities in Turkey, followed by the second in Indonesia at PT Pindad’s facilities. Deliveries are expected by the end of 2026, with the timing dictated by the Indonesian Army’s specific needs, the companies said.

Both FNSS and PT Pindad will conduct qualification tests in their respective countries to ensure performance and quality standards.

Designed for all-terrain and all-weather operation, the Kaplan vehicle will feature an advanced suspension system to reduce internal vibrations and enhance traction, according to the companies. The vehicle will support an open-architecture electronics infrastructure, designed to enable the integration of new technologies.

There is space for 13 occupants inside Kaplan, including a crew of three – a driver, a gunner and a commander.

During the unveiling ceremony here FNSS chief executive Nail Kurt said the vehicle will be one of the fastest in its class, boasting a top speed of more than 70 kilometers per hour.

To further enhance crew survivability, the vehicle will feature an automatic fire suppression system, a CBRN defense system, and climate control, all within a sealed internal environment, the companies said.

As for weapons, the modular design will allow for the integration of manned or unmanned turret systems, with the ability to mount various calibers, including 30 mm and 35 mm guns, as well as 120 mm mortars and anti-tank guided missiles.

Cem Devrim Yaylali is a Turkey correspondent for Defense News. He is a keen photographer of military ships and has a passion for writing about naval and defense issues. He was born in Paris, France, and resides in Istanbul, Turkey. He is married with one son.

伊斯坦布尔——当地装甲车辆制造商 FNSS 与 Pindad Indonesia 合作推出了一款装甲运兵车，延续了双方此前的合作安排，此前两家供应商曾为这个东南亚国家生产中型坦克。

该公司高管在 10 月下旬于此地举行的萨哈博览中心武器展上公布了设想中的部队运输车的概念设计，该车被命名为“卡普兰”。

该项目计划于2025年开始生产，首台设备将在土耳其FNSS工厂生产，第二台将在印尼PT Pindad工厂生产。两家公司表示，预计将于2026年底交付，具体时间将取决于印尼陆军的需求。

FNSS 和 PT Pindad 都将在各自的国家进行资格测试，以确保性能和质量标准。

据两家公司介绍，卡普兰车辆专为全地形和全天候作业而设计，将配备先进的悬挂系统，以减少内部振动并增强牵引力。该车辆将支持开放式架构的电子基础设施，旨在实现新技术的集成。

卡普兰号内部可容纳 13 名乘员，其中包括三名乘员——一名驾驶员、一名炮手和一名指挥官。

在本次揭幕仪式上，FNSS 首席执行官奈尔·库尔特表示，该车将是同级别车辆中最快的之一，最高时速超过 70 公里/小时。

两家公司表示，为了进一步提高乘员的生存能力，该车辆将配备自动灭火系统、核生化防御系统和气候控制系统，所有这些都在一个密封的内部环境中。

至于武器方面，模块化设计将允许集成有人或无人炮塔系统，能够安装各种口径的武器，包括 30 毫米和 35 毫米火炮，以及 120 毫米迫击炮和反坦克导弹。

杰姆·德夫里姆·亚伊拉利是《防务新闻》驻土耳其记者。他热衷于拍摄军舰，并对海军和国防议题充满热情。他出生于法国巴黎，现居土耳其伊斯坦布尔。他已婚，育有一子。