fatman17
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Iraqi Army receives Talha APCs.
Last posted:
2006-03-23
The Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTC-I) recently finalised the distribution to the Iraqi Army of Pakistan's Heavy Industry Taxila (HIT)-manufactured Talha tracked armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
HIT signed a contract with the Iraqi Ministry of Defence in November 2004 for delivery of 44 Talhas, 60 Al Mohafiz Security Vehicles and 300 Aahan Armoured Guard Posts.
The total value of the contract is about USD31 million.
Following initial deliveries in March 2005, the Iraqi Army distributed 14 Talhas to its 3rd Division, which is responsible for security in north-western Iraq, while the remaining 30 vehicles have been issued to 9th Mechanised Division based in Taji near Baghdad.
Iraq is the first export confirmed customer for the amphibious Talha. Equipped with mounts for 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns, the Talha APC was developed by HIT based on the BAE Systems Ground Systems Division (formerly United Defense) M113 APC manufactured in Pakistan on licence.
HIT said it has introduced about 90 design changes to increase the vehicle's capabilities. Reports from Pakistan suggest that the Pakistani Army placed a contract in 2002 for 250 Talhas that were to be delivered in 2005 and 2006. Until recently no confirmation of the Talha APC's production had been available.
In the interim, an undisclosed unit of the 1st Division, Iraqi Intervention Force (IIF) has become the first confirmed foreign user of the Mohafiz 4 x 4 armoured cars, also developed and manufactured by HIT.
Although the first example of the Mohafiz was based on a Toyota Land Cruiser chassis, the vehicles for the IIF were built on a Land Rover 110 chassis.
The overall shape of the hull also differs slightly from that of the Toyota Land Cruiser chassis. The Mohafiz can carry eight people and is equipped with up to 10 firing ports in its welded aluminium hull. The vehicle has a bulletproof windscreen and run flat tyres. A manually operated one-person turret armed with a 7.62 mm PK machine gun and a two-part roof hatch are mounted on the forward part of the roof.
Iraqi Army divisions have also received some 100 Aahan Armoured Guard Posts, while the remaining 200 will be distributed over the course of the next couple months, MNSTC-I sources said.
some detailed info on the Talha order to Iraq
apparantly the iraqis were not happy with the Al-Muhafiz security vehicles and the order was cancelled after 30 were delivered.
