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Turkish Land Vehicle Programs

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BMC’s military vehicle without a driver:
• BMC develops fully autonomous version of Multi-Purpose Armored Vehicle Amazon
• Electronic Controlled Driving System, real-time mapping, vehicle with autonomous intelligence and autonomous driving
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Source: Göksel Yıldırım at twitter
 
FNSS unveils the ZAHA marine amphibious vehicle
1 May 2019

By Paolo Valpolini

“To my left you can see the prototype of our Marine Amphibious Vehicle, the programme being currently in the Critical Design Review phase, however the vehicle design is mostly completed, thus it is very similar to what will be the final version,” Nail Kurt, the FNSS CEO says opening the press conference that marks the first public appearance of the company MAV, ZAHA in its Turkish acronym standing for Zırhlı Amfibi Hücum Araçları (Armoured Amphibious Offensive Vehicle).The MAV was developed under a contract from SSB, the production contract including 27 vehicles, 23 personnel carriers, two command and control and two recovery, all to be delivered by 2021. “FNSS is the only western manufacturer that features such a type of vehicle in its portfolio,” Mr. Kurt underlines, noting the fact that the other manufacturer is one of the two partners in the FNSS joint venture, “and we have been selected for this programme thanks to our experience in amphibious vehicles.”
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The MAV is a much more modern vehicle compared to its competitor, which is nearing the half century of service albeit it has been constantly upgraded, thus according to FNSS CEO the new vehicle presented at IDEF is the best of its class today in terms of “number of people transported, level of ballistic and mine protection and performance criteria on land and in water.” The MAV is 30 cm longer compared to its competitor and has more room inside, allowing transporting 21 naval infantrymen while keeping the same weight and having the same width, maximum GVW being 30 tonnes but according to FNSS officials there is still some margin as the current vehicle weight is below that mark. The greater volume should help in flotation, the MAV being capable to operate with Sea State 4 and having a self-righting capability. According to FNSS the aluminium hull has a better corrosion protection, an add-on ceramic providing a higher protection compared to upgraded competitors. Moreover the amphibious vehicle of Turkish origin was designed from scratch for mine protection, which allows reaching better protection, levels remaining classified.
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The MAV is fitted with two improved waterjets at the rear allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 7 knots, 5 knots being the usual cruise speed, maximum speed over land being 70 km/h.After IDEF the MAV prototype will start company testing, which will last over one year during which some modification will be possible, the change of front shape being potentially one of those. Buoyancy, water speed and land mobility are three of the fields that might be subject to optimisation. The current prototype will soon be joined by a second one, which assembly will start in late May and which will have no mission equipment installed, as it will be used mainly for amphibious testing; these should start in lakes before moving to sea tests. Lessons learned on the two first prototypes will lead to prototype #3, which should represent the frozen configuration of the armoured personnel carrier version.
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The available prototype features a remotely controlled weapon station that can be armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and two series of four smoke grenade launchers per side; day/night situational awareness is available to the crew, which can bus or debus through the rear powered ramp with a built-in door, personnel and cargo hatches being available in the roof at the rear, the pilot and the commander having separate hatches.These two prototypes should be produced within late 2019. Next year two more prototypes will be made available, completing the series of five planned, the first being in the command and control configuration while the second will be the recovery variant.One mine blast test has already been carried out on an element of the MAV, while ballistic tests were also done against armour samples. Further testing will be carried in the next months, among which a mine blast test with the customer.
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Asked about a possible second order by the Turkish Naval Forces, the FNSS CEO answered that the construction of a second LHD is currently under discussion, and should the decision be positive, then an order for further 27 MAV would be strongly possible. As for further variants, he stated that an engineer version might also see the light.“We are also in discussion with some friendly countries,” Neil Kurt said, “mostly in the Far East, some of them being already our customers while other are nations in which we are not yet present.
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/idex-201...view-on-uaes-armed-forces-equipment-in-action
 
Otokar’s Akrep IIe, an electric-driven recce platform
30 April 2019

By Paolo Valpolini
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“Our first generation Akrep dated back to 1994, and it was time to field a new three-man crew lightweight reconnaissance platform, thus we developed the Akrep II, which has a very low silhouette and can be used for two kind of recce missions, by stealth, using an electro-optic sensor suite, of by fire, this vehicle being capable to accept a turret armed with a 90 mm gun,” Serdar Görgüç, Otokar General Manager, tells EDR On-Line on Day 1 of IDEF. “As acoustic signature is an important factor in reconnaissance, we decided to make the first prototype an e-demonstrator, the vehicle being powered by an all-electric solution,” he continues, explaining that a diesel version will be available in early 2020.
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The Akrep II has the same baseline protection of the Cobra II, as well as the same ground clearance, 400 mm, however the payload allows installing add-on armour packages that will “consistently increase ballistic protection” we were told, actual protection levels remaining classified.
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This was one of the key design drivers together with low acoustic signature, up to 90 mm armament and three-man seating.
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However the most stringent parameter was that the Akrep II should be powered by an all-diesel, a hybrid or an all-electric system. In the current configuration the rear of the vehicle is occupied by the lithium-ion battery pack provided by Altinay; these provide power to the two electric motors, each providing 180 kW; these are installed in line at the centre of the vehicle, one providing the motion to the front wheels while the other ensures the motion of the rear ones.

However Otokar is looking at a solution that will allow providing motion to all wheels with a single motor; this will take less room, will weigh less, and will permit an improvement in mine protection, as currently the one at the front is located between the rear seats.

“Before the exhibition we did the initial runs with the vehicle,” Akif Akfert, Otokar’s Military Vehicles Engineering Group Director explains to EDR On-Line, “and when we will be back to Sakarya we will start optimising torque versus speed, as we must manage those parameters which do not go together as in a diesel engine.” Underlining the need to improve this aspect, he also tells that in order to save power and increase range “we are learning to build more efficient electronics, and this will be another spin off of the programme.” The current battery pack provides a range of around 200 km, however the front of the vehicle is empty, thus a second package might be installed to double the range. Otokar is closely following the evolution of new technologies that might replace Li-Ion batteries consistently increasing the power density. The Akrep IIe is also used to develop new energy recovery systems both mechanical and hydraulic, something important on the all-electric vehicle but that can also be transferred to standard vehicles. Braking and steering in an all-electric vehicle are other issues to be solved: there is no engine braking, and there is no engine to build-up pressure for power steering, so compressors must be installed, something else to be solved on the technology demonstrator. “We can consider our Akrep IIe at TRL5,” Akif Akfert says, “however our maturity curve has a nice gradient, and we consider that in the next eight months we should be able to achieve a lot.”

The Akrep IIe exhibited at IDEF is fitted with a Bozok remotely controlled turret armed with a 25 mm cannon. However the turret is not the standard Bozok, but a new modular version that we will detail in a further article. The vehicle can also accept a one-man medium calibre turret.

As said a diesel version should be ready for early 2020. To cope with the available space at the rear of the vehicle a “U” powerpack configuration is being developed. According to Otokar the engine output will be around 360 hp (265 kW), thus that version will have a lower power-to-weight ratio, not to speak about the much lower torque.

The Akrep II has a 13.5 GVW and is 5.5 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, the height without turret being of only 1.8 meters with a 400 mm ground clearance. It is fitted with fully independent suspensions with coil springs and features hydraulic steering. It can reach a top speed of 110 km/h, overcome a 60% slope and move on a 40% side slope, the angle of approach and departure being both 45°. A series if features are provided as standard, among them central tire inflation, run flat inserts, ABS, air conditioning, etc. Other items are proposed as option, such as the rear axle steering, which allows reducing the turning radius, CBRN filtration, self recovery winch, and numerous situational awareness and safety systems.

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/idef-19-otokars-akrep-iie-an-electric-driven-recce-platform
 
FNSS antitank vehicles close to qualification
3 May 2019

By Paolo Valpolini
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At the FNSS stand IDEF visitors can see the two qualification vehicles developed by the company for the antitank vehicles contract aimed at the Turkish Land Forces. Both the tracked Kaplan Antitank and the wheeled PARS Antitank are both undergoing the final phase of the testing. Both are fitted with the company Antitank Remote Controlled Turret (ARCT) which is designed to be able to fire either the Kornet or the OMTAS antitank missiles, the latter developed by Roketsan.
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Both vehicles are amphibious and can enter water without preparation; when afloat they propulsed by two propellers. Swim tests have all been completed. Both missiles have been fired from the ARCT, although further qualification firing tests will be made together with the customer. As for the PARS Antitank, this is half way through the durability tests, mine blast testing having been completed, while some further ballistic tests will be carried out in the coming months. The Kaplan Antitank testing is very close to the end, FNSS expecting to complete it by the end of June, that of the PARS Antitank being expected in late September.
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The Turkish Land Forces will receive 76 wheeled vehicles and 184 tracked ones. All PARS Antitank will fire the OMTAS missile, while the Kaplan Antitank fleet will have a mix of 64 Kornet launchers and 120 OMTAS launchers. Although the ARTC can launch one type of missile, transforming it to launch the other missile is feasible, carrying out a configuration change, a relatively simple work to be done at factory level.

The production of the Kaplan Antitank has already started at the FNSS facility, the company planning to deliver the first pilot vehicle by October 2019, with three more following before year end. As for the PARS Antitank, the production of the vehicle should start soon at the Nurol Makina facility, first deliveries being planned for early 2020, although FNSS hopes to be able to anticipate that date. The completion of the programme with the delivery of all vehicles is planned for 2021.

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/idef-19-fnss-antitank-vehicles-close-to-qualification
 
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FNSS Kaplan MT fitted with Aselsan PULAT APS Active Protection System at IDEF 2019, defense exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey. May 2, 2019. (Picture source Army Recognition)

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