1. FNSS is the most successful company in export projects among Turkish defense industry companies operating in Southeast Asia. Can you provide information about ongoing projects during the current period?
We have ongoing projects in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
In Malaysia’s AV-8 GEMPITA program, we are approaching the end. The project includes the development of 12 types of 8×8 wheeled armored vehicles and the production of 257 vehicles in Malaysia. With the support of FNSS to our business partner and main contractor DRB-Hicom Defense Technologies of Malaysia (DEFTECH), the project successfully continued. More than 80% of the vehicles delivered to the Army have been completed. FNSS has carried out “extensive knowledge and technology transfer to Malaysia” within the scope of the AV-8 GEMPITA project.
In Indonesia, we are currently implementing the KAPLAN medium tank (Harimau) program with PT-Pindad, a business partner of the Indonesian Armed Forces. The project covers the joint production of multiple medium tank platforms. Some vehicles will be manufactured by FNSS, and the rest will be manufactured by PT-Pindad in Indonesia and equipped with disassembly kits provided by FNSS. KAPLAN MT (Medium Weight Tank) is the result of joint efforts and cooperation between FNSS and PT Pindad in Indonesia in design, development, production, integration and testing. Its unique design provides the lowest profile and highest power-to-weight ratio among similar products. The platform is designed to optimize weight and high maneuverability. KAPLAN MT’s specific design for terrain configuration in Southeast Asia has been tested under challenging environmental conditions in the Indonesian archipelago and achieved the best results recorded in similar products. The car is equipped with the latest generation of CMI Defense Cockerill® 3105 turret, equipped with a high-pressure 105 mm Cockerill® gun.
In the Philippines, we signed two contract projects with the Department of Defense (DND). Both projects are under the defense industry cooperation agreement signed by the governments of Turkey and the Philippines.
The first project covers the production, integration and logistics support services of a stable single-man turret equipped with 12.7 mm MG and 40 mm AGL. The main goal of the project is to upgrade the firepower of existing tracked armored vehicles. In this case, the turret will be integrated on the armored combat vehicle (ACV) in the Philippine Armed Forces inventory.
Within the scope of the second project, FNSS will provide some Amphibious Armored Combat Bulldozer (AACE) vehicles and logistic support services to the Philippine Armed Forces. The project aims to improve the combat engineering capabilities of combat engineer battalion units and to raise these capabilities to a higher level through the capabilities of amphibious vehicles. AACE is the world’s first and only combat engineering bulldozer with amphibious capabilities, and it has successfully proven itself in the Turkish Armed Forces inventory.
2. Compared with the ongoing wheeled armored vehicle projects in the world, in which aspects are the Malaysian project more prominent?
The AV-8 GEMPITA project in Malaysia is a development and production project. The development of the vehicle was completed in accordance with the specific requirements of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Its goal is to deliver a complete vehicle series with 12 different variants, equipped with various weapon systems and mission-specific equipment that requires a lot of system integration work. Each variant comes with a complete configuration. This project involves several major OEMs. Within the scope of the project, extensive professional knowledge and technology transfers were also carried out to Malaysia. These vehicles are manufactured locally in Malaysia.
3. What is FNSS waiting for in the Southeast Asian market?
First, FNSS is committed to fulfilling contractual obligations within the scope of ongoing projects in the region, successfully delivering its products to users, and supporting them throughout the product life cycle. We are also paying close attention to potential demand. Depending on the availability of the budget, there may be additional orders. We also understand that there are plans to purchase various tracked and wheeled armored vehicles, weapon systems, as well as upgrades and MRO projects. We are ready to work with relevant Ministry of Defense and Army authorities and local business partners to meet these potential requirements.
