New Turkish-Indonesian Battle Tank Unveiled At IDEF 2017

The new medium weight tank, KAPLAN MT, jointly developed by Turkey’s FNSS and Indonesia’s PT Pindad, made its debut at IDEF 2017 on Wednesday.

FNSS CEO Nail Kurt said at a news conference that in line with FNSS’ new vision of being the globe’s trusted and respected defense partner, the tank program was launched three years ago with PT Pindad, accompanied by the two countries’ defense ministries. 

“This medium weight tank is a very effective solution to today’s asymmetric warfare conditions exposed which many armies are exposed to,” Kurt said, adding that the “conditions require easy and fast deployment, high mobility, low visibility, high firepower, and yet low cost”. 

Turkey’s Undersecretary for Defense Industries Ismail Demir said the medium weight tank development project is also a government-to-government program part of the defense cooperation agreement between two brother countries. 

Demir noted that the prototype would be running during Army Day military parade in Indonesia on October 5.  

New generation KAPLAN MT’s precision direct fire capability ensures sufficient lethality coupled with outstanding tactical and strategic mobility. The vehicle’s rear configuration power pack, heavy duty suspension system, double pin tracks and advanced electronic control systems each contribute to ensure freedom of action during expeditionary maneuver. 

The vehicle’s new generation engine, coupled with a a fully automatic electronic controlled transmission, results in of 20 hp/ton ratio; depending on the configurable protection system.