Philippines, Bangladesh Likely to Buy 100 Turkish-Indonesian KAPLAN Tanks

The Philippines and Bangladesh are likely to order about 100 KAPLAN medium tanks which are co-produced by Turkish defense contractor FNNS and Indonesia's PT Pindad.

Windu Paramata, the head of the medium tank project at PT Pindad said the two countries had expressed willingness to buy 40 to 50 units each.

"In October, we will be demonstrating medium tanks there, as a condition for the procurement of defense equipment in their countries," Paramata told Anadolu Agency on Friday.

Paramata said the Indonesian Ministry of Defense was considering purchasing the KAPLAN tanks and ministry was still evaluating the number of units to be procured.

Paramata said the Indonesian Army's Research and Development Agency had certified the medium tank earlier this year.

Paramata praised the Turkish-Indonesian battle tank as featuring the most recent technology in the global defense industry.

Poland followed suit in producing a similar tank, Paramata said, adding, however, that the country was still at the concept stage.

Paramata said the medium tank is suitable for use in countries with only two seasons in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines as well as in four-season countries as it can operate at a maximum temperature of 50 degrees Celsius, and at a minimum temperature of - 30 degrees Celsius.