Indonesian army chooses Turkish armoured vehicle in major deal PHOTO

The KAPLAN Armoured Personnel Carrier (KAPLAN APC), developed by Turkish defence company FNSS, has been unveiled for the first time at the Indo Defence Expo & Forum 2025, held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

The success achieved in the joint serial production project of the KAPLAN MT (HARIMAU) medium tank with Indonesian defence firm PT Pindad for the Indonesian Army played a significant role in the Indonesian Ministry of Defence’s decision to favour FNSS and PT Pindad for the "Tracked Armoured Personnel Carrier program," Caliber.Az reports, citing FNSS's website.

In this context, a contract for the delivery of the KAPLAN APC (HARIMAU APC) tracked armoured vehicle with a load capacity of 30 tons was signed in 2024 between PT Pindad and Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence.

According to the agreement, the first APC will be manufactured in Türkiye at FNSS facilities, while the second will be produced in Indonesia by PT Pindad. The armoured personnel carriers will be designed to meet the specific needs of the end user and will be tested by both FNSS and PT Pindad in Türkiye and Indonesia.

The KAPLAN APC’s design ensures superior battlefield survivability with enhanced ballistic protection, class-leading mine resistance, and formidable firepower.

The APC can transport a total of 13 personnel, including a gunner, driver, and commander. The vehicle is capable of moving at high speed both on paved roads and rugged terrain, and is built to operate in all climate conditions.

It features an open-architecture electronic infrastructure, allowing for seamless integration of various systems such as battlefield management systems and 360-degree situational awareness cameras, which provide both day and night vision for the crew.

The vehicle can reach speeds of over 70 kilometres per hour and has an operational range exceeding 450 kilometres, enabling long-distance deployment without the need for refuelling.

The KAPLAN APC is equipped with modular survivability systems, providing an effective solution against evolving battlefield threats. It includes protection packages against ballistic, mine, and improvised explosive device threats. The APC also offers the option of an active protection system against anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.

The KAPLAN APC has been developed to support the integration of both manned and unmanned turret systems. It can be outfitted with light and medium-calibre weapons, as well as 120mm mortar and anti-tank turrets and weapon stations.

Indo Defence Expo & Forum is a biannual arms and defence technology sales exhibition as well as promotional event for international defence and security equipment manufacturers, which has been held since 2004 at JIExpo, Jakarta, Indonesia.[1] It is the largest exhibition of its kind in Southeast Asia and a world calendar event.  

By Khagan Isayev