Kaplan MT Medium Tank project was initiated with G2G Agreement between the Presidency of Defence Industries of Türkiye (SSB) and the Ministry of Defence of Indonesia. In 2015, a corporation agreement was signed between DG Defence Potential of Indonesia and SSB in order to develop two prototype vehicles. Within the scope of the project under the Kaplan MT (Tiger, or Harimau in the Indonesian language) Medium-Weight Class Tank Serial Production Long-Term Collaboration Agreement signed between FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Ş. and PT Pindad in 2019, FNSS completed the production of the first batch of vehicles with the serial production configuration.
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Kaplan MT (Tiger, or Harimau in the Indonesian language) with Cockerill 3105 turret (Picture source: FNSS)
The vehicles, developed within the scope of the project were presented to the representatives from the Indonesian Army, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, and PT Pindad management, with the attendance of the Defense Industry Presidency of Türkiye and Ministry of National Defence of Türkiye. Following the “Kaplan MT Medium Tank platform production completion ceremony” held in FNSS facilities, all tank platforms will be shipped to Indonesia for final turret assembly and delivered to the Indonesian Army after the final acceptance stage.
Let us recall that, in August 2018, PT Pindad announced firing tests with the Kaplan MT to control all the functions of the 105mm CT-CV turret system (3105 of the 3000 series) designed and developed by the Belgian company CMI Defence, renamed John Cockerill Defense in 2019. Based on an unprecedented modular concept, the Cockerill 3000 Series is a single platform enabling guns of different calibers and their corresponding technological modules to be integrated onto the same turret: automatic 25 mm, 30 mm, 30/40 mm, 35 mm and 50 mm caliber guns, along with direct fire guns of 90 and 105 mm, which are also able to fire anti-tank missiles.
Program background
After the prototype development studies, FNSS has successfully completed the endurance and firing tests carried out in Indonesia. At the end of 2019, FNSS signed a joint production contract for a total of 18 Kaplan MT tanks and completed the design perfection studies carried out with the participation of end-users in 2020. The production technical support and supply parts provided to PT Pindad for the vehicles to be produced in Indonesia were completed in 2021.
These parts and subsystems were exported to Indonesia as tool kits and delivered to FNSS' partner PT Pindad. As of the beginning of 2022, FNSS successfully completed its project activities and made the vehicles produced in Türkiye ready for user inspection. Within the scope of the project, the remaining vehicles will be produced in Indonesia by PT Pindad with the technology transfer model successfully implemented by FNSS.
While FNSS completed its design perfection studies in a short period of time and completed its production activities in Türkiye after acceptance, it once again demonstrated its export experience and success with the technology transfer model. The Kaplan MT project also stands out by being Türkiye's first defense export program in the Tank Class, which was started within the framework of the Defense Industry Cooperation Agreements signed between the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Türkiye.
Kaplan MT (Tiger, or Harimau in the Indonesian language) with Cockerill 3105 turret (Picture source: FNSS)
