The Deftech AV8 Gempita is the latest generation of 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier for the Malaysian armed forces. In June 2011, the Turkish company FNSS signed a ‘letter of offer and acceptance’ with DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies (Deftech) for the design, development and manufacture of the vehicles. The AV8 vehicle selected by the Malaysian military is based on the FNSS-designed PARS 8×8 multi-purpose, multi-mission, wheeled armored vehicle.

DefTech Gempita in mortar carrier variant (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The contract includes technology transfer arrangements to Deftech and logistics support for the Malaysian army, positioning the vehicle and its 12 variants to become Malaysia’s first indigenous family of 8×8 armored wheeled vehicles. In April 2012, Deftech and FNSS presented the first scale model of the AV8 at the International Defence Exhibition, DSA 2012 in Kula Lumpur.

Malaysia’s Deftech is the main assembly agent, and its engineers worked with Nurol holding subsidiary FNSS to customize the vehicles for Malaysian requirements and equipment. South Africa’s Denel reportedly built a 2-man turret for the APC, while Sapura Thales was expected to become the systems integrator. The first prototype of the AV8 was presented in March 2013 to the public during the 80th Army Day anniversary celebration in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan.

The AV8 will be delivered in 12 variants. A total of 178 AV8s will have an APC configuration with 30-mm or IFV-25 25-mm turret or 12.7-mm remotely controlled weapon station. Other versions include armored surveillance vehicles with battlefield radar and mast-mounted sensors (24), command vehicles (13), armored ambulances (9), armored recovery vehicles (9), maintenance vehicles (9), 120-mm mortar carriers (8), engineering and NBC reconnaissance vehicles (4) and signals vehicles (3).

DefTech Gempita in mortar carrier variant (Picture source: Army Recognition)