Part of the first batch of FNSS/Deftech AV-8 Gempita 8×8 Armoured Wheeled Vehicle (AWV) delivered to the Malaysian marines were 46 AFV-25 armored infantry fighting vehicles (AIFV) armed with an M242 Bushmaster 25mm gun. These amphibious vehicles formed the bulk of the 19th Mechanised Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment (19 RAMD Mek). Defense Studies provides details.

Amphibious wheeled armored vehicle AV-8 Gempita armed with M242 Bushmaster 25mm gun (Picture source Army Recognition)

Despite not having a Marine Corps, ever since 1983, the Malaysian Army has put emphasis on amphibious capability to its armored units, as the country is sprawled with rivers and lakes and threats arise in the South China Sea. The Malaysian armed forces are now closing the decision to set up an amphibious corps like the USMC, it appears.

The fact is that a Marine battalion landing force needs an amphibious landing ship to bring it close to the staging area before the Marines either being flown into the battle through air on-board assault helicopters or being brought to the beachhead on-board an amphibious assault vehicle (AAV). And wheeled amphibious armored vehicles are getting more and more preference over tracked ones. In this field, the USMC is pioneering the use of wheeled AAV through its Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program which will see BAe System producing four ACV variants including the personnel carrier (ACV-P), command and control (ACV-C), recovery (ACV-R), and ACV-30. The ACV-30 is unique as it incorporates the Kongsberg’s Protector Medium Caliber Turret 30 mm (MCT-30) using the XM813 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster chaingun.

For water operations, the AV-8 AFV25 Gempita uses its two propellers (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Malaysian 10th Parachute Brigade (Bgd 10 Para) has been relying on 10th Armored Squadron’s Alvis Stormer APC and Alvis Scorpion 90mm Light tank to provide support in the beachhead. They are neither amphibious (hence need landing craft or hovercraft to disembark them) nor they are operational anymore.

As and when the second batch of Gempita enters production, one of the variants that needs to be considered is the amphibious variant equipped with unmanned 30mm gun turret. The variant will give full protection to the crew and the Marines on board while ensuring overwhelming firepower on the enemy’s beachhead. The Gempita might be considered as a big vehicle if it is to be used in an airborne operation. But deploying it out of the two Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS) that the Malaysian Navy is requesting and pushing for procurement in the near term, a decision to take that would match the first batch production and delivery of AV-8 Gempita that is nearing completion, Defense Studies concludes.

The AV8 vehicle selected by the Malaysian military is based on the FNSS-designed PARS 8×8 multi-purpose, multi-mission, wheeled armored vehicle. In June 2011, the Turkish Company FNSS has signed a ‘letter of offer and acceptance’ by 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. 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 vehicle.

The IFV-25 Gempita has a crew of three including the driver, commander and gunner. The rear part of the hull can accommodate 11 infantrymen. The hull of the IFV-25 AV8 Gempita consists of a composite aluminum and steel armor that provides a protection for the crew and infantry against the firing of small arms 7.62 mm armor-piercing attack through a full 360°.

The IFV-25 AV8 Gempita variant is fitted with the Turkish-made with a one-man FNSS Sharpshooter Turret. The FNSS Sharpshooter Turret is armed with a Bushmaster 25mm automatic cannon. It has an effective range of 3,000 m and a maximum firing range of 6,800 m. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the left side of the main armament.

The AV8 IFV-25 Gempita is motorized with a German Deutz turbocharged diesel engine, developing 550 hp, coupled to a fully automatic transmission with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears. The vehicle is fully amphibious and is propelled in the water at a maximum speed of 6Km/h thanks to the use of two waterjets mounted at the rear of the hull.