Indodefence 2018: FNSS Medium Tank is Ready for Serial Production.

FNSS is showcasing for the first time at Indodefence its MEDIUM TANK, a tank that has been adapted to today’s asymmetric warfare conditions. The Medium Tank is locally known as the Harimau (Javanese Tiger).

FNSS Medium Tank at Indodefence 2018 (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Medium-Weight Class MEDIUM TANK that is on display at INDO DEFENCE as ready for production, was developed jointly by FNSS and PT Pindad as part of a defence sector cooperation agreement signed between Turkey and Indonesia. Qualification tests of the vehicle were launched in July, and were completed in August. Thus, MEDIUM TANK showed that it fully meets satisfies all of the project requirements established at the outset of the programme and was now ready for service.

The qualification tests were conducted in three phases, comprising Mine Tests, Endurance Tests and Firing Tests. The Mine Tests, conducted with a mine prototype mock-up in the first phase, were completed successfully in July.

The Endurance Tests, which pitted MEDIUM TANK against Indonesia’s harshest conditions, were carried out on the island of Java between August 6 and 16, during which the vehicle travelled nearly 2,000 km on the western side of the island and was put through its paces over different terrains and under different climatic conditions. Starting out in Bandung, the route took the vehicle through Cipali, Tegal, Semarang, Sarangan, Jogjakarta, Kebumen, Subang and Parompong, before returning once again to Bandung.

Army Recognition video coverage of FNSS medium tank

The Firing Tests, on the other hand, were held in Bandung between August 25 and 27, during which MEDIUM TANK demonstrated its effectiveness by accurately striking mobile targets while on the move.

K. Nail Kurt, General Manager and CEO of FNSS, spoke about the success of MEDIUM TANK:

“MEDIUM TANK will be a highly effective solution in today’s conditions of asymmetric warfare. The vehicle meets all of the requirements of an easy and rapid positioning, high mobility, low visibility, high firepower and cost-effective medium-weight tank. The vehicle has low weight and silhouette, while making no concession in performance in terms of ballistic or mine protection. Our target was to have MEDIUM TANK offer the highest ballistic and mine protection in its class, and following the successful completion of the challenging qualification tests, we are delighted to see that we have achieved our goal. In the coming period we will all see how MEDIUM TANK can bring important innovations to the battlefield. As FNSS, we are proud to be meeting this critical requirement of Indonesia, a friendly and allied nation, supplying it with the most superior solution together with our partner PT Pindad. We can say this with full confidence: Our Indonesian friends can see FNSS as an Indonesian company."