IDEF 2019: FNSS and PT Pindad serial production for Kaplan MT Harimau medium tank.

Turkish Compay FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Ş. and Indonesian Company PT Pindad have signed a Long-Term Cooperation Agreement for the Serial Production of the KAPLAN MT Medium-Weight Class Tank, dubbed HARiMAU in Indonesia, on April 30, at IDEF 2019, the International Defence Industry Fair that was held in Istanbul, Turkey from April 30 to May 3, 2019.

Kaplan MT Harimau Medium Tank at IndoDefence 2018, defense exhibition in Indonesia. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Under the agreement, FNSS and PT Pindad agree to cooperate in the Serial Production of KAPLAN MT (Harimau) Medium-Weight Class Tank, the development phase of which has now been completed. The serial production of the vehicles will be carried out jointly by the two companies, and the vehicles will then be delivered to the Indonesian Army.

FNSS and PT Pindad launched prototype development work for the KAPLAN MT (Harimau) Medium-Weight Class Tank at the end of 2015, following the signing of a defense cooperation agreement between the governments of Indonesia and Turkey, and the prototype production phase was completed in 2018. The design and development of the vehicle and the production of two prototypes with a technology transfer model were completed within three years. The prototypes were subsequently put through a range of comprehensive and challenging tests by the Indonesian Army and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence in both Turkey and Indonesia.

KAPLAN MT (Harimau) successfully passed the tests and became the first medium-weight class tank to be certified by the Indonesian Army and to be qualified for serial production in the country. This also makes it the only medium-weight class tank to be qualified and certified by an end-user in the global market.

The long-term cooperation agreement for serial production was signed between the two companies at IDEF’19, covering the production of 18 tanks within 2 years, at a ceremony that was attended by representatives of the Presidency of Defence Industries, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and the Indonesian Armed Forces. With export projects entered into force one after another, FNSS has grown to become a reliable supplier to the armed forces of friendly and allied countries. Through this export agreement, FNSS is supporting also the continuity and sustainable development of Indonesia.