Indonesian Marines to possibly get Excalibur Army Kapa amphibious vehicles.

Mid-June 2021, photos appeared showing trials of the Kapa amphibious tracked vehicle carried out by Czech company Excalibur Army, Defense Studies reports. Actually, these trials were likely conducted at the Myslejovice Water Training Ground, Březina Military District, in 2020.
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Trial of Excalibur Army Kapa conducted in the Czech Republic (Picture source: Excalibur Army)

Kapa is needed as a tracked amphibious personnel and cargo carrier, possibly in two versions, thus. The prototype, whose scale model was apparently unveiled at IndoDefense 2016 exhibition, was previously introduced in mid-May 2020. The first prototype has the following specifications as stated on the Valka website: empty weight 20,000 kg ; maximum payload: 13,000 kg or 72 passengers ; cargo space of 7,800 x 2,800 mm ; maximum gross weight: 33,000 kg ; crew: 2 people ; size L-L-T (m): 10.5-3.3-3.1 ; ground clearance: 43 cm ; engine: Tatra diesel 390 kw ; maximum road speed: 40 km/h ; maximum speed on water: 11 km/h ; maximum slope gradient : 27° ; trench crossing : 2.50 m ; vertical obstacle : 0.65 m.

The Indonesian Marine Corps (Marinirs) has received a budget allocation for the purchase of 54 tracked amphibious transport vehicles worth USD 398 million to be spent until 2024. The number of vehicles is 54 units for 3 Marines or 18 units per PasMar. 18 is the number of towed howitzer units in 1 Marine Howitzer Battalion consisting of 3 batteries. Kapa will be used to carry howitzers from ship to shore in an amphibious operation.

The Marine Corps currently operates two types of amphibious artillery-carrying vehicles, namely the PTS-10 and K-61 types, both types needing to be replaced. Excalibur Army’s Kapa is a contender for this replacement.

Kapa amphibious cargo or personnel carrier (Picture source: Excalibur Army)

Kapa amphibious cargo or personnel carrier (Picture source: Excalibur Army)

Scale model of Excalibur Army’s Kapa presented to senior officers of the Indonesian Navy’ Marine Corps (Picture source: courtesy photo via Defense Studies)