At IndoDefence 2018, the tri service defense exposition currently held in Jakarta, Indonesia, FNSS is showcasing its its Marine Assault Vehicle Concept.
Marine Assault Vehicle (MAV) scale model on FNSS stand at IndoDefence 2018 (Picture source Army Recognition)
Marine Assault Vehicle (MAV) is being developed by FNSS to meet an amphibious armoured vehicle requirement of the Turkish Navy, as per an agreement signed in 2017.
During the beach landing phase of an amphibious operation, these vehicles are launched from landing helicopter docks (LHD) and are able to rapidly cover the distance between the vessel and shore, allowing marine units to land under armour protection and with minimum delay. Once on land, they can contribute to operate alongside with other armoured vehicles. The MAV owes its fire power to its 12.7mm MG & 40mm AGL remote controlled turret. Designed to support dual operation based on their mission requirements, armoured amphibious assault vehicles need to ensure superior capabilities both at sea and on land. Unique hull design and powerful water jets make the MAV highly mobile in water with a speed of 7 knots, as well as on land, at 70 km/h maximum speed.
The base vehicle can be configured in different variants such as Personnel Carrier, Command-Post, Mine Clearance and Recovery. Few navies worldwide possess such a capability.
Through the MAV, FNSS carries the armour protected amphibious fighting vehicle concept into the 21st century. Compared to similar examples, MAV can be considered superior in the following respects:
Number of personnel transported by the vehicle,
Level of ballistic and mine protection, and
Performance criteria on land and in water.
Under the Marine Assault Vehicle (ZAHA) Project of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), FNSS will deliver a total of 27 vehicles, including 23 personnel carriers, two command control vehicles and two recovery vehicles.
Kurt emphasises that ZAHA-MAV is a very special vehicle: “ZAHA-MAV has to make sure that marines reach the shore in the shortest possible time, both with a view to meeting the rapid movement requirement and shortening the period during which the troops are open to threats in the sea. Then, on land, it has to serve effectively like an armoured combat vehicle, and to provide superior ballistic and mine protection at the same time. We are developing ZAHA-MAV in response to the challenges faced by the Turkish Naval Forces, which carried out one of the most important amphibious operations in the last 50 years with great success. We are confident that friendly and allied nations with high amphibious operational requirements, particularly island countries like Indonesia, will also look to take advantage of ZAHA-MAV’s superior features, and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
