Turkey: FNSS to start testing Zaha Armored Amphibious Assault Vehicle in Autumn 2020


"ZAHA will begin the qualification tests in the autumn of 2020," said Nail Kurt, FNSS General Manager and CEO, said. Indicating that the Armored Amphibious Assault Vehicle (ZAHA) developed by FNSS for the Turkish Navy will begin in the autumn period, Kurt said.
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MAV is being developed as part of the Armored Amphibious Assault Vehicles (Zırhlı Amfibi Hücum Araçları, ZAHA) Project (Picture source: FNSS)


“The test process will continue until the middle of 2021, and the project implementation is expected to start in 2022 and be completed in the same year." Kurt also stated that some equipment on the vehicle was being worked out to localize it outside the planned process. FNSS will deliver a total of 27 vehicles: 23 are personnel carriers, 2 command and control vehicles, and 2 rescue vehicles.

The body design and strong water jets give ZAHA high mobility with a maximum speed of 7 knots at sea and 70 km/h on land. ZAHA, which can climb 60% steep slope, can easily cross 90cm-high obstacles and 2meter-wide ditches. ZAHA has high firepower with its remote control turret fitted with a 12.7mm machine gun and 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher.

MAV is being developed as part of the Armored Amphibious Assault Vehicles (Zırhlı Amfibi Hücum Araçları, ZAHA) Project being conducted by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) to meet a need of Turkish Naval Forces Command. In addition to enabling the safe landing of units during amphibious operations, the armored amphibious assault vehicles also serve as armored personnel carriers after reaching the shore.


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FNSS MAV Marine Assault Vehicle ZAHA at IDEF 2019 defense exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 1, 2019 (Picture source: Army Recognition)