Malaysia equips Tarantula HMAV 4x4 vehicle with Turkish Aselsan 12.7mm weapon station to hit targets 1,500 meters away.

Malaysia has equipped its Tarantula HMAV 4x4 armored vehicle with a stabilized 12.7mm remote weapon station from Aselsan, extending its engagement range beyond 1,500 meters and allowing it to strike threats before they can effectively return fire. This significantly improves convoy protection and patrol survivability by expanding the vehicle’s defensive perimeter and reducing exposure to small-arms ambushes.

The integrated SARP 100/12.7 remote-controlled system delivers accurate fire on the move with day/night targeting, laser ranging, and automatic tracking, enabling effective engagement of personnel, light vehicles, and fortified positions without exposing the gunner. This upgrade shifts the Tarantula from a protected transport vehicle to a more capable combat asset, aligning with broader trends toward remote lethality, crew protection, and networked battlefield operations.

Related topic: ASELSAN to equip Malaysian Army’s new Tarantula armored vehicles with advanced systems for improved operational effectiveness

With an RCWS, fire is conducted entirely from within the vehicle, which reduces exposure from continuous to zero during ambushes, which historically targeted exposed gunners during convoy operations in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2012. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

At DSA 2026, the Malaysian company Mildef displayed the Tarantula HMAV 4x4 MRAP vehicle equipped with the SARP 100/12.7 remote-controlled weapon system (RCWS) from Aselsan, following an agreement signed in 2025 covering joint development, co-production, and subsystem integration into Malaysian Army vehicles. The SARP 100/12.7 is armed with a 12.7×99 mm gun, which allows the engagement of targets at ranges exceeding 1,500 meters. This configuration enables the Tarantula HMAV to engage threats before entering the 300 to 600 meter range typical of 7.62mm infantry small arms.

The integration also introduces limited anti-materiel capability, including the ability to damage sensors, disable light equipment, and engage lightly protected vehicles. This new configuration also improves the effectiveness of this MRAP for missions such as troop transport, convoy protection, suppression fire, and engagement of personnel and soft targets. The Tarantula originates from a 2013 design phase led by Mildef International Technologies in cooperation with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence and the Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence.

Development required four years and involved a workforce of about eight engineers and more than 100 Ministry personnel, with a reported development cost of RM16 million. The first prototype was unveiled on February 11, 2021, followed by the official naming of the Tarantula on April 2, 2021. Subsequent public configurations were shown at DSA exhibitions in 2022 and 2024, with incremental design changes. In August 2023, a potential acquisition of 178 vehicles was reported but not implemented. At LIMA 2025, the Malaysian government confirmed a slightly reduced procurement of 136 units for the Army, establishing the first confirmed production-scale order. Interest from additional countries, including regional Southeast Asian and external actors, has been observed, indicating potential export prospects for Mildef. 

The Tarantula HMAV is a wheeled 4x4 armored personnel carrier with some of the characteristics associated with Mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, as it is designed to transport a crew of up to ten personnel in high-threat environments. The Tarantula measures 5.6 meters in length, 2.5 meters in width, and 2.5 meters in height. The first prototype had a gross weight of 14 tonnes and an empty weight of about 11 tonnes, while the second prototype, introduced in 2024, reduced the total mass to about 12 tonnes to meet Malaysian Army requirements. Like an MRAP, the Tarantula uses a V-hull structure designed to deflect blast energy from mines and improvised explosive devices away from the crew compartment.

The objective behind this design is to improve the protection for infantry units while maintaining sufficient payload capacity and operational flexibility. The Tarantula program also supports Malaysia’s objective of reducing reliance on imported armored vehicles through domestic design and assembly. The Tarantula's protection is based on a composite armor structure compliant with NATO STANAG 4569 standards, with ballistic protection rated at Level 2A and mine blast protection at Level 2B. Level 2A corresponds to a protection against 7.62×39 mm armor-piercing rounds and artillery fragments, while Level 2B corresponds to a protection against a 6 kg mine blast under the hull.

The V-shaped hull, for its part, is designed to redirect the blast energy laterally, reducing vertical impulse on the crew compartment. Additional survivability features include smoke grenade dischargers mounted on the vehicle to provide visual concealment during maneuver or withdrawal. The protection level of the Tarantula, however, is more oriented toward threats encountered in patrol, convoy, and counter-IED operations rather than high-intensity armored warfare. For instance, the vehicle is not designed to withstand heavy anti-tank weapons such as shaped charges or large-caliber kinetic penetrators. The propulsion system is based on a Caterpillar diesel engine producing about 330 hp in the baseline configuration, with the second prototype reportedly increasing output to about 340 hp.

This results in a power-to-weight ratio between 23 and 24 hp per tonne, depending on the configuration. The engine is paired with an Allison automatic transmission and a 4x4 drivetrain, improving traction across mixed terrain. Ground clearance is 430 mm, allowing the vehicle to negotiate obstacles and maintain underbody blast clearance. Maximum road speed is 110 km/h for the initial configuration and up to 120 km/h for the upgraded prototype. The vehicle is designed for combined road and off-road operations, including patrol routes, unpaved terrain, and semi-urban environments, a prioritization of mobility and survivability over heavy armor protection. 

The Aselsan SARP 100/12.7 remote-controlled weapon system (RCWS), for its part, provides a stabilized firing capability with full 360° azimuth rotation and an elevation range from −30° to +60°, allowing the engagement of ground targets and elevated positions. The Turkish RCWS supports multiple weapon configurations, including four 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (PMT 12.7, M2HB, NSV, or MT12-QCB), four 7.62 mm machine guns (PMT 7.62, FN MAG58, M240, or PKM), or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, namely the Mk19 Mod 3. System weight, therefore, ranges from 212 to 330 kg, excluding weapon and ammunition.

Ammunition capacity for the 12.7 mm configuration typically exceeds 200 rounds. Stabilization enables accurate firing while the vehicle is moving, which is relevant for convoy escort and mobile engagement scenarios. The integration of the SARP 100/12.7 extends the Tarantula HMAV’s capability from self-defense to the engagement of light armored vehicles, fortified positions, and unarmored targets at extended distances, without endangering the soldiers inside. The fire control system integrates several electro-optical sensors, including a daylight camera, a thermal imaging system, and a laser rangefinder, enabling target acquisition in both daytime and low-visibility conditions.

The SARP 100/12.7 also uses a computerized ballistic calculation to adjust firing solutions based on range and environmental factors. Automatic target tracking allows the RCWS to maintain lock on moving targets, while a passive detection capability permits an observation without active emissions. Additional functions include a shot counter, an ammunition depletion warning, and programmable no-fire zones to prevent unintended engagements. Furthermore, the Turkish weapon station can be integrated with external sensors, radar systems, and command-and-control networks, allowing it to operate within a broader tactical framework.

These features reduce crew exposure by eliminating the need for an exposed gunner (a major casualty source) and increasing accuracy during dynamic operations. From a military point of view, a 12.7 mm weapon system provides a measurable increase in kinetic energy compared to the 7.62 mm, enabling engagement of targets such as light armored vehicles, technical vehicles, and fortified firing points. Effective engagement distances exceed 1,500 meters, depending on weapon configuration and conditions, a key increase compared to the 800 meters or less for 7.62 mm weapons.

This allows the Tarantula to engage threats before entering the effective range of small arms, extending the defensive perimeter in convoy and patrol operations. The SARP 100/12.7 also provides a limited anti-materiel capability to disable equipment, sensors, and infrastructure elements. Historically, manually operated ring-mounted weapons exposed gunners to direct fire and blast effects, contributing to casualty rates in APC operations. The adoption of a remote-controlled weapon system, therefore, addresses this vulnerability by allowing operation from within the protected vehicle hull.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.