Chile opens talks with Türkiye to modernize up to 270 Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles.

According to TurDef on April 30, 2025, Chile and Türkiye have initiated discussions regarding the potential modernisation of the Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in service with the Chilean Army, following the agreement on a separate modernisation package for the Leopard 2A4CHL main battle tanks under the PROACO program. The Leopard upgrade is being conducted by the Turkish company Aselsan, which has also been identified as a likely partner for the potential Marder 1A3 upgrade. This proposed initiative would represent another bilateral defense effort between the two countries.
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The Chilean Army began acquiring these IFVs in 2008 with the purchase of 146 second-hand units from Germany, and additional acquisitions later brought the total to around 270 vehicles, the second-largest fleet worldwide. (Picture source: Ejército de Chile)

Aselsan and Chile’s state-owned defense firm FAMAE have previously held meetings to review the Leopard 2A4 modernisation package, and these interactions are being used as a framework to expand collaboration. According to La Trinchera, FAMAE has accepted Aselsan's Leopard 2A4 final design, and integration is scheduled to begin within the year. The armour enhancement and active protection system are being handled as separate subprojects from the core upgrade package.

Chile operates approximately 270 Marder 1A3 units, the second-largest fleet worldwide after Germany. The Chilean Army began acquiring these IFVs in 2008 with the purchase of 146 second-hand units from Germany, refurbished by Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH. The initial batch included seven vehicles designated for driver training and thirty others used as sources of spare parts. Additional acquisitions later brought the total to around 270 vehicles. As part of the Centurion project, 180 Marder 1A3s were restored and issued to Armoured Infantry Battalions and the Combat Armoured Training Center (Cecombac). The platform was selected to replace the Dutch YPR-765 and American M113 vehicles, which were no longer considered compatible with Chile’s Leopard 2A4 tanks in terms of mobility and combat performance. The Chilean Army established three Armoured Brigades in northern Chile in 2007, intended to centralise operational capabilities under unified command structures, and the Marder 1A3 formed part of this mechanisation strategy.

The Marder 1A3 is equipped with a Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 20 mm autocannon with a dual-feed ammunition system. This main weapon fires both high-explosive and armour-piercing rounds and is supported by a coaxial Rheinmetall MG3 7.62×51 mm machine gun. The IFV carries 336 HE rounds and 173 AP rounds for immediate use, as well as 500 MG rounds. The vehicle is operated by a crew of three, commander, gunner, and driver, and can transport six infantry soldiers. The MK 20 Rh 202 autocannon has an effective range of 2,000 meters and a maximum rate of fire between 880 and 1,030 rounds per minute.

The Marder has a length of 6.88 meters, a width of 3.38 meters, and a height of 2.86 meters. Its combat weight is 33.5 tonnes, and it reaches a maximum road speed of 65 km/h, powered by a 600 hp MTU MB 833 EA-500 six-cylinder diesel engine linked to a Renk HSWL-194 gearbox with four forward and two reverse gears. The suspension is torsion-bar based, and the vehicle’s operational range is 520 km on roads and 280 km off-road. The armour provides protection against small arms fire from all directions and resists up to 30 mm calibre rounds on the front arc. The vehicle includes NBC protection, night-driving devices for the driver, and a thermal imaging device shared by the commander and gunner.

Chile’s Cecombac facility, located in Iquique, provides ongoing instruction in the operation and maintenance of the Marder 1A3. In July 2021, 50 personnel completed training courses for the Marder and the Piraña 6x6, which included both theoretical instruction and practical evaluation. The courses were aligned with the specific military occupational specialisation of the crews. The Piraña 6x6 is a wheeled armoured personnel carrier originally developed by Swiss company Mowag and produced in Chile by Cardoen and FAMAE beginning in 1981. An estimated 200 vehicles have been delivered over time in various configurations, including troop transport, 120 mm mortar carrier, anti-aircraft with TCM-20 system, and radar-equipped versions with the Elta EL/M 2106. Some vehicles were later converted into ambulances, command vehicles, anti-armour variants with the Kuka turret and 25 mm Oerlikon cannon, and mine-clearing versions with Pearson Engineering mine ploughs. The Huracán III project provided a comprehensive overhaul, including installation of Wegmann 76 mm smoke launchers, Mk 19 40 mm grenade launchers, a new diesel engine, automatic transmission, and fire suppression systems.

The Marder 1A3 variant includes reinforced side skirts, redesigned stowage, and a revised fighting compartment, which were added during a major upgrade program between 1989 and 1998 in Germany. (Picture source: Ejército de Chile)

The Marder 1A3 has undergone several upgrades since its original introduction in the 1970s. The A3 version includes reinforced side skirts, redesigned stowage, and a revised fighting compartment, which were added during a major upgrade program between 1989 and 1998 in Germany. Earlier improvements included the integration of MILAN anti-tank missiles, upgraded night vision optics, and digital radios. The final Bundeswehr modification was the Marder 1A5, featuring enhanced mine protection and interior redesigns, followed by the A5A1 variant with air conditioning, jamming systems, and multispectral camouflage. Some A3 variants were repurposed as command vehicles or training platforms. Chile's Marder 1A3s are equipped with a number of these modifications and have been integrated with Leopard 2A4 tanks for joint combat deployments. The Marder 1A3 hull has also served as a basis for various experimental or derivative platforms, including mortar carriers, observation posts, and radar vehicles. Although its export history is limited compared to the Leopard series, the Marder has been delivered to Indonesia (42 units), Jordan (75), and used briefly by Argentina. Germany has also supplied the platform to Ukraine, with 140 vehicles delivered by late 2024 and at least 40 confirmed lost in combat as of April 2025.

Aselsan has developed technologies applicable to the Marder 1A3 through its work on Türkiye’s ACV-15 IFV fleet, including the integration of electro-optical sensors and remote weapon stations. A potential Chilean upgrade package could incorporate a new turret, such as the NEFER, armed with either a 25 mm or 30 mm cannon and supporting anti-tank missiles in configurations like SARP 200/30. The sensor and fire control systems may mirror those of the ACV-15T1. ROKETSAN, another Turkish defense company, could contribute by providing modular armour packages, both reactive and passive. These systems are designed for compatibility with tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles and are in use across Turkish military platforms. A modernised Marder 1A3 platform may also attract interest from other current users, particularly Indonesia and Jordan, both of which operate smaller Marder fleets acquired from surplus German stocks.

Aselsan, established in 1975 by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, develops and manufactures systems across multiple sectors including communications, electro-optics, avionics, EW, and radar. The company is included in the list of the world’s top 100 defense manufacturers and offers over 500 defense-related products. In Latin America, Aselsan has delivered intercom and radio equipment to Uruguay, surveillance radar systems to Argentina, and drone jamming systems such as Ihasavar. In March 2025, Aselsan established a permanent regional office in Chile to support ongoing projects and seek new regional partnerships. During the FIDAE 2024 exhibition, Aselsan presented details of the Leopard 2A4 upgrade, which includes the EGTDS electric turret drive system, Volkan II fire control system, updated thermal and daylight sights for both the commander and gunner, driver’s night vision, and new internal communications equipment.

The Chilean Army established three Armoured Brigades in northern Chile in 2007, intended to centralise operational capabilities under unified command structures, and the Marder 1A3 formed part of this mechanisation strategy. (Picture source: Ejército de Chile)