DTN News: Malaysia Confirmed Acquiring Turkish Designed 8x8 Pars APCs

DTN News: Malaysia Confirmed Acquiring Turkish Designed 8x8 Pars APCs

Source: Malay Media

(NSI News Source Info) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - May 19, 2010: Today, Malaysian Defense ministry confirmed the Malaysian company DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies (Deftech) a prime contractor to locally produce and supply 257 armored personnel carriers based on the Turkish 8x8 Pars wheeled armored vehicle, subject to cost review and effective APC in the same category.

The Pars has a modular design and can include various armament fits such as external and turret mounted weapons. The vehicle can accommodate single- or two-man turrets as well as remotely operated weapon stations and specific mission equipment. The vehicle is normally operated by a crew of two and can carry up to 12 troops or eight tons of payload. An advanced, active hydropneumatic suspension system, with electrically controlled variable height enables adjustable ground-clearance and a central tire inflation system. Pars is powered by the Deutz 530hp diesel engine, which producers claim has a 1500km unrefueled operating range. The vehicle can be airlifted inside C17 or future A400 transport aircraft.

The Pars, developed and produced developed by the Turkish company FNSS is based on a design made by the U.S. company GPV. The value of the Malaysian 'letter of intent' is worth over worth about US$2.5 billion. Deliveries will span over seven years. The prototype APC is expected to be delivered for testing to the Malaysian Army by 2011. Deftech is to build 12 variants from the base vehicle, including personnel carrier, anti-tank weapon carrier, command and control and anti-aircraft weapon vehicles.

The Malaysian Defense ministry has asked Deftech to review cost factor as advised earlier in the media, cost of the new vehicle seems excessively high - about $9.8 million per unit

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