Kaplan MT, a medium tank co-developed by Indonesia and Turkey to withstand hot and humid combat environments in Asia, should begin production in 2018 after the recent revelation of its first prototype at the ongoing IDEF 2017 exhibition in Turkey.

Officially designated the "FNSS/PT Pindad Kaplan MT Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT)," this prototype will be shown to the Indonesian public during "Hari Tentara Nasional Indonesia" (Indonesian National Armed Forces Day) on October 5.

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This day marks the foundation of the "Tentara Keamanan Rakyat" (People's Security Army), predecessor of the present "Tentara Nasional Indonesia" (TNI), or the Indonesian National Armed Forces.

The prototype will be delivered to Indonesia following shakedown trials in Turkey.

The tank is being jointly developed by PT Pindad (Persero), an Indonesian state-owned enterprise that makes military vehicles, and Turkey's FNSS Savunma Sistemleri, a leading manufacturer and supplier of tracked and wheeled armored combat vehicles and weapon systems for the Turkish Armed Forces.

Kaplan MT is armed with a stabilized 105 mm rifled gun fed by a bustle mounted automatic loader. A 7.62 mm machine gun is mounted co-axial with the main armament. Kaplan MT will be employed to provide direct fire support for dismounted Indonesian Army troops.

The turret is a Belgian CMI Defense 3015 turret, which integrates the Cockerill 105 mm high-pressure gun with an advanced autoloader to deliver high lethality.

Fitted to the turret are banks of electrically operated smoke grenade launchers coupled to the laser warning system.

The tank comes with a computerized fire-control system, and the tank commander and gunner are each provided with a stabilized daytime thermal sighting system with a laser rangefinder.

Kaplan MT features a high level of protection comprising a baseline all welded steel hull to which appliqué armor can be applied.

The vehicle interior wass engineered to carefully consider crew ergonomics. A special type of driver seat allows the driver to benefit from an enhanced field of view, and gives him convenient access to the dashboard and other driving instruments.

The tank is fully operable in a broad range of altitude and humidity conditions, and at temperatures ranging from -18°C to +55°C.

The tank's power pack, which comprises the diesel engine; automatic transmission and cooling system, produces a power-to-weight ratio of 20 hp/tonne and a maximum road speed of up to 70 km/h.

The power pack is equipped with a capacity cooling pack and fuel tanks. The cooling pack is cooled by intelligent software-driven hydraulic fan for optimum torque extraction and fuel economy. Two separate fuel tanks provide a minimum operating range of 450 km.

TagsKaplan MT, Indonesia, Turkey, FNSS/PT Pindad Kaplan MT Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT), Hari Tentara Nasional Indonesia, PT Pindad], FNSS Savunma Sistemleri