FNSS announced via social media that work on the first KAPLAN Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) has entered its final production phase, marking a key milestone in the programme. Following the completion of manufacturing activities, vehicle testing is planned to begin in the first half of 2026. Within the scope of the project, the second vehicle will be produced in Indonesia, with deliveries targeted to be completed by the end of 2026.
The programme is based on a contract signed in February 2024 between PT Pindad and the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) to meet the Indonesian Army’s requirement for a 30-ton-class tracked armoured personnel carrier. Within this framework, FNSS and PT Pindad concluded the KAPLAN APC Development and Production Agreement, establishing a joint development and production model.
The KAPLAN APC will become a new member of FNSS’s KAPLAN tracked armoured vehicle family. The vehicle has been designed to address anticipated operational requirements in evolving battlefield conditions, with a focus on ballistic protection, mine protection systems and integrated firepower.
The vehicle is designed to accommodate a total of 13 personnel, including driver, commander and gunner, and to operate across a wide range of terrain and weather conditions. It will feature an open-architecture electronic infrastructure, allowing the integration of mission systems such as a Battlefield Management System and a 360-degree situational awareness capability providing day and night vision for the crew.
KAPLAN APC is being developed as a modular platform capable of integrating both manned and unmanned turret systems. Armament options include light and medium-calibre weapons such as 30 mm and 35 mm cannons, as well as 120 mm mortars and anti-tank guided missile systems. This modular design enables the KAPLAN APC to be configured for a wide range of missions, including mechanised infantry, reconnaissance, command and control, force protection, medical evacuation, rescue, combat engineering, and both direct and indirect fire support.
The vehicle is built on a new-generation tracked armoured combat vehicle platform offering a power-to-weight ratio of at least 23 hp/ton, depending on configuration. Equipped with an automatic transmission, the platform is designed to operate alongside modern main battle tanks. Extensive commonality of parts and subsystems with Indonesia’s KAPLAN MT, within the broader ACV-AD tracked vehicle family, as well as shared subsystems with the Marine Assault Vehicle (MSV) in service with the Turkish Naval Forces, is intended to support logistical efficiency and lifecycle cost management.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
