FNSS has revealed the first complete prototype of its marineassault vehicle (MAV), or ZAHA (Zırhlı Amfibi Hücum Araçları), at the International Defence Industry Fair 2019 (IDEF 2019) exhibition held in Istanbul from 30 April to 3 May.
The MAV is an amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed and manufactured for Turkey’s naval infantry; it is designed to carry 21 personnel during an amphibious assault.
At a signing ceremony between FNSS and Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) on 1 May, FNSS CEO and General Manager K Nail Kurt said, “MAV has to make sure that marines reach the shore in the shortest time possible, both to ensure rapid movement and to minimise their exposure to threats while at sea. Once ashore, it should be able to operate effectively as an armoured combat vehicle.”
Kurt explained that the vehicles were designed to operate with Turkey’s landing helicopter dock (LHD) ship that is now in production and said a total of 27 vehicles would be produced at first, but the ultimate quantity of MAVs would be dependent upon the number of LHDs that enter service with Turkey.
Kurt said the MAV had entered the critical design phase and the entire project is scheduled to be complete by 2021.
According to Yusuf Caner Taşan, a manager from the FNSS Analysis Test and Research & Development department, the vehicle is built from 5000 series military grade aluminium armour, which is alloyed with magnesium. Alloys in the 5000 series are resistant to corrosion and relatively easy to weld, making them well suited to the construction of amphibious vehicles.
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