Page 13 - ADT AUGUST 2021 Online Magazine

and night conditions with the operator, operat-
ing it in line with the Man-in-the-Loop principle.
The Kargu system is comprised of the Attack
Drone Platform and the Mobile Ground Control
Station.

STM has also developed a loitering munition [ COVER STORY ]
known as the ‘Alpagu’ which weighs less than
two kg and features a lightweight structure
with low radar cross-section. Deliveries to the
Turkish armed forces started in 2020, with a
series of variants also planned for develop-
ment. The Alpagu loitering munition dives down
to its target and can deliver pinpoint damage to
high-value, important targets. It carries enough
explosives to neutralize its target, in spite of its
small size and weight and can be easily trans-
ported and used by a single soldier. General Manager and CEO, has been quoted as saying that there
could be a requirement for 200 and 400 of these tanks which are
It makes use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and uniquely suited for the dense vegetation prevalent in Asia.
image-processing capabilities and can be used
for swarm attacks. It can also be integrated In May, it was announced that Allison Transmission would collabo-
with various platforms. STM has also developed rate with Caterpillar Defence, FNSS and PT Pindad on the Harimau
variants which can be launched from multiple programme. Allison Transmission is the largest global manufac-
launchers fitted in armored vehicles. The loi- turer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions
tering munition can be launched from armed for commercial and military vehicles. ‘As we continue to support
unmanned aerial platforms as well. STM is also Indonesia with our world-class fully automatic transmissions, Allison
planning larger, more explosive, longer-range, is also collaborating with customers around the world to meet their
and faster versions of Alpagu weighing more current and future transmission requirements for medium weight
than 10 kg. armored vehicles,’ said Dana Pittard, Vice President for Defence
Programmes at Allison Transmission. The Harimau tank uses
FNSS Medium Tank for Allison’s proven cross-drive transmission technology, designed
Indonesia for medium-tracked combat vehicles, and provides propulsion,
Turkey’s FNSS and Indonesia’s PT Pindad have steering and braking. The automatic transmission is manufactured
developed the ‘Harimau’ medium tank for the under license by Caterpillar Defense in Shrewsbury, UK.
Indonesian armed forces and as per original
plans the new tank, which is now in full rate FNSS had also entered into a contract with the Philippines
production, was to be made available for export Department of National Defence (DND) to provide stabilized one-
from 2023. The new medium tank weighs 32 man turrets production, integration and logistics support services
tons and has a power to weight ratio of 20 HP to the Philippine Army. The contract has been in force since August
/ ton. It can attain a maximum speed of 70 km 2020. The turrets will be integrated on Philippines military vehicles
/ hour and accommodate a crew of three (com- in October 2021 and training and logistics support services will be
manders, gunner and driver). Nail Kurt, FNSS completed by December 2021. The project is being handled under
a Defence Industry Cooperation Agreement signed between Turkey
and the Philippines governments. The one-man turrets will receive
a state-of-art fire control capability and sight systems (day / night)
from FNSS. The turrets will be manufactured at FNSS facilities, will
then be integrated into tracked armored vehicles by FNSS in the
Philippines and delivered to the user. The acceptance tests will
take place both in Turkey and the Philippines and the training for
the turrets will be held in Philippines under the integrated logistics
support services activities.

FNSS is also providing several Amphibious Armored Combat
Earthmover (AACE) vehicles to the Philippines under a contract
underway since November 2020. The vehicles are to be delivered
along with their training and logistic support services by the end
of March 2023. The AACE vehicles are already in service with the
Turkish armed forces.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY August 2021 | 13