Türkiye picks Pars ALPHA from FNSS

FNSS has been selected by the Turkish Land Forces to provide its Pars 6×6 and 8×8 ALPHA armoured fighting vehicles meeting the country’s New Generation Armoured Vehicles (NGAV) programme, according to a press release issued by FNSS on 24th February. 

The first order for 25 vehicles includes the Pars ALPHA 8×8 in an anti-armour squad and recovery variant, 6×6 vehicles are expected to follow in a command post configuration. The programme is expected to procure 2,000 vehicles in total but the timeframe delivery has not yet been made clear. They are being procured to equip Türkiye’s mechanised infantry brigades.

Another competitor for the contract, BMC, also received an order for 29 of its ALTUĞ 8×8 armoured vehicles carrying a 35 mm cannon on the same day, indicating that the NGAV programme will deliver at least three vehicle types. 

The Pars vehicles were selected after an extensive competition, which is not always the preferred route for the Turkish forces. With large and capable state-backed companies like Aselsan, Türkiye has at times been able to indicate what its requirements are directly with the supplier, which then develops a system to meet those requirements. However, the NGAV programme was competed, it seems, between FNSS, Otokar, and BMC. 

“We rightfully earned our place with superior success from field tests carried out by SSB. And finally, we have reached the stage of launching the New Generation Armoured Vehicles Program,” Deputy Chairman of FNSS Board of Directors, Oğuz Çarmıklı said. Otokar is understood to have submitted its ARMA II family of armoured vehicles, with BMC submitting the Altug. The trials were extensive and included mine blast and ballistic tests, which are expensive to run as they may lead to the destruction of the vehicles involved. 

Tech profile: Pars ALPHA

This shows the interior view from the commander and driver’s seat of the Pars ALPHA. The side-by-side design facilitates easier communication and situational awareness than traditional configurations where the driver and commander might be separated. Credit: FNSS

The Pars ALPHA builds on FNSS’s Pars family which has been exported to Malaysia and Oman, and sold domestically to the Turkish forces in smaller quantities. It places the vehicle commander and driver in a side-by-side arrangement to the rear of the engine, which is at the very front of the hull. This provides enhanced situational awareness over the front of the vehicle when compared with a conventional 8×8, the company states. It is also capable of climbing a 70% gradient, which is very steep for any vehicle, the standard for military vehicles is typically given as 60%. For reference, descending a 60% slope in the front seat of a vehicle will feel as though it is a near vertical drop. It is no small challenge to propel a 33 tonne vehicle like the Pars ALPHA over that kind of gradient. 

Over and above this, the vehicle has good mobility characteristics for a platform in its class with an on-road speed of 115 km/h and an operational range up to 800 km. It can be armed with a variety of turrets and systems like the recently announced Teber-II, also from FNSS. The vehicle is also capable of carrying a large calibre turret carrying a 105 mm or 120 mm large calibre main armament 

Calibre comment

The Turkish Land Forces have been extensively deployed in combat for some years with engagements on its border and in Syria where it has relied on protected mobility vehicles and tracked armoured platforms like the ACV-15, a descendent of the M113 family. The ACV has been modernised by FNSS to improve its firepower and survivability, however the greater on-road mobility, protection, and crew comfort of the Pars family should help improve the survivability and response times of the Turkish forces. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 24th February, 2025. This article was updated with additional information on the 25th February 2025. Thanks to Devrim Yaylalı (@devrimyaylali) for bringing my attention to this additional contract.