Date: Issue 58 - February 2015
Delivery of the first lot of mass production vehicles manufactured within the scope of the 8x8 Armoured Wheeled Combat Vehicle Project that was launched in 2011 with the signatures of FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Ş. and its Malaysian business partner DRB Hicom Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd. (DEFTECH) has started. A ceremony was held for the delivery of first lot of twelve 8x8 Armoured Wheeled Combat Vehicles in DEFTECH Company’s production facilities, located in the city of Pekan, Malaysia, on 6 December 2014 and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Chief of Land Forces General Datuk Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor, and high ranking commanders and representatives of the company regarding the project attended the ceremony. 12 Armoured Wheeled Combat Vehicles were delivered to the Malaysian Armed Forces at the ceremony.
The Project consists of the development, production and technology transfer of a total of 257 8x8 Wheeled Armoured Combat Vehicles (AV-8) in 12 different configurations for meeting the needs of Malaysian Armed Forces. Development of AV-8 Vehicle was based on PARS 8x8 Vehicle of FNSS. AV-8 Project is considered to be the greatest defence system export agreement in Turkey. FNSS conducts the system integrator role in the project while being in charge of the supply of vehicle platforms and 25mm Sharpshooter one-man turret.