PARS IV 6X6 Mine-Resistant Special Operation Vehicles Ready for Duty
The delivery ceremony of the PARS IV 6x6 Special Operations (S-Opv) Vehicles, developed within the scope of the 6x6 Mine Resistant Vehicle (MKKA) Supply Project signed between the Presidency of Defense Industry Agency (SSB) and FNSS, was held at FNSS facilities with the participation of Prof. İsmail DEMİR President of the Defense Industry Agency, Celal Sami TÜFEKÇİ Vice President of Defense Industry Agency, Nail KURT General Manager & CEO of FNSS, industry representatives and many distinguished guests. The last batch of nine PARS IV 6x6 S-Opv vehicles were delivered in the previous months. The end-user received a total of 12 PARS IV S-Opv Vehicles in the wake of the delivery of the additional three 6x6 PARS IV vehicles.
Prof. İsmail DEMİR President of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), stated during the delivery ceremony that the defense industry continues its efforts to strengthen and modernize the inventory of both the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the Police and Gendarmerie in the land vehicles sector. “In this regard, our projects to develop the Main Battle Tank, mine and ballistic protected armored tactical wheeled vehicles, next generation combat vehicles, special purpose reconnaissance and surveillance vehicles, tactical wheeled vehicles for logistics purposes and autonomous vehicles continue successfully. Today, we are hosting the delivery ceremony for our PARS IV 6x6 Mine Resistant Vehicles, which have been carefully and diligently developed from start to finish. In order to give our security forces the ability to deploy under high armor protection and to meet these units' high-capacity video, audio, and data communication requirements in the operational environment, our PARS vehicles have been designed with the highest mine, IED, and ballistic protection features so far. We are proud to have a defense industry that designs, develops, and produces such a vehicle -a first in the world- with its other cutting-edge technical features. I would like to thank my colleagues from the Presidency of the Defense Industry Agency who have contributed to this significant project, the members of the TAF who work hard for long hours in all kinds of terrain and weather conditions for the peace and security of our country, and FNSS employees who have accomplished this critical project and whom we hope will continue to work in such important projects in the future.”
In his speech, Nail KURT General Manager & CEO of FNSS, noted that three additional vehicles will be delivered today, bringing the total number of vehicles delivered under the project from 9 to 12. “The next generation combat vehicle in the 6x6 class will join our army's inventory for the first time with the delivery of the PARS IV 6X6 Special Operations Vehicles, and it will be a significant force multiplier.”
KURT provided the following details regarding the vehicle's passive and active protection systems, mentioning that it features a modular armor structure and an integrated IED kit. “It has an RPG net that can be easily installed and removed by the user. The passive protection system is flawless in this way. In addition, the active protection layer is complete with the acoustic warning system produced by ASELSAN, which is sensitive to supersonic sounds and fitted into gun turrets, an active jamming and blinding system, 360-degree dual-user smoke grenades and a CBRN system.”
Following the remarks, plaques were given to those who contributed to the project. The PARS IV 6x6 Special Operations Vehicles, which were delivered in three configurations (Fire Support Vehicle 25 mm SABER RCT, Personnel Carrier 2 x SANCAK RWS and Command, Control and Signal Vehicle SANCAK RWS) showcased their capabilities to the President of the Defense Industry Agency, the accompanying delegation, and the media at the FNSS test site.
In 2019, as part of the project initiated by the SSB in line with the requirements of the user, the PARS IV 6x6 Mine Resistant Vehicle was designed as a vehicle superior to the existing vehicles with its firing capability for special operations, effective protection against IEDs, survivability standards with high-level mine and ballistic protection, and with the latest technology mission equipment.
While the first assembly was completed for the Pars 6x6 Mine-Resistant Vehicle in July 2020 with a ceremony held at FNSS facilities, a thorough test campaign was initiated as part of the project on the test vehicle in the following phase. Under the user's supervision, the mobility and durability tests in challenging harsh climatic and road conditions, including IED, mine, and ballistic tests, were successfully executed. During such tests, the vehicle covered a total of 25 thousand kilometers.
The PARS IV 6x6 S-Opv Vehicle provides an unmatched optimum combination of the survivability of an MRAP vehicle and the tactical mobility of a wheeled armored combat vehicle. The vehicle's high level of ballistic, mine and IED protection along with the RPG net is designed to protect the crew and the power pack against unconventional threats where the timing and intensity of the threat cannot be estimated. In the project launched in 2019; all mine, IED and ballistic tests of the vehicle were executed with the participation of the end-user at the FNSS Facility, at a Turkish Armed Forces military exercise field and at an accredited international test center. The vehicle was tested against high-level mine threats defined in survivability standards, as well as IED and ballistic threats from all directions.
FNSS General Manager and CEO of Nail KURT pointed out the survivability and protection capabilities of the PARS IV 6x6 Special Operations Vehicle during the IDEF’21 Fair, May 2021 and added: “In its weight category, no vehicle in the 6x6 class with such protection is available in the world. We even conducted two mine tests and 1 IED test on the same day. If you come to FNSS, you will see the hull is still in very good condition.”
With its modular armor structure, the vehicle has passive protection elements through its integrated IED kit and RPG net that can be easily installed and removed by the user.
The vehicle’s weapon system is designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously from all directions including high ground. Two remote controlled turrets (SANCAK UKS) are located in the front and rear section of the vehicle. The weapon system is equipped with a universal weapon mount, which enables it to carry 7.62 mm, 12.7mm machine guns or 40mm automatic grenade launchers, which can be easily changed depending on mission requirements. 2-axis stabilization allows firing on the move and the increased elevation of the gun enables the capability to engage targets on high ground (building tops, cliffs etc.) and/or low altitude aerial targets. The turret is also distinguished from its predecessors, the entire system is ballistic protected, including the ammunition boxes. SANCAK was designed to provide effective firepower for all types of armored or unarmored, manned or unmanned land platforms and tactical vehicles. It is an ideal weapon system for close fire support, vehicle protection, and surveillance missions when necessary.
An acoustic warning system sensitive to supersonic sounds and fitted into gun turrets, an active jamming/blinding system, 360-degree dual-user smoke grenades, and a CBRN system are also available on the vehicle as active protection elements.
The vehicle is equipped with new generation mission equipment which ensures combat effectiveness, safer route planning, command/control and rapid targeting and has been specifically designed to carry special operations units to their mission objectives where multiple threats can be in place and provide fire support for the teams in the field. All team members benefit from a high level of electrical and optical situational awareness as the vehicle’s special design enables maximum optical visual situational awareness with more than 180 degrees for the driver and the personnel placed in the front section of the vehicle. The new generation electronic infrastructure provides a 360 degree situational awareness view for all team members. Due to these features the vehicle can easily be operated under armor at all times with hatches in the closed position.
The high-performance power pack and ride-height adjustable independent, hydro-pneumatic suspension system provides unmatched tactical mobility to overcome difficult terrain and road conditions as well as drive safety and crew comfort.
Aybars KÜÇÜK, Chief Marketing and Programs Officer at FNSS, highlighted the advantages of the height-adjustable hydro-pneumatic suspension systems and the vehicle's operational capability in an interview with Anadolu Agency on October 5, 2022, as follows: "The vehicle weighs more as the protection level increases. Our engineering team, however, has developed a unique design. It needs to be able to move very quickly to the location of an incident or capable of moving swiftly under threats, all of which should be achieved under all types of terrain. We have an interesting design for this. The engine is positioned directly in the center of our vehicles. As a result, the vehicle's weight distribution is extremely neutral. On our vehicles, hydro-pneumatic suspensions that may be raised or lowered depending on the driving position on asphalt, stabilized roads, and uneven terrain are used. These enable our vehicle to continue its operation and movement in a highly steady manner after passing quickly and easily over the bumps in our test field, which is similar to a motocross track. As a result, we have created an extremely agile and aggressive vehicle.”
It is highly versatile, reflecting the broad spectrum of potential missions and operating zones. The PARS IV 6x6 S-Ops Vehicle operates in all weather and all terrain conditions, day and night, including cross-country and urban areas. Front and rear axle steering provides a turning radius narrower than a 4x4 vehicle and it stands out from their same-class rivals with these features. This unique feature enables rapid maneuver capability in narrow spaces, especially in low infrastructure urban areas
