In his remarks at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of National Defence Hasan Kemal Yard?mc? thanking FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.?. said that the projects undertaken made everyone proud. Yard?mc? said: “Our defence vehicle requirements being met and produced by a one hundred percent local company FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.?. makes us proud. Signing a 600 million dollar contract with Malaysia is the biggest proof of the worldwide success of FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.?. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this project.”

Speaking at the ceremony Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar stated that Turkey was one of three countries that produced defence vehicles. Indicated that overseas production also took place, Undersecretary Bayar said that, “It can no longer be said that exports take place to Malaysia. For we produce all of Malaysia’s requirements. We have signed a record agreement with Malaysia. FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.?. has become like Malaysia’s own company.”

The General Manager of FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.?. Nail Kurt stated that their target was to end the dominance of French and German companies in the market with the Amphibious Assault Bridge Project and thanked everyone who contributed to the project.

After the remarks at the ceremony, those that contributed to the project were awarded with a plaque and the first vehicle was delivered to the Land Forces Logistics Commander Lt. General Ömer Necati Özbahad?r. Later Deputy Minister of National Defence Hasan Kemal Yard?mc? and the delegation accompanying him laid the foundation for the construction of a new R&D building of FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.?. The 6,000 m2 closed area R&D building will have welding shops, prototype shops and the necessary laboratories. The R&D Center will have 150 engineers on duty and is planned to start operations in November 2012. After the foundation laying ceremony, the Deputy Minister of National Defence and the delegation viewed the Amphibious Assault Bridge.
Can Reach a Speed of 100 Kilometers on Land

The SYHK system as the first indigenously designed project in the land vehicles sector has a similar concept to the Pars 8X8 wheeled armored vehicle developed by FNSS as well and with its transport sets, bridge configurations can provide a secure passage for the main combat tank and other military cargo in river crossing operations.

Able to operate both on land and sea, the SYHK can reach speeds of up to 100 km per hour on land. Possessing 500 hp water jets, the SYHK can reach a speed of approximately 20 km in water. Resembling an articulated truck on land, the SYHK upon entering water can draw in its wheels and transform into a bridge. The armored vehicle is 12 m in length, 4 m in width and 3.5 m in height. In river crossings like “build and take apart” pieces it can come together to turn into a bridge. Two SYHK’s can form a 20 m bridge and can allow a 100 ton cargo to cross to the other side.

The first prototypes that began being manufactured in 2009 were completed the following year and first began to be operated on land. The 52 SYHK’s to be manufactured within the project coverage will be completed by the end of 2012 and delivered to the Land Forces Command.

Azmim Introduced for the First Time

In the SYHK handover ceremony FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.?. introduced the first prototype Amphibious Armored Combat Work Machine (AZM?M) in which a contract was signed in 2009 to meet the requirements of the Land Forces Command.

To be used by the Corps of Engineers of the Land Forces Command, the vehicle is planned to be employed to prepare the landing on the opposite side of river crossings. The vehicle’s empty weight is 20 tons and combat weight 25 tons and can reach a maximum speed of 40 mph. With a range of 400 km, AZM?M will also possess a STANAG level 3 standard ballistic protection and a STANAG-4569 2A underbody mine protection. Including one prototype, 12 AZM?M vehicles are planned to be manufactured by 2013 and delivered to the Land Forces Command.