Developed by FNSS to meet the requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command, the PARS 4x4 Anti-Tank Vehicle (ATV) makes its first world appearance at Eurosatory 2018, where one of the two prototypes of the vehicle produced for qualification tests is being displayed at the FNSS stand, giving visitors to the event the opportunity to inspect up close a fully mission-equipped vehicle. The two prototypes, produced as part of the ATV project, will spend the coming months undergoing qualification tests once the manufacturer’s verification tests have been completed.

The PARS 4x4 ATV has been devised as a vehicle that offers both speed and high manoeuvrability under all terrain conditions, with sufficient firepower to destroy enemy tanks and other armoured units from a distance, and with the ability to engage second targets following a rapid change of position. Drawing upon its vast experience and innovative approach, FNSS has come up with a very special amphibious vehicle that is capable of meeting these challenging requirements simultaneously.

Most noteworthy among the PARS 4x4 ATV’s features is the positioning of its power pack at the rear of the vehicle. With the placement of cooling grate and exhaust on the upper body, this positioning allows the vehicle to go amphibious without prior preparation, thus granting it the best amphibious capabilities in its class and further allows the PARS 4x4 to manoeuvre at higher speeds. All these features, which can only be expected from a vehicle with a rear-positioned power pack, grants the PARS 4x4 with critical capabilities in moving away rapidly after launching an attack.

The outstanding capabilities of the PARS 4x4 ATV can be listed as follows:

Mobility: The PARS 4x4 features an axle and steering system that is designed to give the vehicle a small turning radius, while the long suspension movement range enhances the vehicle’s performance over rough terrain. Although the PARS 4x4 is an amphibious vehicle, no concessions have been made in the vehicle’s ballistic or mine protection levels.

Situational Awareness: The rear positioning of the power pack gives the driver a wide field of vision, while the integrated camera system provides the driver with full forward and rear situational awareness.

Survivability: The PARS 4x4 has been designed with superior ballistic and mine protection, and uses special armour material that ensure weight optimisation. The rear positioning of the power pack also helps reduce the vehicle’s thermal signature.

Weapon System: The PARS 4x4 is armed with an unmanned, remote-controlled anti-tank turret, also of FNSS design. In addition to ballistic protection, the turret also has two anti-tank missiles and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The turret recently performed its first firing test with the anti-tank missile, during which it successfully hit its target at maximum range.

K. Nail KURT, General Manager and CEO of FNSS, said that the PARS 4x4 marks the beginning of a new era in anti-tank vehicles: “FNSS closely follows both developments and user requirements around the world, and as a result of these efforts, we came up with the PARS 4x4 concept that we presented for the first time at IDEF 2017. Following the signing of our contract with the user, we readied this concept, along with its turret, for qualification tests, completely from scratch. This has allowed us to roll out a vehicle that is peerless in the world. The PARS 4x4 stands as yet further evidence of FNSS’ engineering strength and tailored capabilities. With the introduction of the PARS 4x4 into the inventory, we are certain that it will become a force multiplier that changes all the equations, first for Turkish Land Forces Command, and later, for friendly and allied nations.”

Anti-Tank Vehicles Project

Launched by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and conducted with FNSS as the prime contractor, the Anti-Tank Vehicles (ATV) project covers the development, qualification and delivery of a total of 260 vehicles that include the tracked KAPLAN-ATV and wheeled PARS 4x4 ATV platforms. 

The project contract was signed on June 27, 2016 and entered into effect on October 14, 2016.

As envisaged in the project plan, the detailed design of the vehicles was examined and approved by the SSB and Land Forces Command on the 15th month of the project schedule. In the classical project methodology, this milestone also corresponds to the start of production activities. In addition to the detailed design, FNSS also manufactured the first KAPLAN-ATV prototype, and presented the Remote-Controlled Anti-Tank Turret (RCAT), which is at the heart of the vehicle’s primary striking power, to users in order to obtain feedback prior to commencing factory tests. The 15-month development period for the prototype is impressive in terms of its shortness when compared to recent similar projects and could in fact be considered unprecedented.

The first prototype of the PARS ATV, which is the wheeled anti-tank system in the ATV project, began verification tests in May, and will soon commence qualification tests in line with the project schedule.

Serial production of both the tracked and wheeled vehicles in the ATV project is planned to be completed in 2021, with 260 vehicles expected to be delivered in total to the Turkish Land Forces Command.

FNSS Unveils Newly Developed ARCT Anti-Tank Guided Missile Turret 

FNSS also unveiled its Anti-Tank Remote Controlled Turret (ARCT) first day of Eurosatory.  The ARCT was developed utilizing state-of-the-art technology, the most current design approaches and combat experiences by the user. Armed with guided anti-tank missiles, the FNSS developed ARCT within the Turkish Land Forces Anti-Tank Vehicles (ATV) Program that was signed between the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and FNSS on June 27, 2016 and went into effect on October 14, 2016. The contract contains the delivery of a total of 260 tracked and wheeled armored vehicles, to be designed and produced through indigenous capabilities.

Working at an intense pace from the beginning of the ATV Program, FNSS managed to complete the design and prototype production phases of the ARCT within a very short period. Verification tests involving the long-range firing of the first anti-tank guided missile were performed in the 18th month of the project calendar, and this critical stage was concluded successfully with a direct hit on the intended target. The tests also saw the firing tests of the coaxial machine gun with the platform both stationary and on the move.

Differently from the approach in which anti-tank missiles are integrated onto an already existing remote-controlled weapon system (RCWS) as an add-on capability, of which many examples can be named worldwide, the ARCT was designed from the onset as a dedicated ATGM turret. This particular feature has been instrumental in the attainment of a highly effective solution in terms of missile effectiveness and system survivability. The main features of the ARCT can be listed as follows:

Mission Specific Design: The ARCT was designed specifically for the anti-tank role from the very outset and has some important integrated features that turrets with add-on missile capability are lacking.  ARCT offers the best optimization for low silhouette, armor protection, ergonomics, easy conversion to tripod launch configuration and sighting system.

Modularity: In line with the ATV Program requirements, the ARCT can be equipped with both KORNET-E and OMTAS ATGM missiles. With the two missile systems requiring very different integration approaches, ARCT is able to meet this challenging requirement through a modular design that relies on a common base structure and modular subsystems for each missile system. Owing to its design, the ARCT is ready from the very outset for integration with different missiles, which grants the users substantial flexibility.

Easy Integration: Unlike conventional manned turrets, the ARCT lacks a basket structure and it is located above the top plate of the vehicle. This increases the vehicle’s internal useable volume, while the ARCT’s low silhouette and weight enables its integration onto different types of armored vehicles.

High Mission Performance: Capable of performing continuous 360 degrees traverse, and -25° and +25° degree elevation, the ARCT is armed with two anti-tank guided missiles along with a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. By means of its digital fire control system, the turret can automatically perform all the necessary ballistic calculations for achieving the highest hit probability, with both the missiles and coaxial machine gun. The gunner’s sight system including a new generation thermal camera, day camera, laser rangefinder and missile guidance electronics ensure the highly effective use of the weapons day, night and under all weather conditions. In its very first firing test, the ARCT demonstrated its ability to score direct hits on targets even at the maximum range of its missiles. The platform’s secondary armament serves to enhance the turret’s firepower and expands its mission range. Functions such as charging, firing, electrical extraction of empty cartridges can be carried out automatically from inside the vehicle. The turret is equipped with a digital electric gun turret drive system, and a two-axis stabilization system to increase accuracy while on the move.

High Survivability and Reliability: Survivability has been one of the primary focus areas of the design and the integrated armor solution provides the best protection with the lightest weight thru the use of advanced armor materials. The gunner, thru his control console, inside the vehicle can carry out surveillance; target detection, identification and missile lock-on and guidance functions, all the while remaining under ballistic protection. In the event of an emergency, mission batteries and smart power distribution system inside the turret enables the use of the turret’s drive system, firing functions and electro-optical systems independently of the vehicle’s battery, for an increased duration. 

K. Nail KURT, General Manager and CEO of FNSS, speaking about the successful completion of ARCT’s first firing tests, said: “FNSS has developed the ARCT in such a way that it is capable of firing two different types of missiles for the same user – a feature for which there is probably no other example around the world. We came up with a design from scratch in 18 months, and successfully executed the firing tests. This success achieved in such a short period single-handedly demonstrates the engineering strength of FNSS, as well as the dedication of our project team. The ARCT turned out be a highly capable solution that is streets ahead of its competitors. I believe that it will attract the attention of friendly and allied nations seeking high performance and reliability, and that it will become a much sought-after product on the market in the coming period.”

In the near future, the ARCT will participate in the qualification tests of the KAPLAN-10 and PARS 4x4 vehicles developed under the ATV project. Serial production will commence once all of the tests have been completed, and deliveries will continue until 2021, when the turret will be serving on a total of 260 vehicles.