For a long time, interest in the armoured anti-tank guided missile vehicles had declined
in the Western armies. Therefore, the Pars and Kaplan, the two new systems of the Turkish
Armed Forces, have not become mediatic enough as much as new armoured vehicles such as the
Boxer, Ajax, or Stryker. However, it should not be forgotten that the devil is in the
details. When these two vehicles are analysed, it is possible to find important clues about
the transformation of modern armies and how the battlefield of the future will be shaped.
As the Weapon Detective, we are investigating what the Pars and Kaplan tell us.
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Although the Kaplan and Pars are apparently two separate vehicles, they are designed for
a common need. Kaplan means tiger in Turkish, while Pars
is the Turkish of leopard, and FNSS chose this name especially referring Anatolian leopard,
which is a special subspecies. FNSS has previously produced an armoured anti-tank
guided missile vehicle called the ZTA for the Turkish Armed Forces.
However, the Pars anti-tank and Kaplan anti-tank have a very different design and mission definition
than this vehicle. Before starting our analysis, let's examine
these two systems and their stories. The most common misconception about the Pars
anti-tank is that this system is a derivative of the Pars, which FNSS first exhibited at
the IDEX 2005. This company defines all of its wheeled armoured
vehicles as Pars. Just as the Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 are two
different tanks, these two vehicles are different. Of course, many of the proven subsystems and
concepts used in the first project were also preferred in the Pars anti-tank in order to
increase reliability and reduce cost. Originally the Pars 4x4 has been designed
as a multi-role base platform vehicle to undertake special missions such as forward surveillance,
anti-tank and command and control. In the same period, the company started the
development of the Kaplan tracked armoured vehicle family for both domestic and international
markets. This family includes three armoured vehicles
of the 10, 20, and 30 ton class as well as a medium tank.
In those years, the Turkish Armed Forces initiated the Weapon Carrier Vehicles Project to supply
two vehicles, one tracked and the other wheeled. In 2016, the Pars 4x4 and Kaplan 10 were selected
under this project by Turkey. The V type hull the Pars anti-tank which is
made of welded steel, provides high protection against mines. The survivability of the crew
is also enhanged by the mine resistant seats and automatic fire extinguishing systems.
FNSS, which has carried out important studies on mine protection since the first the Pars
Project, has gained a well-deserved reputation worldwide in this field.
Large and wide ballistic glasses on the front are designed to provide wide viewing angles
for both the driver and the crew. This design facilitates target acquisition
and identification as well as improves situational awareness.
In addition, there is a wide angle day and night camera above the driver's position and
at the rear. Thanks to these cameras the vehicle can be driven in the night or thick fog without
using blackout lights. There are baskets suitable for carrying provisions
just behind the doors on the sides where the crew enters and exits the vehicle. Thus, the
Pars anti-tank can carry a large amount of supplies such as food, water, fuel, and /or
spare parts and can be oparated independently for a long time.
Thanks to the center of gravity close to the ground, fully independent suspension system,
ABS supported hydraulic disc brakes, central tire inflation system, and low ground pressure,
the vehicle can easily operate on any rough terrain.
In order to reduce the operating cost, many subsystems of the Pars anti-tank are designed
to have the same life as the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic recovery
winch. The fact that the power pack is behind the
hull provides significant advantages to the Pars anti-tank.
This design provides wide viewing angle for the crew and increase the maneuverability
of the vehicle in muddy terrain. In addition, having the engine cooling and
the air intake grilles are at the top of the hull helps the Pars anti-tank to have higher
amphibious capacity compared to similar 4x4 systems.
The Pars anti-tank's four-man crew consists of a commander, gunner, driver, and loader.
The combat weight of the vehicle is not annouced offically yet. But it is known that the Pars
4x4 Puma can be transported by the CH-47 heavy lift helicopter. So its weight has to be less
than 10 tons which is underslung capacity of the Chinook. It is 5 meters long, 2.6 meters
wide, and 3.1 meters high. The vehicle can reach 110 kilometer per hour. Its maximum
road range is over 700 kilometers. The Pars anti-tank is amphibious and can travel in
the water with the speed of 6.5 kilometer per hour.
The hull of the Kaplan anti-tank is made using a ballistic welding technique.
There is additional togo type armour on the access cover of the engine positioned in the
front. Protection on the sides is increased by composite armour plates. Similar with the
Pars anti-tank, in order to increase survivability of the crew, the Kaplan anti-tank is equipped
with the mine resistant seats and automatic fire extinguishing system.
Also, the two fuel tanks, located at the rear, are fully-armoured and isolated from crew
compartment. Thanks to the access hatch, the maintenance and repair of the power pack is
carried out via inside. The advanced suspension track system of the
Kaplan anti-tank reduces vibrations and improves road holding.
The Kaplan anti-tank's five-man crew consists of a commander, gunner, driver, gunner’s
aid and additional personnel. It is 5.6 meters long, 3 meters wide, and 3.1 meters high.
The vehicle can reach 65 kilometer per hour. Its maximum road range is over 525 kilometers.
The Kaplan anti-tank is amphibious and can travel in the water with the speed of 6.3
kilometer per hour. Both vehicles can operate in the CBRN environment.
They are equipped with command and control information system, positioning navigation
system, wireless crew intercom system, and explosion and leak resistant fuel tanks as
a standard. Thanks to their modular structures, the Pars anti-tank and Kaplan anti-tank will
be able to quickly incorporate new technologies that may emerge in the future and can be reconfigured
in a short time according to different mission needs.
In addition, this design allows vehicles to be easily equipped with additional armour
plates and active defense systems when requested. The ARCT, the claws of these two wild cats,
derives its name from the abbreviation Anti-Tank Remote Controlled Turret and was also developed
by FNSS. It do not require a basket structure. Therefore, more interior space is available
in the vehicle. The turret with two-axis stabilization allows the auxiliary 7.62mm machine gun to
make highly accurate fire while the vehicle is on the move.
Because it is equipped with an auxiliary power unit, ARCT can be used even when the engine
of vehicles is not running. Unlike its counterparts in the world, this
turret can be modified easly to fire the OMTAS or Kornet-E guided anti-tank missiles.
At this point, let's talk a little bit about these two guided anti-tank missiles.
The OMTAS was developed by ROKETSAN for the Turkish Armed Forces. It takes its name from
"Orta Menzilli Tanksavar" in Turkish, which means "Medium Range Anti-Tank".
Thanks to the tandem warhead, it can also be effective against armoured vehicles equipped
with explosive reactive armour. The missile, which can establish a bidirectional
connection with the firing unit over the RF data link, can perform its final attack on
its target in one of the direct or top hit modes. The OMTAS can be used in fire-and forget
or fire-and-update mode. The hitting point on the target can also be updated during flight.
The maximum effective range of the missile which has uncooled type imaging infrared seeker,
is about 4,000 metres. The Kornet-E, which has a laser beam guidance
system, has become known for its effectiveness against the world's best protected tanks such
as M1 Abrams and Merkava 4, especially in conflicts in the Middle East.
At a range of 5,500 meters, the missile is able to penetrate 1,200 millimeters of steel
armour after passing the explosive reactive armour thanks to its tandem warhead.
Thanks to its laser beam guidance system, the Kornet-E can also be used against helicopters
flying at low altitudes and at low speeds. The missile systems and their sighting systems
on the Pars anti-tank and Kaplan anti-tank can be dismantled from the vehicle and used
on tripod. This design provides important tactical flexibility.
The Kornet-E has been preferred by nearly 30 countries.
Nowadays, NATO countries, including Turkey, often come face to face with these missiles
in areas of conflict. The modular structure of the ARCT also allows
the use of missiles captured from enemies. This provides a significant logistical advantage.
In addition, this design makes the turret attractive for many Kornet-E user countries.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Pars and Kaplan anti-tanks is their superior amphibious
capability compared to their counterparts. Both vehicles can enter the water without
any preparation. Of course, many other modern armored anti-tank
guided missile vehicles have amphibious capability. However, while the Pars anti-tank and Kaplan
anti-tank provide superior ballistic protection than their counterparts, they also have higher
amphibious capability than them. After getting to know the Pars anti-tank and
Kaplan anti-tank, let's look at what the capabilities of these vehicles tell us.
Before moving on to this topic, it will be useful to know what the mission definitions
of the armoured anti-tank guided missile vehicles are.
Since their first appearance, these vehicles have been generally regarded as tank destroyers
carrying guided missiles. The use of guided anti-tank missiles against
targets other than tanks had been rare for a long time.
However, the use of the Milan by the British for very different purposes during the Falklands
War caused an important change in this perspective. The British soldiers, who did not encounter
any Argentine tanks in this war, had fired many missiles. The Milan was used against
machine gun nests and even snipers. After that, although guided anti-tank missiles
are considered to be a multi-purpose weapon, armoured anti-tank guided missile vehicles
remained an organic part of armoured units. After the end of the First Cold War, interest
in these vehicles fell in the West. Because the Western armies were no longer
under the threat of large armoured units of the Warsaw Pact.
The portable guided anti-tank missiles were more useful for soldiers who were assigned
in low-intensity combat areas and organized in small units.
Also, armour protection against the enemy with low firepower was not a priority.
It was also sufficient to mount guided anti-tank missiles on tactical vehicles that were faster
and cheaper than armoured vehicles. Those with plenty of money, like the US Army,
preferred helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to provide quick fire support with
these missiles. However, in the new millennium, the infantry
in Afghanistan and Iraq began to call air support in even the smallest combat. This
brought intolerable burden for even the US economy.
The characteristic of the warfare has also changed over time. Especially in the Middle
East, non-state actors, unlike previous periods, are now fighting with vehicles that are heavily
armed, have better armour protection and have higher mobility.
In addition, today Western soldiers, who find armies of countries equipped with some modern
weapons when they go to fight with a non-state actor, refrain from entering into combat because
they do not have adequate equipment. Infantry on foot carrying guided anti-tank
missiles with them are not unable to deal with this type threat.
Their armoured vehicles like MRAPs were designed for tranportantion, not fighting.
Their only option is to rely on the very expensive air support. However, this is not an economically
sustainable way. Modern Western armies require a new guided
anti-tank missile carrier with high mobility, high tactical transportability and sufficient
ballistic protection. Yet the vehicle has to be cheaper to be aquire and operate than
any type of aircraft. Also, when the Second Cold War is rising,
they need armoured anti-tank guided missile vehicles again.
In this perspective Turkey became one of the first Western countries to adapt to new requirement.
Facing with different types of combat on the same front, the Turkish armed forces turned
to the most effective and cheapest solution with the Pars anti-tank and Kaplan anti-tank.
It would not surprising that in a short time, these two vehicles make a name in the international
market with their response to the new need. Or that this trend would be followed by other
Western armies in the near future. Thanks for watching our video. And please
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