The Indonesian military received new units of Kaplan MT medium weight tanks, developed under a joint project by leading Turkish defense company, FNSS and Indonesian defense firm, PT Pindad.
The delivery, comprising 10 units of the Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT) Kaplan/Harimau, was commemorated with a ceremony attended by Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who secured victory in the Southeast Asian country’s Presidential Election on March 20, 2024.
Among the recipients of these newly delivered units is the Indonesian army’s 13/SL Cavalry Battalion stationed in the Province of East Kalimantan, near Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, according to a press release by the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara.
The cooperation “reflected the recognition Indonesia gives to Turkish leadership in military technology in the world,” the statement read.
The joint production was officially started by the agreement between the Defense Industry Agency of Türkiye (SSB) and Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia in 2015. Following the agreement, the production and testing of the prototypes started in 2017 and the delivery of the first batch was made in March 2022. While the initial batch of the tanks were produced in Türkiye, subsequent units were slated for production in Indonesia, reflecting a technology transfer outlined in the cooperation agreement.
The export of the Kaplan MT marked the first foreign sale of the Turkish defense industry in tank class at that time.
MMWT Kaplan/Harimau boasts a two-man turret C3150, dubbed as the only lightweight and high-tech 105mm calibre turret worldwide, along with the 7.62mm machine gun, Level 5 STANAG 4569 ballistic protection, laser warning system, and landmine protection.
Designed for superior survivability, the tank features advanced ballistic and mine protection systems. An optional active protection system can be integrated to meet specific user requirements, according to the FNSS, while the interior design prioritizes user ergonomics and crew comfort, enhancing operational effectiveness.
MMWT Kaplan/Harimau is equipped with daytime and thermal cameras, a multi-function digital driver's instrument panel and wide-angle optical periscopes for the driver. It features a third-generation high-performance vision system for both gunner and commander to provide “hunter-killer capability.” The tank is also equipped with a Battlefield Management System (BMS) and Laser Warning Systems (LWS) to provide a high level of tactical situational awareness for the crew.
Indonesia also has a joint production cooperation with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the development and manufacturing of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), ANKA.
📌The Indonesian military received the first batch of Kaplan MT/Harimau medium weight tanks, developed under a joint project by leading Turkish defense company, FNSS (@FNSS_Savunma) and Indonesian defense firm, PT Pindad (@pindad).
🔗https://t.co/F8KGWmvJDw pic.twitter.com/5fnHj4Gsmd— Defensehere (@defensehere_en) April 5, 2024
