[🇹🇷] Turkish Army Receives GZPT-T1 Armored Personnel Carriers as Part of M113 Service Life Extension Program.

Dogun18 said:

@Bilal9 J @Jiangnan

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This is a great development of the standard M113A2 (Talha in Pakistani service).

But the sensors and turret equipment seem rather expensive for common use in South Asia, got to match your adversary and cut your suit according to your cloth. As befits Turkey's adversaries, they produced a NATO standard advanced sensor-equipped APC with multiple high precision armaments. Such may not be needed in South Asia.

In Bangladesh' case I can say that the lighter eight-wheeled BTR-80 (being a simple amphibious APC vehicle) is more suited to local terrain (especially in the muddy monsoon) than any variant of the tracked M113 APC/IFV.

BUT! If the BTR-80 can be improved with a better 25~30 autocannon turret, with better mine and side-hit protection, better targeting/aiming/gunnery sensors than at present, there would be quite a bit of interest. If a ToT package can be negotiated for local manufacture/assembly in Bangladesh, there will be even more interest.

Bangladesh Army procurement reps attend regular armor fairs in Ankara and Istanbul and they are aware of what is being offered from FNSS and other vendors in Turkey.

I can mention that - of late - there have been quite a few of these local armor improvements, mainly for improving MBTs with sensor and cannon KITs from NORINCO etc. but also equipping armor platforms in one-off examples with Baktar Shikan and other ATGMs. The focus is also on self-reliance with local manufacture of armor platforms and advanced armor munitions, basic stuff.

The focus has changed since Hasina's exit as head of govt. She was the primary hindrance to armor improvements and funding in Bangladesh army, navy and air force. Long story but we are all glad that she is gone.