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FNSS ZAHA (MAV)

2019 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER MODERN

History

The FNSS "ZAHA" Maritime Assault Vehicle ("MAV") is designed to meet the ongoing demand of the Turkish Navy for a ship-based amphibious battlefield solution intended for the most important beach landing phase of amphibious assault. This guy was instrumental in bringing the manpower and supplies ashore to build bridgeheads and take the fight farther inland to the enemy. Amphibious assault is one of the most dangerous yet most potentially rewarding of all military operations available to war planners today, and specialized tactics and vehicles often make up the process of "fighting the enemy."

ZAHA was first introduced at IDEF 2019.

Vehicles like the ZAHA can bring combat closer to enemy positions, transport combat-ready personnel, and are equipped with capable weapons and defense systems for use in contested areas. They are typically launched from a maritime vehicle such as a landing helipad (LHD), from where the vehicle travels at high speed, flying directly to shore while avoiding enemy fire.

A Western comparable attack vehicle is the American AAVP-7A1 tracked amphibious aircraft carrier.

Internally there is a three-person operator, including a driver, a vehicle commander and a dedicated gunner, each with workstations with top access hatches. Another four hatches are placed above the rear end of the fuselage roof for passengers in the stern. Hinged access doors are mounted on the rear fuselage wall for more traditional access. The driver sat on the left front of the aluminum hull, the vehicle commander sat directly aft, the power pack sat to his right, and the gunner sat behind the engine compartment. An integrated camera system and chunky vision module enhance situational awareness.

In addition to the basic ballistic protection provided by armor, MAVs rely on accompanying armored vehicles during offensive advances, and can create their own smoke screens for survival through onboard smoke grenade launchers and smoke generation systems. Crew and crew are protected from small arms, artillery spray and certain mines/improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The drivetrain consists of a diesel engine that powers a two-wheel six-way wheel assembly surrounded by conventional track links. The track extends from the front drive sprocket to the rear idler. Track deflection rollers are not used.

Top speeds on the road can reach 70 km/h, allowing the MAV to keep up with the power of modern mechanization.

The vehicle is fully amphibious, hydrodynamically sealed and further coated with a corrosion resistant cathodic protection process. Before entering the water, the staff needs to prepare the vehicle a little.

A hydraulic trim piece attached to the bow of the hull provides propulsion from a water source through water nozzles located in the lower rear corner of the hull. Once started, the boat can reach a maximum water speed of about 7 knots.

The standard weapon is a separate Remote Weapon Station (RWS) located on the hull roofline (offset to the right from the centerline) behind the gunner hatch. Equipped with a 12.7mm air-cooled heavy machine gun (HMG) and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher (AGL), the mount gives the vehicle basic long-range capabilities to defeat enemy light armor, suppress/displace enemy infantry positions and low-flying positional attack helicopters Wait for air threats.

In addition to the basic troop carrier form, the Command Post (CP) version is sold with additional communications equipment and a reduced troop transport role, as well as an Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) variant with appropriate battlefield equipment.

The Turkish Navy will initially receive a total of 27 ZAHAs, of which 23 will consist of troop carriers, 2 will be CP standard and 2 will be reserved for the ARV role.