Allison announces involvement in Indonesia's Harimau project

US company Allison Transmission has confirmed its inclusion in the Indonesian programme to build the Harimau medium tank for the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

Allison Transmission said on 18 May that it has recently collaborated with other key contractors on the Harimau programme to integrate its “cross-drive transmission technology” onto the 30-tonne tank.

The transmission, it said, provides propulsion, steering and braking capabilities and is manufactured under licence by Caterpillar Defense in the United Kingdom.

“Most recently Allison Transmission has collaborated with Caterpillar Defense, [Turkish firm] FNSS, and [Indonesia’s] PT Pindad to provide a new medium tank to the Indonesian Armed Forces known as the Harimau,” said a press release.

This co-operation follows an agreement between PT Pindad and FNSS – a joint venture between Turkey’s Nurol Holding and BAE Systems – in February 2019 to start production of an initial 18 tanks. Some of these tanks are expected to be built in Turkey, with the remainder by PT Pindad at its facilities in Bandung.

The tank is powered by an unregulated Caterpillar C13 diesel engine and its armament is provided by a John Cockerill Defence C3105 two-man turret, carrying a Cockerill 105 high-pressure (HP) gun.