FNSS delivers first Zaha MAVs to Turkish navy

FNSS has delivered the first Zaha MAVs to the Turkish Navy. (FNSS)

Turkey's FNSS Savunma Sistemleri has started delivering the first new Zaha Marine Assault Vehicles (MAVs) to the Turkish Naval Forces Command's (TNFC's) Amphibious Infantry Brigade, the company has announced.

The Zaha MAV has been developed by FNSS to meet the requirements of the Turkish navy in support of amphibious operations under an agreement signed between Turkey's Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and FNSS in 2017. The vehicles are planned to be deployed from the landing platform dock (LPD) TCG Anadolu, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.

Under the Zaha project, FNSS will deliver a total of 27 vehicles, including 23 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), two command-and-control vehicles, and two armoured recovery vehicles.

Zaha is designed to transport troops from a landing ship to shore in a single lift during amphibious operations and to serve as an APC after landing.

İt features a fully sealed hydrodynamic hull design with a self-righting capability that makes the vehicle highly mobile in water, and powerful water-jets run from a powerpack comprising a 600 hp diesel engine coupled to a fully automatic transmission system. Afloat, the vehicle has a top speed of 7 kt, while on land, it has a top speed of 70 km/h.

Zaha is fitted with a Caka dual remote-controlled turret that can be armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The remote turret can be fitted to various manned and unmanned ground vehicles, as well as naval surface vessels.