The PARS IV 8x8 breaks cover

The PARS IV, revealed in 2021, to address Turkish military needs. (FNSS)

Turkish manufacturer of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and weapon systems FNSS has developed a new variant of its Pars wheeled AFV family to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) , following a request for proposals issued in late 2019/early 2020.

The company's proposal is the Pars IV, an 8×8 version that builds upon the experience of the Pars II sold to Malaysia as the AV8, PARS III to Oman in both 6×6 and 8×8 configurations, and Pars IV 6×6 special operations vehicle developed for the TSK.

“TLF [the Turkish Land Forces] have started a new requirement for the procurement of New Generation Wheeled AFVs, considering lessons learned from recent operational deployments,” Gökhan Tekin, FNSS programme manager, told Janes in a September interview. “Pars IV is therefore designed to meet current and future combat requirements for TLF and its allies,” he added.

The Pars IV 8×8 follows a similar design philosophy to earlier generations, with the commander and driver seated side-by-side at the front of the vehicle and the power pack located behind the driver's compartment. “This serves two purposes – it provides the commander and driver with good situational awareness, and it alters the weight distribution of the vehicle to give a better on and off-road performance,” Tekin said.