FNSS completes pre-delivery tests of first Kaplan APC for Indonesia

A Harimau APC is displayed at Indo Defence 2025, held in Jakarta. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

Turkish armoured vehicle manufacturer FNSS has completed pre-delivery acceptance tests of the first Kaplan armoured personnel carrier (APC), ahead of its transfer to Indonesia for final user trials.

FNSS announced on 16 September that the tests were conducted in Türkiye with the participation of Indonesian state-owned defence company PT Pindad. The vehicle, known in Indonesia as the Harimau APC, was developed under a production agreement between the two companies as part of a programme to meet an Indonesian Army requirement for a tracked APC in the 30-tonne class.

According to FNSS, the vehicle is scheduled to be shipped to Indonesia, where final acceptance testing will be carried out with the end user. “Production activities for the second vehicle, to be manufactured at PT Pindad's facilities in Indonesia, are also continuing at the same time,” the company added.

The announcement follows an agreement signed by FNSS and PT Pindad in 2024 to collaborate on the development and production of a tracked APC for the Indonesian Army. The project includes technology transfer from FNSS to PT Pindad to support local vehicle production in Indonesia.

The Kaplan APC programme builds on the FNSS-PT Pindad partnership established through the Harimau medium tank project. Initiated in 2014, that programme involved technology transfer from FNSS and led to the local production of Harimau tanks by PT Pindad.

Indonesia ordered 18 Harimau tanks in 2019, receiving the first 10 vehicles in March 2024 and the remaining eight in October 2024. The initial batch was delivered by FNSS in a semi-finished configuration for final assembly by PT Pindad, while the second batch was manufactured in Indonesia.