05 January 2021

Update: FNSS to complete delivery of AACE vehicles to Philippines in early 2023

by Gabriel Dominguez

Turkey’s FNSS Savunma Sistemleri (FNSS) announced on 4 January that delivery of the Armoured Amphibious Combat Earthmover (AACE) vehicles ordered by the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) last year will be completed by the end of March 2023.

Turkey’s FNSS announced on 4 January that delivery of the AACE vehicles ordered for the Philippine Army last year is expected to be completed by March 2023. (FNSS)

The company said in a statement that under the contract, which entered into force in November 2020, FNSS will provide the tracked vehicles, along with training and logistic support services, to the Philippine Army (PA).

The value of the contract and the number of AACEs on order was not disclosed.

The vehicles will be manufactured at FNSS facilities and acceptance tests will take place both in Turkey and the Philippines. Training will be held in Philippines as part of integrated logistics support services.

FNSS pointed out that, within the PA’s modernisation programme, the main goal of this project is to increase the capabilities of the combat engineer battalion units. The company noted that the AACE is designed for the preparation of river banks for river crossings, adding that the vehicle is capable of performing bulldozing, rough grading, excavating, hauling, and scraping operations.

In a separate statement, FNSS announced that another contract secured from the Philippine DND last year – for an undisclosed number of stabilised one-man turrets to the PA, along with integration and logistics support services – is slated for completion by December.

The company said the main goal of this second project is to upgrade the firepower of existing tracked armoured vehicles in PA service, adding that the integration of the turrets, the designation of which was not disclosed, will be completed by October.

Turkey’s FNSS Savunma Sistemleri (FNSS) announced on 4 January that delivery of the Armoured Amphibi...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.