Otokar Tulpar

Last updated
Tulpar
TULPAR.jpg
Tulpar as shown at the DSEI-2019
Type Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin Turkey
Production history
DesignerOtokar
Designed2011[ citation needed ]
Manufacturer Otokar
Unit cost$1.2 million[ citation needed ]
Produced2012
No. built4[ citation needed ]
Specifications
Mass32 tonnes (35 short tons)
(up to 42 tonnes (46 short tons) depending on configuration)
Length7,230 millimetres (23.72 ft)
Width3,400 millimetres (11.2 ft)
Height2,676 millimetres (8.780 ft) (turret ceiling)
Crew3 (commander, gunner, driver)
9 troopers

Armor protects against 25 mm APFSDS[ citation needed ]
Main
armament
30 mm dual-fed cannon
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
Engine Scania DSI 14 litres or DSI 16, V8 Diesel
810 hp (410- 595 kW) 2300 Nm Turbo Diesel
Power/weight24.1 hp/tonne
TransmissionSAPA SG-850, 32-Speed Automatic
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
600 km
Maximum speed 70 km/h

Tulpar is a Turkish heavy infantry fighting vehicle designed by the Sakarya-based automotive manufacturer Otokar. It is named after the Tulpar, a winged horse in Turkic mythology. [1]

Contents

The vehicle has been designed to augment Turkey's new-generation Altay MBT in operations and to safely transport infantry to the front lines while providing fire support for other armored units. The IFV is also available in variants such as reconnaissance, command-and-control, personnel carrier, mortar, recovery, launch rocket system, air defence, ambulance and anti-tank vehicles. [2]

Background

Even though the TSK has not formally posted an immediate requirement for a new infantry fighting vehicle, Otokar has started the development of Tulpar along with the Altay.[ citation needed ] Indeed, Tulpar was designed by the same team that developed Altay. After a 3-year design and development stage, Tulpar was finally unveiled to the public in 2013 at the IDEF international defense fair in Istanbul. [2] [ unreliable source? ]

Design

Tulpar was designed for the dual role of providing fire support to friendly main battle tanks and safely transporting troops in a high-threat environment. Resistance against IEDs, small mines and high ballistic protection for its crew were among the high priority design criteria. Tulpar is also fully networkable with the Altay MBT and other units. [2]

In its basic form the Tulpar provides protection against small arms (STANAG 4569 level 2), but it can be upgraded with composite armor that provides protection against 25 mm projectiles (STANAG 4569 level 5). [2] Tulpar features modular armor. This allows the maintenance center to quickly swap any damaged armor panels and also makes the IFV easily upgradable for added protection against higher caliber projectiles. Export customers of Tulpar can decide on what level of protection is desired based on their specific threat environment, terrain and IFV configuration. [2]

Otokar plans to install a hard kill system on the future variants of Tulpar. The vehicle is fully NBC protected.

Mobility

Tulpar is powered by an 810 hp, 15.7-liter, water-cooled V8 diesel engine that is turbo charged and drives a 32-speed automatic transmission. Suspension comes standard with a hydraulic damper and can carry up to 45 tons on the hull. Tulpar's maximum speed is 70 km/h and economic range is 600 km. [2]

Armament

Otokar's Tulpar is fitted with the Mızrak-U turret system armed with a 30mm dual-fed automatic cannon and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The turret will be equipped with the Umtas anti-tank missile. [2]

Situational awareness

Tulpar's crew enjoy full 360-degree day/night situational awareness thanks to an array of electro-optic sensors located on the Hull and Turret. [2]

Variants

Tulpar IFV

Basic IFV model as described above.

Tulpar-S

First unveiled at IDEF 2015, the Tulpar-S is significantly lighter (15 tonnes), shorter and narrower than the Tulpar. [3] It is a multi-purposed vehicle platform which retains basic features of standard Tulpar-IFV and has been designed to be both a light and an amphibious platform. Like the Tupar IFV, the Tulpar has been designed to be modular and can be configured for a variety of roles with a variety of weapons platforms.

In the weapons-carrying, ATGM-armed RCT configuration, the Tulpar-S features a three-person crew (driver, commander, and gunner), with space for two dismounts. In its armoured-personnel-carrier version, the vehicle will also feature a three-person crew but with space for eight dismounts. [3]

Tulpar light tank

The Tuplar light tank was first shown at Eurosatory 2018. It features a Cockerill 3105 turret mounted on the Tulpar chassis. [4]

An other version of the Tulpar light tank was shown at World Defence Show in Ryad (Saudi Arabia) in February 2024, armed with a turret Hitfact with a 120 mm gun, made by italian firm Leonardo - Otomelara, this is the same turret that arms the second generation of Iveco - Otomelara Centauro II actually in service with the Italian Army [5]

Operators

Current operators

Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Turkish Armed Forces is expected to initially order up to 400 vehicles to augment the first batch of 250 Altay main battle tanks pending the evaluation trials of the IFV. [2] [ better source needed ]

Potential operators

Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Otokar is offering the Tulpar for the future Heavy IFV of the Polish Army. It will compete against several systems, including one based on the K9 Thunder chassis and the KF41 Lynx. [6]

Failed bids

Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia
In 2023, Latvia tested multiple tracked infantry fighting vehicles, including a variant of the K21. [7] In November 2024, Latvia announced that it entered in negotiations with GDELS SBS for the purchase of an IFV based on the ASCOD 2. [8] [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infantry fighting vehicle</span> Type of armored personnel carrier with direct-fire support

An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe defines an infantry fighting vehicle as "an armoured combat vehicle which is designed and equipped primarily to transport a combat infantry squad, and which is armed with an integral or organic cannon of at least 20 millimeters calibre and sometimes an antitank missile launcher". IFVs often serve both as the principal weapons system and as the mode of transport for a mechanized infantry unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrex ICV</span> Armoured combat vehicle

The Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) is an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) developed by ST Engineering of Singapore and Timoney Technology of Ireland, and produced by ST Engineering Land Systems for the Singapore Army as well as by Turkish auto-maker Otokar as the Yavuz (AV-82) for the Turkish military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dardo IFV</span> Italian infantry fighting vehicle

The Dardo is an infantry fighting vehicle designed for the Italian Army as a replacement for the M113 APC. It is designed and built by the Iveco Fiat Oto Melara Syndicated Company based in Rome. Iveco is responsible for the hull and propulsion systems, while Oto Melara is responsible for the weapons and fire control systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bionix AFV</span> Singaporean infantry fighting vehicle

The Bionix (BX) is a family of tracked Singaporean armoured fighting vehicles developed by ST Kinetics. Intended to augment the Singapore Army's aging M113 armoured personnel carriers, it is the first indigenous armoured vehicle to be developed in Southeast Asia. The Bionix has been operational with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) since 1999 in a wide variety of adaptations including the Bionix II, Bionix 25 and Bionix 40/50 variants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASCOD</span> Austro-Spanish armoured fighting vehicle

The ASCOD armoured fighting vehicle family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Spanish General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas. Both companies are now divisions of a unit of General Dynamics. The ASCOD family includes the LT 105 light tank equipped with a 105 mm gun, a surface-to-air missile launcher, an anti-tank guided missile launcher, mortar carrier, R&R vehicle, command-and-control vehicle, ambulance, artillery observer, and the AIFV model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K21</span> South Korean infantry fighting vehicle

The K21 is a South Korean infantry fighting vehicle. A replacement for the K200-series, it was formerly designated as K300 or XK21 KNIFV. The initial production began in 2009, with the Republic of Korea Army planning to field approximately 466 units. It is designed to effectively defeat other IFVs as heavily armed and armored as the BMP-3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otokar</span> Turkish vehicle manufacturer

Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş., also known simply as Otokar, is a Turkish bus and military vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey. Otokar is a subsidiary of Koç Holding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armoured personnel carrier</span> Transport vehicle for combat zones

An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones. Since World War I, APCs have become a very common piece of military equipment around the world.

Otokar Arma is a 6x6 and 8x8 amphibious wheeled armored combat vehicle family designed and developed by Otokar. The vehicle is a modular multi-wheel configurable with a monocoque steel hull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPB Anders</span> Family of Polish medium, tracked combat vehicles

The WPB Anders is a family of medium, tracked combat vehicles. The vehicle was designed by OBRUM part of the Bumar Group. It is named after Władysław Anders, a general of the Polish Army during World War II and later a member of the Polish government-in-exile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freccia IFV</span> Italian wheeled infantry fighting vehicle

The VBM – Freccia is a family of 8x8 armoured vehicles that was designed and manufactured for the Italian Army by IVECO for the hull, the engine and the suspension, and OTO Melara for the armament. The first variant to be developed was the IFV, the Freccia being equipped with a Hitfist turret, the same as the one installed on the Dardo IFV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TATA Kestrel</span> Wheeled armored personnel carrier

The TATA Kestrel, also known as the IPMV , a variant of DRDO developed WhAP, is a family of armoured personnel carriers developed by Tata Advanced Systems and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was developed to replace Soviet-era BMP-1 and BMP-2 and APCs in service with the Indian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atom (infantry fighting vehicle)</span> Infantry fighting vehicle

The ATOM is a heavy 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) jointly developed by the Russian company Petrel and the French company Renault Trucks. The vehicle is established on the basis of the French Véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie (VBCI) IFV which is produced by Renault. The prototype of the ATOM was first unveiled during the 2013 Russian Arms Expo at Nizhny Tagil, equipped with a unique fighting module.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dawsar</span> Jordanian heavy armored personnel carrier

Dawsar or MAP II is a heavily armored personnel carrier developed by King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau. It is based on Tariq main battle tank, an upgraded version of Centurion. The Jordanian Army received four of these vehicles in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurganets-25</span> Russian infantry fighting vehicle

The Kurganets-25 is a tracked amphibious, 25-ton modular infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier being developed for the Russian Army. The Kurganets-25 is planned to evolve into various models, gradually replacing BMP, BMD, MT-LB and other types of tracked Soviet armored platforms. The Kurganets-25 is supposed to have modular armor that can be upgraded for specific threats. The Kurganets-25 IFV and APC variants were first seen in public during rehearsals for the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade. Serial production was supposed to begin in 2016, but as of 2020, certification by the military is still pending. In 2023, it was confirmed that Kurganets was undergoing trials, and that the vehicle was modified at the customer’s request. The changes affected the Kurganets-25 chassis, which as a result became more reliable and also easier to operate and repair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eitan AFV</span> Israeli 8 wheel drive armoured fighting vehicle

Eitan is an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) developed by the Merkava and Armoured Vehicles Directorate in the IMOD to replace the ageing M113 armoured personnel carrier in use by the Israel Defense Forces. Its armored personnel carrier (APC) variant lacks the Iron Fist APS, due to the fact those are not the serial production Eitan vehicles yet. The infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant is still not in service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynx (Rheinmetall armoured fighting vehicle)</span> German armored fighting vehicle

The Lynx is a German armoured fighting vehicle developed by Rheinmetall Landsysteme. The Lynx, configured as a KF31 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), was unveiled at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on 14 June 2016. The KF41 variant was unveiled at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on 12 June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabrah light tank</span> A light tank designed by Elbit Systems

The Sabrah light tank is series of armored fighting vehicles developed by Elbit Systems to cater to the Philippine Army's light tank/tank destroyer requirement. The tracked light tank configuration is based on ASCOD 2 platform, supplied by Spanish manufacturer GDELS - Santa Bárbara Sistemas. The wheeled light tank configuration is based on the 8×8 Pandur II platform supplied by the Czech manufacturer Excalibur Army. Elbit Systems received a three-year contract worth $172m to supply the Sabrah light tanks to the Philippine Army in January 2021.

References

  1. "Tulpar Infantry Fighting Vehicle | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Tulpar IFV". Army-Technology. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 "IDEF 2015: Otokar launches Tulpar-S weapons carrier". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  4. Eurosatory 2018: Otokar debuts Tulpar Light Tank , retrieved 21 July 2023
  5. "Otokar Showcases its Supreme Land System Solutions at the World Defense Show". Otokar. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  6. "Türkiye's Otokar Tulpar IFV to compete in Poland's heavy IFV tender - Türkiye Today" . Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  7. "K-21 장갑차, 라트비아 수출될까…3파전 속 지난달 시험평가". SPN 서울평양뉴스 (in Korean). 16 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  8. "Latvia intends to buy Spanish ASCOD fighting vehicles". eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  9. "Lettland verhandelt über den Kauf von ASCOD-Schützenpanzern" (in German). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.