PARS III 8X8 is the new generation of wheeled armored combat vehicle (WACV) designed and developed by FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Åž. The development of the PARS vehicles commenced in 2002, based on a design by US company GPV (General Purpose Vehicles), and in cooperation with GPV. PARS III 8X8 has been developed with a special emphasis on mobility, protection, payload and growth potential. The vehicles employ the latest designs and technologies with a focus on the performance and durability of modern military operational requirements. The vehicles are available in 4X4, 6X6 and 8X8 configurations. The PARS family of vehicles takes its name from the “Anatolian Leopard”. The PARS III 8X8 can be transported by air (A400, C17 & C5), sea, train or land.
The PARS III 8X8 combat weight is 30,000 kg and is powered by a diesel engine. The powerpack consists of a water cooled diesel engine, coupled with a fully automatic transmission which generates a maximum road speed of up to 100 km/h. PARS III 8X8 is capable of maneuvering on a 60% vertical and 30% horizontal gradient, climbing 70 cm-high obstacles and crossing 200 cm-wide trenches. The vehicle has 8X8 driving characteristics, and all of its axles can be locked when necessary. The central tire inflation system allows the driver to adjust the tire pressures to suit different terrain conditions. The fully independent hydro-pneumatic suspension system, which gives the vehicle the highest wheel travel of its class, and ensures the best road grip under different road conditions.The PARS III 8X8 all-axle steering system gives the vehicle the lowest turning radius in its class at 8 m. The ability of gradual decreasing of steer by wire of rear axles and locking over certain speeds, together with the ABS system and the engine brake all contribute to enhanced driving safety.
The two-man driver’s cab at front of the vehicle offers a 180° horizontal field of vision and a high level of driving safety and comfort. Large glass periscopes, and front driving and maneuver cameras with thermal cameras located at the front and rear of the vehicle provide the driver and commander with a wider field of vision. With a range of over 800+ km, the PARS III 8X8 has fuel tanks incorporating special measures to protect against explosion and puncture, and a reserve fuel tank under the armor can be called upon in emergencies. Clip on runflat system enables PARS III 8×8 to continue its mission during emergency cases. The PARS III 8×8 has an integrated air-conditioning system, and the main difference of this system that makes it stand out from its counterparts is that even in desert conditions, the vehicle’s internal temperature can be kept at +25 °C.
The PARS III 8X8 hull can be brought up to the level of protection required by the user thanks to the modular design armor system. The hull form, underbelly structure, base plates and specially developed mine-resistant seats are designed to protect personnel against high-level mine threats. PARS III 8×8 has the protection level of mine-resistant vehicles produced for personnel transport as well while differentiating itself through the provision of superior capabilities expected of a modern armored combat vehicle. The modular connection of the vehicle subsystems to its mine-resistant hull ensures ease of maintenance and replacement, and it is this ease of maintenance, replacement of moving parts and power transmission systems in particular that make it superior to its counterparts. The power pack architecture, which can be disassembled and reassembled in less than 60 minutes, allows the user to replace the engine on the field, as an additional benefit.
