Malaysian has requested to modernize its fleet of ACV-300 a tracked AIFV (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) which is used as APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) and IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) in the Malaysian Army. It is a development of the ACV-15 developed by the Turkish defense company FNSS Savunma Sistemleri. The Malaysian Army variant of the AIFV is called the ACV-300 Adnan and is a result of a collaboration between FNSS and DefTech. They are nicknamed the Adnan after Adnan bin Saidi, a Malayan Lieutenant hero who fought in the Battle of Singapore during World War II.
FNSS developed the ACV-15 to meet the Turkish Land Forces Command’s (TLFC’s) operational requirement. The first production vehicles were delivered in 1992. FNSS Defense Systems’ latest development is the Armored Combat Vehicle New Generation which has an additional roadwheel on each side. This can undertake a wider range of battlefield missions as it has greater internal volume and load-carrying capability. The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by its tracks. Standard equipment includes passive night vision equipment, an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system, and smoke grenade launchers.
ACV-300 Fitted with a 300 hp Detriot Diesel similar to ACV-15, but with high power. The Adnan features a KVH TacNav navigation system incorporating GPS, LWD Avimo laser warning device, Wegmann type 76mm grenade launchers, NBC filtration system, and ANVVS-2 night vision system. The 10 variants are: Infantry fighting vehicle with one-person Sharpshooter turret armed with ATK Gun Systems Company 25 mm M242 Chain Gun and 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, Anti-tank with Pakistani Baktar Shikan ATGW system, Armoured personnel carrier, Command post vehicle, Mortar carrier, Recovery vehicle, Fitters vehicle, Signals vehicle and Cargo carrier
Malaysia ordered 267 ACV-15 in different versions in 2000, final deliveries of the first order for 211 ACV-300 Adnan vehicles were made late in 2004. Of the 211 units it is understood that 146 were assembled in Turkey and the rest in Malaysia by DEFTECH, a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad. It is understood that an additional order will be placed for a further batch of 66 vehicles, to equip a total of three battalions. As of early 2008 no additional orders had been placed by Malaysia. 12 ACV-300 a tracked armored infantry fighting vehicles were deployed against Sulu militants in the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff.
