PARS IV 6×6 Special Operations (S-Ops) vehicles developed within the scope of the “6×6 Mine Protected Vehicle Procurement Project” signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and leading Turkish land vehicles manufacturer FNSS, entered the inventory of security forces with a ceremony held Tuesday. The ceremony was held at the FNSS facilities in Ankara’s Gölbasi. PARS IV 6X6 S-Ops Vehicle is designed to meet the tactical and operational requirements of military and internal security forces whose mission is special. It is highly versatile, reflecting the broad spectrum of potential missions and operation zones. PARS IV 6×6 is promising the highest mobility capabilities among Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP) class.
“Today, we are holding the delivery ceremony of our PARS 6×6 Mine-Proof Vehicles, which have been meticulously prepared from the beginning to end, noting that the PARS vehicles provide security forces with the ability to move under high armor protection and to meet the high-capacity image, voice and data communication needs of these elements in the operational environment. It is designed as mine, improvised explosive device (IED) and ballistic protective vehicle,” Prof. Dr. Ismail Demir, President of Defence Industries (SSB) said.
Nail Kurt, general manager of FNSS said,“The vehicle has completed its 25,000 kilometers (15,534.27 miles) of driving in difficult conditions. The 6×6 class will be included in the inventory of our army for the first time and will be an important power multiplier.”
PARS IV 6×6 S-Ops Vehicle operates in all weather, all terrain conditions, including cross-country and urban areas. High level of electrical and optical situational awareness are situated for all the team members. Vehicle’s special design enables maximum optical visual situational awareness with more than 180 degrees for the driver and the personnel located at the front section of the vehicle. Front and rear axle steering provides a turning radius narrower than a 4×4 vehicle. The vehicle’s weapon system is designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously from all directions including high grounds. Two remote controlled turrets are located in the front and rear section of the vehicle. The weapon system is equipped with a universal weapon mount which enables it to carry 7.62 mm, .50 Cal machine guns or 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, and can be easily changed depending on mission requirements.
The PARS (Anatolian Leopard) is an amphibious Armoured combat vehicle family with 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 versions, produced by FNSS Defence Systems of Turkey. The development of the PARS vehicles commenced in 2002, based on a design by US company GPV (General Purpose Vehicles). The modular design of the PARS will incorporate external turrets or weapon stations depending on user requirements. It could be a one or two-man turret or a remotely operated weapon station. To allow for PARS to be rapidly reconfigured for different operational roles, all members of the PARS family have removable roofing so that they can be quickly converted for a wide range of specialist roles.
