The Turkish Army received a new modernized version of its FNSS ACV-15 tracked armored infantry fighting vehicle, called ZMA-15 (Zirhli Muharebe Araci). The ZMA-15 Zirhli is an armored combat vehicle developed by a partnership between Turkey’s state-controlled military electronics company Aselsan and armored vehicles maker FNSS. In the first phase of the upgrade program, Aselsan will modernize 133 ZMA-15 lengthening their life span and survivability. The first batch of vehicles is part of a whole convoy of more than 2,000 produced by FNSS between 1989 and 2003 under license from the U.S.-based company FMC Corporation. The ACV-15 is based on the American Advanced Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which in turn is based on the American M113A1 armored personnel carrier.
The ZMA-15 fitted with a new unmanned weapon station NEFER 25mm designed and manufactured by the Turkish company Aselsan. ASELSAN NEFER unmanned turret is developed primarily against armored land targets and becomes a perfect match for integration onto tactical vehicles. The turret is armed with one 25mm M242 automatic cannon and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The NEFER turret is also equipped with day/night imaging systems, an automatic tracking target system, a laser range finder, and computerized ballistic firing control. The turret is protected to the Level II STANAG 4569 against ballistic threats of 7.62mm API (Armor-Piercing Incendiary) caliber. It steps further by its indigenous design which enables the integration of both NATO and Russian-origin weapons.
The ZMA-15 is an improved version of the ACV-15 in terms of protection and firepower. It used the same tracked chassis and hull design of the ACV-15 consisting on either side of five dual rubber-tired road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front and the idler at the rear. ACV-15 is the designation of an amphibious armored combat vehicle family developed by FNSS. Within the scope of the project, the subcontractor FNSS will carry out maintenance and repair activities on the ZMA platforms, the Air Conditioning System, Heating System, Fire Extinguishing and Explosion Suppression System subsystems will be integrated into the platforms, and armor and mine protection levels will be increased.
FNSS developed the ACV-15 based on the AIFV to meet the Turkish Army operational requirement. The first production vehicles were delivered in 1992. The basic AIFV has a one-person power-operated turret armed with a 25mm cannon and 7.62mm co-axial machine gun. The ACV-15 can be fitted with a number of turret choices to tailor to individual customer requirements. They are also equipped with firing ports, which allows infantrymen to fire their weapons from within the vehicle. The vehicle is in service with Turkey (2,249) and the United Arab Emirates (136 delivered). Malaysia ordered 267 ACV-15 in different versions in 2000, all of which have been delivered. The Malaysian variant of the AIFV is called the ACV-300 Adnan and is a result of a collaboration between FNSS and DefTech.
