APC Talha
APC-Talha | |
---|---|
Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
Place of origin | Pakistan |
Service history | |
Used by | Iraq, Pakistan |
Production history | |
Designer | Heavy Industries Taxila |
Designed | 1998[1] |
Manufacturer | Heavy Industries Taxila |
Produced | 2002[1] |
Specifications | |
Mass | 12 |
Length | 5.55 |
Width | 2.54 |
Height | 2.52 |
Crew | 8 |
Armor | ? |
Main armament | 12.7 mm machine gun |
Secondary armament | none |
Engine | Diesel |
Power/weight | ? |
Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 320 |
Maximum speed | ? |
APC-Talha is an armoured personnel carrier designed and manufactured by the Pakistani Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) using Ukrainian made engines. The vehicle is a modernised American M113-A2-Mk1.
There are several provisions for firing ports and periscopes. The army of Pakistan plans to deploy 2,000 of these by year 2010.
History
The Talha APC had been seen in the IDEA 2002 exhibition in Karachi in 2002 after it was produced.[2]
HIT from Pakistan has developed a new APC for the local armed forces. The decision to develop the vehicle was taken, because it was almost impossible to build more M113's due to US sanctions (the PAF have more than 850 in service). The PAF will now receive some 150 Talha or Al-Talha APC's; total number planned is 2,000. The design is clearly based on the M113, but the positions of the engine and driver's station are switched. [3]
Variants
- Al-Hadeed - Recovery vehicle based on a Talha APC.
- Al-Hamza - Armored infantry fighting vehicle.
- Al-Maaz - Variant fitted with the Baktar Shikan anti-tank missile.
- Al-Qaswa - Logistics vehicle.
- Al-Saad - Six roadwheel personnel carrier version.
- Al-Sakb - Logistics support and command vehicle.
- Al-Talha - Five roadwheel personnel carrier version. [4]
Iraqi Interest
In November 2004 an Iraqi defence delegation paid a visit to Pakistan and showed interest in the vehicle and ordered 44 of them.[5]