FNSS AACE to Enhance the Philippine Army Combat Engineering Capabilities

Saithan

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Asian Military Review
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January 12, 2021
AACE
Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) vehicle.

Under the contract signed between FNSS and the Department of National Defense (DND), Philippines, which entered into force in November 2020, FNSS will provide a number of Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) vehicles and their logistic support services. It is planned that the vehicles will be delivered and the training and logistic support services will be completed by the end of March 2023.

Within the modernization program of the Philippine Army, the main goal of this project is to increase the combat engineering capabilities of the combat engineer battalion units and to carry these capabilities to further stages with the ability of the amphibious vehicles. In this scope, the subsystems and mission equipment used in the vehicle has been evaluated and determined according to today’s technological developments in line with this program.
Vehicles will be manufactured at FNSS facilities, will then be delivered to the user by FNSS in the Philippines Army. The acceptance tests will take place both in Turkey and the Philippines and the training for the vehicles will be held in Philippines under the integrated logistics support services activities.

AACE, which is the first and only combat engineering dozer vehicle with amphibious capability in the world, has proven itself successfully in the inventory of Turkish Armed Forces and has been exported abroad for the first time with this reference. FNSS is aiming to keep serving the Philippine Army with this project. Also, AACE will be the second project, after the FNSS’ One-Man Turret Project, under the Defense Industry Cooperation Agreement signed between Turkish and the Philippine governments.

AACE
Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) vehicle.

 

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Philippines signs contract for FNSS Sharpshooter turrets, Kunduz amphibious armored combat earthmovers​

JANUARY 05, 2021
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The FNSS Kunduz showing its amphibious capability. Photo c/o EDR Magazine Online.

Turkish defense company FNSS Defence Systems confirmed that they have signed contracts with the Philippine government for the supply and delivery of one-man turrets for integration and installation on armored vehicles, and the Kunduz amphibious armored combat earthmovers (AACE) for the Philippine Army (PA).

According to FNSS, the contract for the One-Man Turrets was signed on August 2020 under the Turkey-Philippines Defense Industry Cooperation Agreement, and involves the supply and installation of unspecified number of state-of-the-art turrets for armored vehicles.

The turrets are expected to be fully integrated to PA armored vehicles by October 2021, and the training and logistics support would be completed by December 2021.

While information was limited, Philippine defense website Philippine Defense Resource reported that the project involves the supply of the BAE Systems Sharpshooter manned turret, which is built under license by FNSS and is similar to those delivered by FNSS to Malaysia a few years ago.

The turrets are said to be for mounting on the PA's few ACV-300 tracked armored personnel carriers, which were delivered by FNSS to the PA in 2010. This would allow the conversion of the vehicles into proper infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) with day/night capability.

FNSS also confirmed that another contract was signed with the Philippines' Department of National Defense (DND) on November 2020, involving the supply and delivery of the FNSS Kunduz AACE.

The vehicles will be built in FNSS' facilities in Turkey, and are expected to be fully delivered by March 2023, with acceptance tests to be conducted in Turkey and the Philippines.

The Kunduz AACE is the only amphibious armored combat earthmover in the market, and would improve the combat engineering capabilities of the PA.
Philippine Defense Resource confirmed that at least 6 vehicles were eyed by the PA as it acquires new Combat Engineering Equipment as part of its modernization program.

 

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FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE)
FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE)

FNSS Sells AACE Armored Amphibious Combat Earthmover to the Philippines​

February 11, 2020by Admin


Turkish defense company FNSS has signed an agreement to export its amphibious armored combat earthmover (AACE) called the Kunduz to the Philippines. The agreement will be finalized in the next two months, and the delivery of the vehicles will start in 2021. The new contracts could be signed with the Philippines to import other FNSS defense products. The deal was signed between Turkish defense firm FNSS and the Philippine military, company CEO Nail Kurt told Anadolu Agency (AA) in an interview on Monday, Feb.10. The Philippines also has expressed willingness to procure 40 to 50 FNSS KAPLAN MT medium tanks each. FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE)

Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) is an amphibious, armored, tracked, combat earthmover; designed for the preparation of river banks during river crossing missions. It is capable of performing bulldozing, rough grading, excavating, hauling, and scraping operations. As compared to standard heavy-duty vehicles; AACE has the capability to take in ballast from the soil ground to its ballast canister, when necessary the vehicle is also capable of discharging its ballast canister at the end of the operation. In standard heavy-duty vehicles, the dozer blade is hydraulically operated while the vehicle is stable.
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FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE)

However, in AACE it is fixed to the vehicle. With its adjustable hydraulic suspension system, the front section of AACE can be shifted in the vertical axis. This capability enables the blade or ballast canister to make contact with the soil, and penetrate it. As a result, shoveling and plowing can be performed more efficiently. These activities can also be performed while the vehicle is on the move. One of the most important and unique features of AACE is its amphibious capability. It can be operated with a crew of 2. In addition, AACE is fitted with modern electronic systems such as day and night cameras, multi-function LCD monitor and air-condition system.
FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE)

To provide the amphibious capability, together with the mine and ballistic protection requirements; AACE hull structure is made of ballistic aluminum. Its modern hydraulic system and power transmission enables the vehicle to operate with higher maneuverability and operational performance. AACE’s power pack consists of fully automatic transmission, coupled with a diesel engine. AACE is capable to speed up to 45km/h on land. It can travel safely in river streams against current speeds up to 1.5 m/ sec with 360° high-maneuverability through its two water jets, placed at the rear section on both sides of the vehicle.
FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE) FNSS Kunduz Amphibious Armored Combat Earthmover (AACE)

AACE was manufactured as a local development and manufacturing project of FNSS. Today the AACE or Kunduz is used by the Turkish Land Forces in various missions and have become combat proven in certain operations. The contract to develop the armoured amphibious bulldozer was signed on March 10, 2009 between the Ministry of National Defence and the FNSS. The project, which began to develop on June 15, 2009, foresees the production of twelve units until the end of 2013. The first was delivered on January 11, 2013. Kunduz will be operated to move earth, clear terrain obstacles, cut steep slopes and stabilize stream banks for easy river crossing of combat vehicles during Turkish Army’s amphibious warfare.

 

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