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Jakarta (UPI) Jan 14, 2011 Indonesian military vehicle builder PT. Pindad bought 12 Sherpa Light armored personnel carriers and 12 VAB 320 power packs from Renault Trucks Defense. All the equipment is destined for use by the Indonesian army, RTD said in a written statement. The 4X4 Sherpa Light APCs will be used as reconnaissance vehicles for the larger 6X6 Panzer APCs made by Pindad. The power packs will be installed on the Panzers. The Sherpa Light family of 4X4 tactical and light armored vehicles also has off-road capability and is air transportable in A400M and C-130 aircraft. RTD said its armor can be upgraded to better protect it against ballistics and mines. The right-hand-drive vehicle, which weighs between 8 tons and 10.5 tons, depending on armor, transports up to five people and comes with a roof-mounted weapon system specified by the client. It has an Allison S2500 six-speed automatic transmission and has a maximum on-road speed of nearly 70 mph. Pindad's Panzer APC 6X6 has the primary function of troop transport to the battlefield. It carries up to 10 people, including three crew -- a driver, one commander and one gunner. The Panzer's engine is a Renault MIDR 062045 in-line 6-cylinder turbo-charged diesel with a Behr cooling pack. Maximum speed of the 14-ton combat-ready APC is around 58 mph. Pindad also provides all maintenance for the 150 Panzers purchased by the Indonesian army -- the vehicle's only operator to date -- since it signed the $51 million-contract in 2008. Delivery of the vehicles ended late last year, and around 20 of the Panzers have been used for Indonesia's U.N. peacekeeping duties in Lebanon. Others have been configured for ambulance duties. Pindad has a good relationship with RTD, one that allows the use of imported Renault engines for the Panzer. This relationship also has led some analysts to suggest there could be more technology-sharing agreements between the two companies, especially if Pindad wishes to export its APCs. Today, there has been only interest and no signed deals for the Panzer from Malaysia, Oman and Nepal. Apart from APCs, Pindad manufactures pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, grenade launchers, mortars and water-canon vehicles. Renault Trucks Defense is a division of Renault Trucks, which has been part of the Volvo Group since January 2001. Pindad was founded by the Dutch colonial rulers in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, in 1808 under the name Artillerie Constructie Winkel. It moved to Bandung in 1923 and was handed over to the newly independent Indonesian government in 1950.
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Turkey's arms agency new helicopter officeIstanbul, Turkey (UPI) Jan 14, 2011 Turkey's Defense Procurement Agency has established a helicopter office to oversee the country's acquisition of military helicopters. The agency has divided its aviation department into two divisions. This represents the first time the Turkey's Defense Procurement Agency has established a divisional unit to deal exclusively with helicopter projects, Hurriyet newspaper reported Friday. / ... read more |
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