In June 2011, the Turkish Company FNSS signed a ‘letter of offer and acceptance’ by DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies for the assistance of design and development of the vehicles. The AV8 vehicle selected by the Malaysian military was based on the technology of FNSS-designed Pars 8×8 multi-purpose, multi-mission, wheeled armoured vehicle. The contract included technology transfer arrangements to Deftech and logistics support for the Malaysian army, positioning the vehicle and its 12 variants to become Malaysia’s first indigenous family of 8×8 armoured wheeled vehicle. In April 2012, DefTech and FNSS presented the first scale model of the AV8 at the international defence exhibition, Defence Services Asia 2012 in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s DefTech will be the principal manufacturer agent, and its engineers will work with Nurol holding subsidiary FNSS to customise the vehicles for Malaysian requirements and equipment. South Africa’s Denel will reportedly build a 2-man turret for the APC, while Sapura-Thales was expected to become the systems integrator. The first prototype of the AV8 was presented in March 2013 to the public during the 80th Army Day anniversary celebration in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. In April 2014, DefTech announced that the first 12 vehicles would start production in June 2014 and be delivered to the Malaysian Army by end of 2014. DefTech CEO Amril Samsudin also said that DefTech has received contracts from regional countries, like the test of some vehicle by Saudi armed forces. In December 2014, the AV8 was officially inducted into service with the Malaysian Army in a ceremony at the DefTech plant in Pekan. This delivery of the first 12 units represents a significant milestone in the AV8 programme
Design
The driver and the commander seats are located at the front of the vehicle, the turret in the middle and the troop's compartment at the rear. There is three large day periscopes at the front position of driver and commander and one on each side that provide excellent visibility. Eleven infantrymen can be seated at the rear of the hull on individual seats down each side of the hull facing inwards. All shock-absorbing seats are fitted with five-point seatbelts as standard. Back of the driver and commander position, there is an access passage to the troop compartment at the right side of the hull. The troops leave and enter the vehicle via a large hydraulic ramp mounted at the rear of the hull.
Main features
Two thermal cameras and CCD cameras in the front and rear, providing driver/commander with high situational awareness.
Modularity allowing use of common components among vehicle configurations.
Armour
The hull of the original Pars consisted of a composite aluminium and steel armour that provides protection for the crew and infantry against firing of small arms 7.62 mm armour-piercing attack through a full 360°. The AV8 has add-on armour at the front and sides to increase protection level to STANAG 4569 Level 4, with protection against 14.5mm rounds. The added armour weight resulted in the decrease of water speed from 8 km/h of original Pars to only 6 km/h. The anti tank version with LCT30 turret is not amphibious.
The AV8 will be delivered in 12 variants. A total of 124 units will be the IFV30 and IFV25 variants in the first batch of 257 AV8s.
AFV30
The most numerous variant is the AFV30, equipped with an LCT30 turret. The LCT30 is a two-man turret designed and manufactured in South Africa by Denel Land Systems. The Denel LCT30 turret is armed with a Denel GI30 30mm gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The GI 30 is fully stabilized and has a computerized fire control system that enables targets to be engaged under day & night conditions with high first shot round hit probability even when the vehicle is moving. 78 units of this variant will be produced in the first batch of 257 AV8s.
IFV25
The IFV25 is the amphibious variant of the AV8, and is armed with a one-man Sharpshooter Turret. The FNSS Sharpshooter Turret is armed with a Bushmaster 25mm autocannon. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the left side of the main armament. The turret is fully stabilised and can fire on the move in both day and night. The IFV25 variant has additional floats on the right side of the vehicle to balance the vehicle during amphibious operations. 46 units of this variant will be produced in the first batch of 257 AV8s.
12.7mm RWS
The 12.7mm RWS variant is the most lightly armed AFV variant of the AV8 and is equipped with a 12.7mm remote weapon station. 54 units of this variant will be produced in the first batch of 257 AV8s.
LCT30 ATGM
The LCT30 ATGW variant is the most well-armed variant of the AV8, and is equipped with the LCT30 ATGW turret from Denel Land Systems. The LCT30 ATGW turret is armed with a Denel GI30 30mm gun and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun as well as four ZT3 Ingwe 127mm anti-tank guided missiles. The Ingwe is a laser beam riding missile with a range of 5000m and the ability to engage moving targets. 54 units of this variant will be produced in the first batch of 257 AV8s. It's expected to be in service by 2020.
120mm Mortar
This variant is the highest calibre variant of the AV8, and is equipped with a self-loading 120mm mortar. 8 units of this variant will be produced in the first batch of 257 AV8s.
Non-combat variants
Armoured surveillance vehicle with battlefield radar and mast mounted sensors
Command vehicles
Armoured ambulances
Armoured recovery vehicles
Maintenance vehicles
Engineering and NBC reconnaissance vehicles
Signals intelligence vehicles
Export
DefTech is taking the first steps of exporting the AV8 Gempita. The company has send at least one AV8 Gempita, which is the variant of IFV30 to the Saudi Arabia for trial. Some pictures of the AV8 Gempita with desert color circulated in internet reinforce the news.
Accident
In 2016, an AV8 was involved in an accident after a DefTech employee was killed during a roll over incident.
