Kaplan MT: Turkish answer to Leopard 1A5 with the prospect of surpassing
The Brazilian army is preparing to test a Turkish-made Kaplan MT medium tank. Based on the results of the test, a decision will be made on the feasibility of purchasing these vehicles for the needs of the country’s armed forces. Earlier, Turkey sold some Kaplan MT to Indonesia.
The medium Kaplan MTs are expected to replace the Leopard 1A5 (about 300 units) and M60 tanks available to the Brazilian Army (the number of tanks of this model operated by the largest country in Latin America is not specified).
The information about the Brazilian Ministry of Defense’s readiness to test Turkish Kaplans was published by the Polish media outlet ZBiAM.
The delivery of Kaplan MT prototypes to Brazil is expected in May 2024. At the first stage, demonstration races will be held to demonstrate the capabilities of the cars, after which full-scale testing will begin.
Details of the potential deal for Kaplan were not disclosed. There is currently no information on the possible localization of the assembly of these machines in Brazil.
Characteristics of the Kaplan MT:
- weight – 35 tons;
- The crew is 3 people;
- power plant capacity – 711 “horses”;
- The armament is a 105 mm cannon made by the Belgian company John Cockerill in a turret made by SMI.
If the Brazilian Ministry of Defense approves the purchase of Kaplan MT for the needs of the country’s armed forces, this will create the preconditions for the export of the Turkish machine to other countries of the “global South,” experts agree.
Development history
Kaplan MT (also known as Harimau in Indonesia) is a joint project of the Turkish company FNSS and the Indonesian PT Pindad, launched in 2017. Serial production started in 2023.
Comparison with Leopard 1A5
Kaplan MT has more modern armor, weapons and fire control system.
Kaplan MT is much more mobile and economical.
The Leopard 1A5 is an older tank developed in the 1960s.
The Leopard 1A5 has undergone several upgrades, but its capabilities still remain limited.
Competitors
The main competitors of the Kaplan MT in the medium tank segment are the South Korean K2 Black Panther, the Chinese VT4 and the Spanish ASCOD.
