Türkiye’s defense industry has taken another major step toward boosting its indigenous production capabilities. The Pars İzci armored vehicle, developed by FNSS, has officially entered mass production to meet the operational needs of the Türkiye Land Forces Command and the Gendarmerie General Command. The project, carried out under the Special Purpose Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle (ÖMTTZ) program and signed between FNSS and the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), represents a significant milestone in reducing foreign dependency in Türkiye’s defense sector.

The Pars İzci will be produced in 6x6 and 8x8 configurations, tailored for multiple mission roles. These include command-and-control, radar, sensor integration, and CBRN reconnaissance tasks. In the first phase, 100 vehicles will be manufactured and are expected to be delivered to Türkiye’s security forces starting in 2022. Thanks to its versatile design, Pars İzci will provide a wide range of operational flexibility on the battlefield.

According to FNSS ÖMTTZ Program Manager Can Kurt, the project’s success is largely due to its high domestic content and original design approach. Locally developed subsystems not only enhance the vehicle’s combat capabilities but also play a key role in reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

FNSS R&D Project Leader Cihan Büyükbayram emphasized that Pars İzci showcases the technological maturity of the Türkiye defense industry. Once equipped with domestically developed engines, the Pars İzci will become the first indigenous 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles to enter the Türkiye Armed Forces’ inventory. This development is regarded as a strategic move that will further strengthen Türkiye’s international competitiveness in the defense sector.