Turkey’s Katmerciler receives export order from African country

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Turkish armoured vehicle manufacturer Katmerciler has received a $20 million export order from an undisclosed African country.

This is Katmerciler’s first export order for the Hizir armoured vehicle, which will be delivered between 2019 and 2020.

Katmerciler acting CEO Furkan Katmerci said the $20.7 million order is the result of three years of promoting the company overseas. He added that Katmerciler plans to export the Hizir to other countries as well.

“Hızır is an armoured vehicle that has attracted interest not only in our country but also abroad. Hizir, a very powerful vehicle with high performance, is an important combat vehicle not only for our country but also for friendly nations,” he said.

“With the motivation brought by the first export, we believe that we will announce new countries that will include Hizir in its inventory in a very short time. As a company that has exported to nearly 60 countries and always attached great importance to exports, we are determined to introduce the Katmerciler brand further in the world defense industry with the contribution of Hizir.”

The Hizir vehicle recently entered service with Turkey’s military. It can carry nine personnel, including driver and commander. The vehicle has a gross weight of 16 tons and has a V-hull for landmine and improvised explosive device protection. It is powered by a Cummins six-cylinder diesel developing 400 hp, giving a top speed of 110 km/h and range of 700 kilometres.

The Hizir can be built in a number of configurations, including combat, command and control, CBRN, weapon carrier, ambulance, reconnaissance and border security. It can be fitted with an Aselsan SARP turret with machineguns or an automatic grenade launcher.

Katmerciler was established in 1985 and has developed 30 vehicles, ranging from fire trucks to armoured vehicles and riot control vehicles. Its defence and security portfolio includes the Khan 4×4 armoured personnel carrier with seating for eight, the Nefer 4×4 armoured command and patrol vehicle, Toma riot control vehicle, a 4×4 armoured ambulance built on a Ford F550 chassis, Ates armoured border security vehicle, and Kirac criminal investigation vehicle. It also offers an armoured bakhoe loader, remote controlled armoured tracked excavator, armoured fuel tanker, armoured water tanker, armoured tipper, armoured trailer, armoured remote controlled bulldozer, remote controlled firefighter, armoured telescopic forklift and a riot control shield.

In June this year Katmerciler received an order for water cannon vehicles worth $2.2 million from an African customer.