Lion STA (Armored Combat Vehicle)

KAPLAN STA (Armored Weapons Carrier), developed by FNSS Defense Systems to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, is a new-generation tracked armored fighting vehicle. Produced under the Weapons Carrier Vehicle (WCV) Project, the KAPLAN STA belongs to the tank destroyer class and is equipped with capabilities for coordinated movement alongside main battle tanks and modern combat systems.

General Features

The KAPLAN STA is an armored fighting platform with an automatic transmission and a power-to-weight ratio of 21 horsepower per ton. The vehicle, distinguished by its tracked design, five-road-wheel configuration, and low silhouette, offers high mobility on cold, hot, and rugged terrain as well as on stabilized and asphalted roads. Its advanced suspension and track system have been developed to reduce vibration and improve ground traction.

The vehicle features an armored cabin accessible via a rear personnel door. The powerpack compartment and extended driver’s area are located at the front, while the gunner and commander stations are positioned in the central section. At the rear, two isolated armored fuel tanks are installed to ensure weight balance and personnel safety.

The KAPLAN STA is also amphibious, capable of navigating deep and fast-flowing water bodies thanks to two rear-mounted water jet propulsion systems. It can enter water without any prior preparation at the shoreline.

Weapons and Electronic Systems

The KAPLAN STA can be equipped with various anti-tank missile systems. The vehicle is armed with either the Russian-origin Kornet-E ATGM (5.5 km range) or the ROKETSAN-developed OMTAS guided anti-tank missiles (4 km range). These weapons are integrated onto the Remote Controlled Anti-Tank Turret developed by FNSS. The driver’s compartment is fitted with laser-protected periscope optics and a thermal camera system for night operations.

Kaplan STA Armored Fighting Vehicle Firing ROKETSAN OMTAS Guided Anti-Tank Missile - (FNSS Defense Systems Official Website)

Technical Specifications

• Vehicle Type: Tracked Armored Weapons Carrier
• Engine: Diesel engine
• Transmission: Automatic
• Power-to-Weight Ratio: 21 hp/ton
• Maximum Weight: Approximately 15 tons
• Speed: Maximum 65 km/h on land
• Range: 600 km
• Amphibious Capability: Yes (with two rear water jet systems)
• Crew Capacity: 3 personnel (Driver, Commander, Gunner)
• Track System: Low-vibration, specially suspended
• Weapon System:
• • Kornet-E ATGM (5.5 km range) or
  • OMTAS ATGM (4 km range)
• Turret System: Remote Controlled Anti-Tank Turret
• Armor Protection: STANAG 4569 Level 2 (optionally upgradable)
• Night Vision System: Thermal camera and day imaging systems
• Communication: Modern tactical data and radio systems
• Fuel Tanks: Dual armored, isolated at the rear

Project and Inventory Status

In accordance with a decision made at the Defense Industry Implementation Committee (SSİK) meeting on 9 March 2016, the Weapons Carrier Vehicle (WCV) Project was initiated to enhance the operational effectiveness of Turkish Armed Forces armored units and to equip them with systems compliant with modern combat requirements. Under the contract signed with FNSS Defense Systems A.Ş., a total of 260 armored weapons carriers are planned to be procured, comprising 184 tracked KAPLAN STA vehicles and 76 wheeled PARS 4×4 STA vehicles.

The vehicles developed under this project are designed to operate in coordinated maneuvers with armored units, perform missions across diverse terrains and operational environments, and provide effective fire support against enemy armored elements using anti-tank missile systems. Accordingly, the project aims to integrate anti-tank missile systems onto both tracked and wheeled armored vehicle platforms.

The prototype qualification process was successfully completed as planned on 18 October 2019, followed by the commencement of initial serial production deliveries on 19 January 2020. In subsequent phases of the project, approximately 200 vehicles were integrated into the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces by the end of 2021.

In response to increasing operational demands and evolving force structure requirements, an additional procurement decision was made at the SSİK meeting on 2 December 2020. Accordingly, on 19 August 2021, during the IDEF 2021 International Defense Industry Fair, an amendment to the contract for the additional procurement of vehicles under the WCV Project was signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries and FNSS.

All WCV platforms developed under the project are designed with the following technical and operational features:

• Amphibious operational capability
• High ballistic protection and mine resistance
• Ability to conduct joint operations with armored units
• Modular mechanical and electronic infrastructure, enabling future upgrades and system modernizations

Thanks to these features, the vehicles produced under the WCV Project serve as modern armored platforms that provide high mobility and fire support capability within the Turkish Armed Forces’ armored unit inventory, effective not only in asymmetric and conventional combat conditions but also in joint operational environments.

Operational Use and Syria Experience

The KAPLAN STA and PARS 4×4 STA platforms developed under the WCV Project were designed not only to counter conventional tank units but also to effectively respond to asymmetric warfare environments and irregular threats. These vehicles have been actively deployed during cross-border operations in the Syrian Arab Republic, including Operations Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch, and Peace Spring.

Kaplan STAs in Syria - (Youtube Ministry of National Defense New Year Messages Video, 2021)

In asymmetric combat environments, it was observed that conventional artillery and tank guns were insufficient against SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device) vehicles frequently employed by Daesh and similar terrorist organizations. In such attacks, the external surfaces of these threat vehicles were reinforced with steel plates and various armor panels, transforming them into heavily armored targets.

WCV platforms armed with ATGM systems and protected by armored crew cabins, equipped with advanced electro-optical sensor systems and communication infrastructure, have fulfilled a force multiplier role on the battlefield by enabling long-range engagements with high hit probabilities. Operational reports confirm that these systems have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of armored units in asymmetric threat environments and provided tactical flexibility for rapid intervention.