APC Talha

Overview

Background

Throughout the Cold War, the Pakistan Army relied on US-supplied M113s locally assembled at HIT as Pakistan remained a major Non-NATO ally of the west in that time frame. However, consequent of Project-706, the country was imposed with international sanctions which made it impossible for HIT to continue manufacturing the M113. Hence, the decision for the development of an indigenous APC came up. The APC was named after the fruitful tree of heaven called "Talha".

Design

Talha's design though based on the M113, was significantly different than the standard M113. The Talha had a facelifted front with the positions of the engine and driver station also being swapped. This allowed a flexibility in the design that the Engine compartment can accommodate power pack with 275 HP Detroit Diesel 6V53T turbocharged engine or a Ukrainian 330 HP UTD-20 engine. Firing ports were added throughout the hull design to enable the Talha's passengers to return fire in combat scenarios.

Protection

Talha's hull is made of reinforced Type 5083 aluminum which is sloped and angled at various points to provide better ballistic protection against rifle fire. HIT also offers an up-armoured version for law enforcement which has a spaced armour hull providing protection against 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun fire. Moreover, it has external fuel tanks to provide more space and protection to the interior.

Marketing

HIT revealed the Talha to public and international markets during IDEAS-2002 at Karachi. The Pakistan army was the first customer which planned to deploy 2,000 Talha APCs by 2010.

In November 2004, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence signed a deal with HIT worth US$31 million in which it ordered 44 Talha APCs, 60 Mohafiz security vehicles and 300 Aahan Armoured Guard Posts making Iraq the first export customer for the Talha.

Variants

Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) / Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)

• Talha - Standard version.

• Talha-I - Upgraded version of Talha fitted with Turkish RCWS with better protection and performance. Revealed in IDEAS-2024.

• Talha-LEA - version developed for law enforcement agencies.

• Saad - Further development of the Talha, based on 6 road wheels.

Fire Support Vehicles (FSV)

• Maaz - Fitted with Baktar-Shikan anti-tank missile firing unit, based on Talha.

• Mouz - Fitted with RBS 70 surface-to-air missile firing unit, based on Talha.

• ** Sakb** - Armoured Command and Control Vehicle, based on Talha APC.

Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)

• Al-Hadeed - ARV version based on chassis of Saad APC.

** Prototype **

• Viper - Prototype IFV version base on chassis of Saad APC.

Operators

• • : 44 delivered by HIT in 2006.
    • 3rd Division
    • 9th Armoured Division
• • : 400+ in service as of 2010. Total 2,000 planned to be deployed.
  • Sindh Police: 40 delivered in 2012.

References

References

1. "HIT Catalogue".
2. "Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT)".
3. "Talha [M113]".
4. [http://www.jedsite.info/fulltrack-tango/tango/talha_series/talha-series.html "Talha Series of Tracked Armoured Vehicles"] jedsite
5. [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WPafg2Ss3hA Talha-I APC IDEAS-2024 by Pakistan Strategic Forum]
6. [https://hit.gov.pk/commercial-tab.php APC Talha COMMERCIAL VERSION WITH TURRET AND ADD ON ARMR]
7. Khattak, Arsalan. (2024-04-15). "Pakistan Unveils New Anti-Tank Tracked Armored Vehicle MAAZ".
8. (2024-04-15). "MAAZ–Pakistan new anti-tank Armoured Personnel Carrier".
9. (2023-12-30). "Viper Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)".
10. "PAKISTAN ARMY".
11. "Talha Armored personnel carrier".
12. "Low quality equipment risk cops' lives".