PT Pindad Displays New Malaysian APC

17 April 2012

Panser Anoa 6x6 in the Rimau variant (photo : Shephard)

PT Pindad, the Indonesian state-owned defence company, is displaying its Panser Anoa 6x6 APC at DSA 2012, which it is building to meet an urgent operational requirement developed by the Malaysian Army.

From 2008-2010 PT Pindad built 150 6x6 and four 4x4 variants for the Indonesian Army, developed as a result of the service's peacekeeping experience in East Timor, and the vehicle has since equipped the Indonesian mechanised battalion deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Malaysian requirement is for 32 vehicles for use by its 880-strong UNFIL contingent which includes a quick reaction force.

For the Malaysian market the vehicle is being marketed as the Rimau, Malay for 'tiger'. A PT Pindad source told Shephard the Rimau will be delivered in four variants – APC, command and control, recovery and ambulance – with the majority in the APC configuration, which carries a driver, commander and 10 troops in the rear compartment. The vehicle has a combat weight of 14.5t and its monocoque hull provides NATO STANAG 4569 level 3 protection. The APC variant is fitted with a cupola on the left of the vehicle and is typically armed with a .50cal heavy machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

Assuming the contract is finalised, the vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
Brunei has bought 15 Anoa vehicles and has expressed an interest in ordering in up to 35 with Bangladesh, Oman and Pakistan cited as potential customers.

(Shephard)