The PARS IV 8×8 breaks cover

The PARS IV, revealed in 2021, to address Turkish military needs. (FNSS)

Turkish manufacturer of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and weapon systems FNSS has developed a new variant of its Pars wheeled AFV family to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) , following a request for proposals issued in late 2019/early 2020.

The company’s proposal is the Pars IV, an 8×8 version that builds upon the experience of the Pars II sold to Malaysia as the AV8, PARS III to Oman in both 6×6 and 8×8 configurations, and Pars IV 6×6 special operations vehicle developed for the TSK.

“TLF [the Turkish Land Forces] have started a new requirement for the procurement of New Generation Wheeled AFVs, considering lessons learned from recent operational deployments,” Gökhan Tekin, FNSS programme manager, told Janes in a September interview. “Pars IV is therefore designed to meet current and future combat requirements for TLF and its allies,” he added.

The Pars IV 8×8 follows a similar design philosophy to earlier generations, with the commander and driver seated side-by-side at the front of the vehicle and the power pack located behind the driver’s compartment. “This serves two purposes – it provides the commander and driver with good situational awareness, and it alters the weight distribution of the vehicle to give a better on and off-road performance,” Tekin said.