Limited production of this system then followed, as did development of a failed 6x6 version. All this led to the development of the modern APS-3 which, to date, 150 of the type have been produced after a public unveiling in 2006. Unlike Pindad's previous attempts, the APS-3 is not based on a commercial truck chassis but instead on an all-new dedicated chassis specific to the APS-3 design. Subsequent procurement contracts have called for a 4x4 and 6x6 wheeled version of the series. Indonesian Army forces have utilized the new vehicle in combat operations since 2009, proving the design sound, flexible and capable, leading to possible foreign export orders and design of a family of related vehicles based on the same chassis. The prototype was first unveiled at the 61st anniversary of TNI on October 5, 2006 in TNI HQ at Cilangkap, east of capital Jakarta.
The Pindad Panzer had been officially unveiled to the public under the designation APS-3 (Indonesian: Angkut Personel Sedang, English: Medium Personnel Carrier) at the Indo Defence & Aerospace 2008 exhibition on November 19, 2008 to November 22, 2008 after being shown in a TNI parade on October 5, 2008. On August 30, 2008, 10 APS-3s have been produced with the plan of having 150 vehicles to be produced for the Indonesian Army in time for their first deployment in 2009.
The development history of the Pindad Panser was started in 2003 as a result of increased military intervention in the Aceh province. During the conflict, the Indonesian Army put forward urgent requirements for an armored personnel carrier for the transport of troops.
Pindad responded to this requirement in 2004, with the APR-1V (Angkut Personel Ringan) a 4x4 armored vehicle based on a commercial Isuzu truck chassis. 14 vehicles were built by Pindad and were sent to Aceh for evaluation and combat trials. However, the follow-on orders for another 26 vehicles were canceled following the 2004 tsunami. Pindad continued the APC development program with assistance from the Agency For Assessment and Application of Technology or BPPT in 2005. The next prototype was the APS-1 (Angkut Personel Sedang), a 6x6 design that was again based on a commercial Perkasa truck platform by PT Texmaco. Although it was not selected for production, the experience gained in developing the APS-1 convinced the Indonesian Army to give the go-ahead by Pindad to develop the next generation of Panser vehicles, the APS-2 at a production cost of US$600,000 each.
Design of the APS-3 Anoa is conventional by modern wheeled armored personnel standards. She fields six large rubber-tired road wheels to a vehicle side. The vehicle is suspended by a torsion bar control, independent suspension system. The front of the design sports a sloped glacis plate for basic ballistics protection. The hull and superstructure are also given sloped angles. There is seating in front for two personnel behind thick glass vision ports. Hinged automobile-style doors at the front sides of the hull allow for this crew's entry/exit. These doors also sport heavy, thick vision blocks. To the rear of the driver is a bulged cupola installation that makes up the turret system for the mounting of various weaponry to suit mission needs. The roof of the superstructure is flat. "Pioneer" equipment can be stowed along the sloped vehicle sides and a tall communications antenna is seen at the rear left corner of the roof.
The APS-3 is crewed by three standard personnel including a driver, vehicle commander and gunner. The driver sits on the right of the vehicle while the vehicle commander sits on the left. Communications equipment include VHF / FM (anti-jamming and hopping) and GPS with night vision equipment included. Emergency exits are present on both sides of the Anoa, as well as a mounted video camera at the rear of the vehicle. There is room in the fighting compartment for up to 10 combat ready infantry personnel with main access through a rear hatch. Vision blocks with associated firing ports along the side of the vehicle hull superstructure allow the passengers within to fire their weapons in relative safety. Armor construction is of steel and built to specific NATO standards.
As an armored personnel carrier, the APS-3 comes rather lightly armed for its intended role, meant to provide point defense, suppression and cover fire to entering/exiting infantry. Primary armament is the fitting of a 12.7mm heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher in a turret cupola providing for unfettered firing arcs over the vehicle roof. The heavy machine gun can tackle infantry and light armored vehicles as well as combat low-flying aircraft including helicopters. The 40mm grenade launcher can be used effectively against infantry concentrations, either in suppressing return fire or dislodging elements from dug-in positions. There are two banks of three 66mm smoke grenade dischargers which can be used to smoke screen an offensive move or cover a tactical retreat.
France-based automaker Renault currently supplies the engine and the transmission for the APS 6×6 vehicle, but other options are being considered and developed. The type of engine used in the vehicle is the Renault MIDR 062045 six-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine delivering 320 horsepower at 2,500rpm. A German Behr cooling pack is also installed on the powerpack. The engine is mated to a German ZF Friedrichshafen S6HP502 series automatic transmission system featuring six forward gears and a single reverse. The APS-3 can reach top speeds of 56 miles per hour with an operational range equal to 321 miles. The APS-3's modular design leaves room for the installation of an indigenous powerpack in the near future.
Beyond the basic APC version of the APS-3 Anoa being produced by Pindad, there are other variants currently in the works which include an infantry fire support vehicle (armed with a 90mm Cockerill Mk III series main gun in a powered CMi Defense CSE-90 series turret system), battlefield ambulance, a command and control vehicle featuring increased communications capabilities, an ammunition/fuel carrier, an engineering vehicle, a light reconnaissance platform and a dedicated mortar carrier.
The Pindad Anoa-2 is the latest major variant under development as of this writing and adds limited amphibious capabilities through the installation of waterjets. A single pilot vehicle is believed completed.
While the APS-3 is currently only in quantitative service with the forces of Indonesia, several foreign operators have lent their interest to acquiring the vehicle for security and military needs. Oman is seen as a very possible customer with rumors of a 200-strong order in the works as of this writing. Malaysia is another possible operator as is Bangladesh. Nepal is looking into the APS-3 for their UN participation and future internal security requirements.
Technical Specifications:
Manufacturer:
Pindad - Indonesia
Initial Year of Service:
2006
Production Total:
150
Focus Model:
Pindad APS-3 Anoa (Pindad Panser)
Crew:
3 + 10
Overall Length:
19.69 ft (6.00 m)
Width:
8.20 ft (2.50 m)
Height:
8.20 ft (2.50 m)
Weight:
14.0 US Short Tons (12,698 kg; 27,994 lb)
Powerplant:
1 x Renault MIDR 062045 inline 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine delivering 320 horsepower at 2,500rpm
Maximum Speed:
56 mph (90 km/h)
Maximum Range:
373 miles (600 km)
NBC Protection:
Yes
Nightvision:
Yes
Armament:
1 x 12.7mm heavy machine gun OR 1 x 40mm CIS 40 automatic grenade launcher
6 x Smoke grenade dischargers
Fire Support Variant:
1 x 90mm Cockerill Mk III main gun
1 x 7.62mm general purpose machine gun
8 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers
Ammunition:
6 x Smoke Grenades
Variants:
APS-3 - Base Series Designation; proposed variants include fire support vehicle, battlefield ambulance, command vehicle, armored recovery vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle, ammunition carrier and mortar carrier.
Operators:
Indonesia, Brunai Darussalam, Timor Leste
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