The Zaha Amphibious Assault Vehicle (MAV) is in service with the amphibious assault brigade of the Turkish Armed Forces. The tracked 30-ton vehicle manufactured by FNSS Savunma Sistemleri is designed for launching from amphibious ships at the amphibious landing stage.
The BMA transports Marines ashore protected by armor at a speed of about 13 km/h (7 knots) using two water-jet propellers. According to the manufacturer, the armored vehicle (BM) is capable of moving across the sea, from land to sea and from shore to shore, and is also capable of withstanding sea waves up to 4 points. The specific power reserve of the Zaha from ship to shore is classified and has not been disclosed. The total power reserve of the Zaha, officially declared by the manufacturer, is 700 km.
FNSS emphasizes the stability of a fully sealed, flat-bottomed hull on the water, including the ability to independently return to its original position in the event of capsizing in difficult marine conditions. On land, the Zaha can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h and has a range of 500 km. It is designed to be used in conjunction with main battle tanks (MBT) and other types of military equipment.
Amphibious combat vehicle "Zaha" of the Turkish Armed Forces
Currently, the BMA is based on an amphibious helicopter dock ship (LHD) Turkish Navy TCG Anadolu. The first publicly available footage of the BAM in action was captured by the Turkish Ministry of Defense during a national-level naval exercise in June 2023. Then the amphibious vehicles independently landed from the Anadolu and headed for the shore, where they provided cover for additional forces arriving on amphibious ships and helicopters. The first deployment of the Zaha took place during the multinational NATO Sea Wolf exercises in January 2024.
Configuration
The on-board offensive weapons system consists of a stabilized remote-controlled ÇAKA turret (developed by FNSS specifically for Zaha), equipped with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, as well as two smoke grenade launchers.
The turret can be rotated 360° and is equipped with thermal imaging sights for day and night firing. The basic aluminum body protection system includes passive ballistic and mine protection in accordance with STANAG 4569 standards (the exact level of protection is classified), as well as an automatic fire extinguishing system and protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Additional armor can be installed to protect against more serious threats.
Amphibious assault squad of the Zaha Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The APC variant, which forms the basis of the Zaha amphibious vehicle family, is designed for a crew of three and 18 equipped fighters who leave the vehicle through a rear hydraulic ramp. A manual exit door is built into the ramp ramp in case of hydraulic system failure.
By the end of April 2023, the Turkish Armed Forces had received a total of 27 BAM units. This is the entire first tranche, consisting of 23 units. in the APC variant and two units each in the variants of the command and staff vehicle and the evacuation vehicle. FNSS claims that other options can be created based on this machine, including for engineering work and battlefield support, although there are no orders for these specialized machines to date. As part of the BAM program, a fourth variant has been developed, optimized for overcoming minefields.
The company also offers an upgraded amphibious combat vehicle. FNSS presented two armored personnel carriers with enhanced weapons at the IDEF 2025 exhibition in Istanbul. Each of them has a modified "Çaka" tower. Both new configurations enhance the vehicle's anti-tank capabilities, including hitting main battle tanks.
The Çaka 30/AT-O turret is equipped with a 30 mm Venom LR low-impact automatic cannon manufactured by Samsun Yurt Savunma, as well as two ATGM Roketsan OMTAS. The Venom LR cannon uses a 30×113 mm cartridge, has an effective firing range of 2000 m and can fire armor-piercing and high-explosive shells. The OMTAS ATGM is designed to engage armored targets at a range of up to 4,000 m.
The lighter ÇAKA-AT-K turret has a 12.7mm machine gun, as well as two Roketsan Karaoke ATGMs with a range of 2,500 m. According to FNSS, both new versions of the tower correspond to the 7th level of technological readiness (TRL 7).
BMA "Zaha" on the water
Future sales
The Turkish Armed Forces are expanding their Marine corps from its current size (roughly equivalent to a reinforced brigade) to three brigades. Although the defense ministry has not publicly confirmed plans to purchase the second tranche of the Zaha BMA, additional orders are expected to be placed to support the growing structure of the armed forces. The Turkish press reports that such an order is under consideration. In this regard, there are suggestions that the second order may include additional modifications, such as a mine clearance system or fire support vehicles with anti-tank guns. In addition, FNSS is actively promoting the Zaha amphibious combat vehicle on the export market. The company reported the interest of potential buyers in the Middle East and in the archipelago-rich Southeast Asia, in particular in Qatar and Indonesia.
Source: European Security & Defense
