Talha is an armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed and manufactured in Pakistan by APC Factory of Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT).

APC Talha
TypeArmoured personnel carrier (APC)
Place of originPakistan
Service history
Used byPakistan Army
Iraqi Army
Production history
DesignerHeavy Industries Taxila
Designed1998
ManufacturerHeavy Industries Taxila
Produced2002
Specifications
Mass12.5 ton (combat weight)
10.6 ton (curb weight)
Length218.5 inches (555 cm)
Width100 inches (250 cm)
Height102 inches (260 cm)
Crew13

ArmourAluminium (5083 series)
Main
armament
12.7 mm machine gun
EngineTwo options:
Power/weight
  • 22 hp/ton (6V53T)
  • 25 hp/ton (UTD-20)
SuspensionTorsion bars, hydraulic dampers
Operational
range
320 miles (510 km)
Maximum speed 40 km/h

The vehicle is based on the M113-A2-Mk.1 APC. The Pakistani Army plans to deploy 2,000 Talha APCs by 2010.[needs update] TALHA is an all terrain, amphibious infantry support vehicle with 12.7 mm machine gun as its main armament. Adequate crew compartment space provides excellent crew comfort. Survivability is enhanced through use of external fuel tanks. Various forms of bolt-on armour can be added to increase armour protection of the vehicle.

History

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The decision to develop the Talha was made after U.S. sanctions imposed on Pakistan made it impossible for HIT to continue manufacturing the M113. The Talha's design is based on the M113, one notable difference being the positions of the engine and driver station.[1]

The Al-Talha is being marketed for export and was displayed at the IDEAS 2002 defence exhibition, Karachi, in 2002.[citation needed] In November 2004 an Iraqi delegation ordered 44 Talha APCs.

Engine

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There is a flexibility in the design that the Engine compartment can accommodate power pack with 275 HP Detroit Diesel 6V53T turbocharged engine or 330 HP UTD-20, a Ukrainian engine.

Operators

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Map with Talha operators in blue

Current operators

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  Pakistan
  Iraq

Civilian operators

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  Pakistan

Variants

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Sakb variant
  • Maaz - Fitted with Baktar-Shikan anti-tank missile firing unit
  • Mouz - Fitted with RBS 70 surface-to-air missile firing unit
  • Sakb - Command post vehicle
  • Al Qaswa - Logistics & cargo vehicle

APC Saad

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APC Saad is a stretched 6 road wheel variant of Talha. Further variants of Saad:

  • Al-Hadeed - Armoured recovery vehicle
  • Al-Hamza - Infantry fighting vehicle

See also

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Related development
Related lists

References

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  1. ^ "Talha Series of Tracked Armoured Vehicles" jedsite
  2. ^ "PAKISTAN ARMY". Archived from the original on 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  3. ^ a b "Talha Armored personnel carrier". Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  4. ^ "Low quality equipment risk cops' lives". Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2013-03-11.