Akrep II Wheeled Armoured Vehicle

Akrep II is a new armoured vehicle designed and manufactured by Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi, a defence vehicle manufacturing company based in Turkey.

The vehicle is intended to offer a robust and reliable platform that provides the required fire support to forces during quick reaction, search-and-rescue, border patrol, fire support and reconnaissance, scout, surveillance, and air defence missions.

Otokar collaborated with AxleTech for the development of Akrep IIe, which is the electric technology demonstrator of the Akrep II.

The Akrep IIe variant was officially unveiled at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2019 held in Istanbul, Turkey, in April 2019.

Design and features of the Akrep II wheeled armoured vehicle

Akrep II features a four-wheel drive system and can be optionally fitted with steerable axles. Designed to offer enhanced manoeuvrability to the forces, the vehicle can operate in challenging conditions and environments such as water trenches, mud, and snow areas.

The vehicle offers reduced silhouette and very low acoustic and thermal signatures, which enable its deployment in stealth missions.

The Akrep II has a length of 5.5m, width of 2.5m, and height of 1.8m over the hull. It has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 13,500kg. The maximum ground clearance offered by the vehicle is 400mm.

Akrep II’s spacious interior allows it to accommodate three crew members including a driver, a commander, and a gunner. The vehicle further features five-point seatbelts and a floating floor.

It offers a 360º view to the onboard crew and features mirrors equipped with cameras to enhance the situational awareness of crew. The vehicle is fully air-conditioned to reduce fatigue of the crew when operating in hot and humid conditions. It also has an inbuilt heater to generate the required energy during cold winters.

Navigational requirements of the vehicle are fulfilled by an onboard global positioning system (GPS)/inertial navigation system (INS). Other optional equipment aboard the vehicle includes mirror cameras, rear axle steering, self-recovery winch, commander integrated display, and drive-by-wire technology.

Akrep II variants

The armoured vehicle can be offered in multiple variants including an armoured reconnaissance vehicle, a fire support vehicle, a light infantry fire support vehicle, an electric vehicle, and a laser weapon vehicle.

Based on the common design of the base vehicle, the variants feature different weapon systems on the roof. The laser weapon variant is equipped with a laser weapon,

while the fire support and light infantry fire support variants feature a 90mm turret and 25mm turret respectively.

The armoured reconnaissance variant is fitted with an additional installation at the rear end to perform reconnaissance missions.

The electric variant of Akrep II is specifically designed to perform stealthy military operations. Its low acoustic signature makes it a perfect fit for such operations.

Armament and protection features

The vehicle features a roof-top weapon station, which can be armed with 90mm and 25mm heavy machine guns. The armoured reconnaissance variant features an advanced weapon station that can be fitted with either 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine guns.

The firepower of the vehicle can be improved with the integration of multiple weapon mounts on the vehicle. The optional smoke grenade launchers aboard the hull further improve the survivability of the vehicle.

The Akrep II can be optionally equipped with a fire extinguishing system and a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) filtration system.

Engine and performance

Akrep II can be offered with multiple drive train options including diesel, electric, and hybrid drive trains. The transmission systems of the hybrid and diesel vehicles are completely automatic.

The electric variant is powered by an electric drive system integrating high-voltage DC Li-ion batteries and 24V DC AGM batteries.

Mobility features of the vehicle are enhanced by a full independent suspension system and a central tyre inflation system (CTIS). The vehicle is fitted with 395/85R20 tyres with run-flat system and ABS disc-type braking system.

The vehicle has a maximum speed of 110km/h and can achieve a maximum range of approximately 250km. It can negotiate grades of 60% and side slopes of 40%, while the angle of approach and departures are 45º each.