APC Talha
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Talha
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| type = Armored vehicle
| origin = {{PAK}}
| is_ranged = y
| is_bladed =
| is_explosive =
| is_artillery =
| is_vehicle = y
| is_missile =
| is_UK =
| service = 2002 - Present
| used_by = {{flag|Iraq}}
{{PAK}}
| wars = Operation Lyari
War on Terror
Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)
| designer = Heavy Industries Taxila
| design_date = 1998
| manufacturer = APC Factory
| developed_from = M113A2 Mk.1
| developed_into = Saad APC
| unit_cost =
| production_date = 2002
| number =
| variants =
| spec_label =
| mass = {{cvt|10.6|t|lb}} (Curb weight)
{{cvt|12.5|t|lb}} (Combat weight)
| length = {{convert|218.5|in|m}}
| width = {{convert|100|in|m}}
| height = {{convert|102|in|m}}
| diameter =
| crew = 1 (driver)
| passengers = 12
| armour = Type 5083 aluminum
| primary_armament = * Baktar Shikan ATGM (Maaz variant)
- RBS-70 surface to air missile (Mouz variant)
| secondary_armament = 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun
| engine =* Detroit Diesel 6V53T, 275 hp
- KMDB UTD-20, 330 hp
| engine_power =
| pw_ratio = * 22 hp/ton (6V53T)
- 25 hp/ton (UTD-20)
| payload_capacity =
| drive = Tracked
| transmission = Allison TX 100-1A
| suspension = Torsion bar, hydraulic dampers
| clearance =
| fuel_capacity = {{cvt|360|litre|impgal}}
| vehicle_range = {{convert|320|mi|km}}
| speed = {{cvt|42|mph|kph}} (level land)
| guidance =
| steering = Differential or pivot break
| ref = {{Cite web |title=HIT Catalogue |url=https://hit.gov.pk/downloads/catalogue.pdf |website=Heavy Industries Taxila Official Website}}{{Cite web |title=Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) |url=https://depo.gov.pk/download/catalogue/public/HIT.pdf|website=Defence Export Promotion Organization}}
}}
The Talha ({{Langx|ar|طلحہ}}), is an armoured personnel carrier (APC) developed by Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) in the early 2000s.{{Cite web |title=Talha [M113] |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/talha.htm |website=GlobalSecurity.org}}
Overview
= Background =
{{further|US-Pakistan relations|Pressler amendment}}
Throughout the Cold War, the Pakistan Army relied on US-supplied M113s locally assembled at HIT as Pakistan remained a major Non-NATO ally of the west in that time frame. However, consequent of Project-706, the country was imposed with international sanctions which made it impossible for HIT to continue manufacturing the M113. Hence, the decision for the development of an indigenous APC came up. The APC was named after the fruitful tree of heaven called "Talha".
=Design=
Talha's design though based on the M113, was significantly different than the standard M113. The Talha had a facelifted front with the positions of the engine and driver station also being swapped. This allowed a flexibility in the design that the Engine compartment can accommodate power pack with 275 HP Detroit Diesel 6V53T turbocharged engine or a Ukrainian 330 HP UTD-20 engine. Firing ports were added throughout the hull design to enable the Talha's passengers to return fire in combat scenarios.[http://www.jedsite.info/fulltrack-tango/tango/talha_series/talha-series.html "Talha Series of Tracked Armoured Vehicles"] jedsite
= Protection =
Talha's hull is made of reinforced Type 5083 aluminum which is sloped and angled at various points to provide better ballistic protection against rifle fire. HIT also offers an up-armoured version for law enforcement which has a spaced armour hull providing protection against 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun fire. Moreover, it has external fuel tanks to provide more space and protection to the interior.
= Marketing =
HIT revealed the Talha to public and international markets during IDEAS-2002 at Karachi. The Pakistan army was the first customer which planned to deploy 2,000 Talha APCs by 2010.
In November 2004, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence signed a deal with HIT worth US$31 million in which it ordered 44 Talha APCs, 60 Mohafiz security vehicles and 300 Aahan Armoured Guard Posts making Iraq the first export customer for the Talha.
Variants
Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) / Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)
- Talha - Standard version.
- Talha-I - Upgraded version of Talha fitted with Turkish RCWS with better protection and performance. Revealed in IDEAS-2024.[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WPafg2Ss3hA Talha-I APC IDEAS-2024 by Pakistan Strategic Forum]
- Talha-LEA - version developed for law enforcement agencies.[https://hit.gov.pk/commercial-tab.php APC Talha COMMERCIAL VERSION WITH TURRET AND ADD ON ARMR]
- Saad - Further development of the Talha, based on 6 road wheels.
Fire Support Vehicles (FSV)
- Maaz - Fitted with Baktar-Shikan anti-tank missile firing unit, based on Talha.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Unveils New Anti-Tank Tracked Armored Vehicle MAAZ |url=https://propakistani.pk/2024/04/15/pakistan-unveils-new-anti-tank-tracked-armored-vehicle-maaz/ |last=Khattak |first=Arsalan |date=2024-04-15 |website=Pro Pakistani}}{{Cite web |title=MAAZ–Pakistan new anti-tank Armoured Personnel Carrier |url=https://thepakmilitarymonitor.com/maaz-pakistan-new-anti-tank-armoured-personnel-carrier/ |date=2024-04-15 |website=Pak Military Monitor}}
- Mouz - Fitted with RBS 70 surface-to-air missile firing unit, based on Talha.
- Sakb - Armoured Command and Control Vehicle, based on Talha APC.
Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
- Al-Hadeed - ARV version based on chassis of Saad APC.
Prototype
- Viper - Prototype IFV version base on chassis of Saad APC. {{Cite web |title=Viper Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) |url=https://defensetalks.com/viper-infantry-fighting-vehicle-ifv/ |date=2023-12-30 |website=Global Defense Insight}}
Operators
- {{IRQ}}
- {{army|Iraq}}: 44 delivered by HIT in 2006.
- 3rd Division
- 9th Armoured Division
- {{PAK}}
- {{army|PAK}}: 400+ in service as of 2010.{{cite web| title = PAKISTAN ARMY| url = http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/order-of-battle/pakistan| accessdate = 2013-03-07| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130514073851/http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/order-of-battle/pakistan| archive-date = 2013-05-14| url-status = dead}} Total 2,000 planned to be deployed.{{cite web | title = Talha Armored personnel carrier| url = http://www.military-today.com/apc/talha.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120903123538/http://www.military-today.com/apc/talha.htm | url-status = usurped | archive-date = September 3, 2012 | accessdate= 2013-03-07}}
- Sindh Police: 40 delivered in 2012.{{cite news | url=https://www.nation.com.pk/17-Jul-2012/low-quality-equipment-risk-cops-lives | title=Low quality equipment risk cops' lives | access-date=2013-03-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111225150/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/karachi/17-Jul-2012/low-quality-equipment-risk-cops-lives | archive-date=2012-11-11 | url-status=live }}
See also
{{Portal|Pakistan}}
;Related development
;Related lists