Al Talha

Infobox Weapon
name=APC-Talha


caption=
origin=PAK
type=Armoured personnel carrier
is_vehicle=yes
designer=Heavy Industries Taxila
manufacturer=Heavy Industries Taxila
design_date= 1998 [http://www.defence.pk/al-talha_apc.html Al-Talha APC.] ]
production_date= 2002 [http://www.defence.pk/al-talha_apc.html Al-Talha APC.] ]
used_by=Iraq, Pakistan
length=5.55
width=2.54
height=2.52
weight=12
suspension=torsion bar
speed=?
vehicle_range=320
primary_armament= 12.7 mm machine gun
secondary_armament= none
armour=?
engine=Diesel
engine_power=
pw_ratio=?
crew=8

Al-Talha is an armoured personnel carrier designed and manufactured by the Pakistani Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) using Ukrainian made engines. The vehicle is a modernised American M113-A2-Mk1.

There are several provisions for firing ports and periscopes. The army of Pakistan plans to deploy 2,000 of these by year 2010.

History

The Al-Talha had been seen in the IDEA 2002 exhibition in Karachi in 2002 after it was produced. [ [http://www.pakdef.info/ideas2002/index.html IDEAS 2002 - Defence Exhibition.] ]

The decision to develop the vehicle was taken, because it was almost impossible to build more M113's due to US sanctions (the PAF have more than 850 in service). The PAF will now receive some 150 Talha or Al-Talha APC's; total number planned is 2,000. The design is clearly based on the M113, but the positions of the engine and driver's station are switched. [ [http://www.jedsite.info/fulltrack-tango/tango/talha_series/talha-series.html "TALHA SERIES OF TRACKED ARMOURED VEHICLES"] ]

Variants

*Al-Hadeed - Recovery vehicle based on a Talha APC.
*Al-Hamza - Armored infantry fighting vehicle.
*Al-Maaz - Variant fitted with the Baktar Shikan anti-tank missile.
*Al-Qaswa - Logistics vehicle.
*Al-Saad - Six roadwheel personnel carrier version.
*Al-Sakb - Logistics support and command vehicle.
*Al-Talha - Five roadwheel personnel carrier version. [ [http://www.jedsite.info/fulltrack-tango/tango/talha_series/talha-series.html "TALHA SERIES OF TRACKED ARMOURED VEHICLES"] ]

Iraqi Interest

In November 2004 an Iraqi defence delegation paid a visit to Pakistan and showed interest in the vehicle and ordered 44 of them. [ [http://www.ideaspakistan.com/iraq%20visit%20to%20pakistan.htm Iraqi Defence Delegation's Visit to Pakistan] ]

See also

*List of modern armoured fighting vehicles
*Pakistani Arms Industry

External links

* [http://www.ideaspakistan.com/iraq%20visit%20to%20pakistan.htm Ideas Pakistan]

References