GZPT Upgrade: FNSS’s Advanced Armored Personnel Carrier — Specs, Turkish Service and Exports Explained
Türkiye is extending the life of its GZPT advanced armored personnel carriers – the tracked ACV-15 AAPC that FNSS delivered to the Turkish Land Forces in the early 2000s – with a fast-paced FNSS-led upgrade. According to project information released by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) in September 2026, all 52 phase-one vehicles were delivered by March 2025, and an option has been exercised to upgrade 80 more.
| Prime contractor | FNSS Defence Systems |
| User | Turkish Land Forces Command |
| Program status | SSB program – GZPT Modernization Project |
| Deliveries | Phase I: 52 delivered (March 2025); 80 more on contract |
| Local content | No official figure; weapon station and electronics Turkish |
| Program start | Contract 26 May 2023 |
What Is the GZPT?
GZPT stands for Geliştirilmiş Zırhlı Personel Taşıyıcı – advanced armored personnel carrier. It is the APC member of the ACV-15 family FNSS developed from the US AIFV lineage, and it retains full amphibious capability. Janes has reported that the Turkish Land Forces received 551 ACV-15 APCs in the early 2000s.
The SSB defines the upgrade goals as added survivability and firepower, situational awareness, positioning and direction-finding, plus better crew comfort.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Tracked amphibious APC (upgraded GZPT) |
| Engine output | 305 hp |
| Combat weight | 15,500 kg |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h |
| Range | 550 km |
| Trench crossing | 1.83 m |
| Vertical obstacle | 0.736 m |
| Weapon | ASELSAN SARP dual-gun remote weapon station |
| Added systems | Close-range surveillance, APU, A/C, automatic fire suppression, spall liners, driver vision, navigation, gunshot detection integration |
Mobility and weight figures come from the SSB fact sheet. FNSS says the program also includes a complete overhaul of each vehicle, including engine and transmission, while preserving amphibious capability.
Who Builds It and Program History
The SSB awarded FNSS the prime contract on 26 May 2023, at the same ceremony where FNSS delivered ZAHA amphibious vehicles to the Turkish Navy. FNSS committed to upgrading the first 52 vehicles within 24 months. Turkish outlet DefenceTurk reports that ASELSAN’s SARP remote weapon system is being integrated.
FNSS met that timeline: the SSB says phase-one deliveries were completed in March 2025. Citing user demand, the SSB then exercised the option in the phase-one contract and signed an amendment covering 80 more vehicles, bringing the program to 132 vehicles in roughly three years.
Turkish Service and Deliveries
The 52 upgraded GZPTs are back in Land Forces service. The delivery schedule for the additional 80 has not been published. The main operational change is a remote weapon station that keeps the gunner under armor, together with air conditioning and an auxiliary power unit for long missions.
Exports
The ACV-15 family is in service in the UAE, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Philippines, but there is no public export contract for the GZPT upgrade package. FNSS also markets an M113-family capability and sustainment program, for which the GZPT work offers a fielded reference.
Trade Show Appearances
We found no verifiable record of the upgraded GZPT being displayed at a specific trade show. The ACV-15 family has long featured on FNSS stands at IDEF.
Local Content and Key Subsystems
No official local-content figure has been released. The remote weapon station comes from ASELSAN’s SARP family and integration from FNSS; individual suppliers for other subsystems have not been disclosed in detail.
Global Counterparts
Comparable programs include Australia’s M113AS4, Israel’s M113 armor and systems upgrades and the US M113A3 standard. The Turkish effort stands out for keeping amphibious capability while adding a domestic remote weapon station and modern life support, delivered in about two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who performs the GZPT upgrade?
FNSS is prime contractor; ASELSAN supplies the SARP remote weapon station.
How many have been upgraded?
52 in phase one, completed in March 2025, with 80 more contracted.
Does the upgraded GZPT have a 30 mm turret?
No. The official scope specifies a dual-gun remote weapon station, not a 30 mm turret.
Is it still amphibious?
Yes, amphibious capability is retained.
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Featured photo: Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB)
Sources
- SSB Land Vehicles Department project fact sheet, September 2026
- FNSS – FNSS Initiated ACV-15 AAPC Capability Enhancement & Life Extension Program
- FNSS – Araç Teslimatları ile Yeni Projelere İmza Atmaya Devam Ediyor (basın bülteni)
- TURDEF – FNSS Initiates ACV-15 AAPC and Delivers MAV
- Janes – Turkey upgrades ACV-15 APCs
- DefenceTurk – Modernize GZPT zırhlı araçlarının teslimatları
- DefenceTurk – FNSS, GZPT’leri gelecek 20 yıl için modernize ediyor
- Wikipedia – FNSS ACV-15
