Turkey is constantly increasing its capabilities in the Aegean, incorporating through its military industry constantly new weapons systems and into the potential of its Armed Forces, such as TCG Anadolu, submarines, frigates, UCAVs and others.
Within this orgasm of their defense industry, the effort to upgrade the capabilities of the Marine Brigade, which in a military confrontation with our country in the Aegean, will play a leading role in the attempt to occupy our islands, on the whose sovereignty has been challenged by both Erdogan and the Turkish opposition.
Related to the above is an article by a reputable Turkish media on defense matters entitled, "FNSS delivered ZAHA and started modernization of GZPT", where it is pointed out:
In a ceremony held in Gölbaşı with the participation of the Turkish Armed Forces, the Ministry of National Defense, the Presidency of Defense Industry, the defense sector and representatives of the press, the contract "GZPT Modernization Project" was signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries ( SSB) and the defense systems company FNSS.
As part of the project, which will be carried out under the main contractor FNSS, 52 GZPTs with 305 hp and amphibious capability, which are in the inventory of the Land Forces Command, will be equipped with modern subsystems and modernized.
With the GZPT Modernization Program, it aims to pave the way for the GZPTs, which were delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in the early 2000s by the FNSS and served in many operations, to serve with higher performance for at least 20 years.
Its aim is to contribute to the combat power of the Land Forces Command with the package of solutions prepared by the FNSS, in the changing threat environment, with the technological developments and the knowledge gained in the modernization projects, especially the ZMA modernization, thanks to the modern subsystems of GZPT-T1s.
Thanks to the modernization package to be implemented by the FNSS, the GZPT-T1s will be a modern tool against current threats with an extended service life and new generation equipment.
As part of the modernization contract, improvements will be made to the entire vehicle, including the engine and transmission, and the mobility sustainability of the GZPT-T1s will be pursued for many years.
In addition, the project will integrate air conditioning system, modern electronic vehicles and mission equipment, unmanned dual turret and fire detection system and positioning navigation system according to user needs.
In order to meet the amphibious armored vehicle needs of the Naval Forces Command (DzKK), 9 ZAHA vehicles were developed under the Armored Amphibious Assault Vehicle (ZAHA) Project carried out by the Prime Contractor FNSS, under the leadership of the Presidency of the Defense Industries (SSB ), which were delivered to the Naval Forces Command, Marine Brigade.
Under the project, a total of 27 vehicles will be delivered, including 23 personnel carriers, 2 command and control vehicles and 2 rescue vehicles developed by the FNSS.
The dual-armed ÇAKA remote-controlled weapon system, designed by FNSS under the project, will provide significant capability to our amphibious units in providing firepower to ZAHA personnel under armor protection.
ZAHA, which is the first and only personnel carrier in the inventory of our Armed Forces designed for both sea and land, has the ability to operate in difficult sea conditions and is the first and only indigenous amphibious vehicle in Turkey.
The vehicle's armament will consist of a remote-controlled turret with a 12.7mm machine gun and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
At sea ZAHA reaches a maximum speed of 13 kilometers per hour, while on land it reaches a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour. The personnel carrier will be able to carry a driver-crew chief-gunner crew of three and a team of 18 soldiers.
With the completion of the delivery of 27 ZAHA to the Turkish Marines, Turkey will have the ability to transport approximately 500 men in one route, i.e. a Battalion of Marines.
The above constitutes a very big threat for our islands in the Aegean and especially for those that are in close proximity to the coasts of Asia Minor, since now the ZAHA loaded with marines will be able in a very short time, unexpectedly and without boarding a tanker or on the multipurpose amphibious ship "Anadolu", to occupy one or more of our micro-islands.
In addition, such a landing force could be used as a forward force in the context of a Turkish landing force even on our main island.
alike, the fact that the 27 ZAHAs will be able to transport one (1) Battalion of Marines in one route and of that modernization of 52 GZPTs which will acquire, among other things, amphibious capabilities corresponding to the ability to transport-land two (2) Battalions of Marines in one route.
