Turkish company Katmerciler is delivering the first batch of it’s HIZIR 4×4 armoured vehicles to an African customer. Last year, the export agreement was signed between Katmerciler and the African country in a $20.7 million deal says the company, although it did not supply the name of the country making the orders.
The deal is Katmerciler’s first export order for the Hizir 4×4 armored vehicle, with delivery beginning in 2019 up till 2020. Last year, Katmerciler acting CEO Furkan Katmerci said that Katmerciler plans to export the Hizir to other countries as well.
“Hizir was our first armoured combat vehicle export. We want to repeat the export success we have achieved by civilian equipment for many years in the field of defence. We opened another door with Hizir. We will continue this success with our Hizir and other qualified vehicles that we have developed for different needs.”
“As Katmerciler, we have successfully implemented measures to keep the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic to a minimum. We continued our activities without interruption. Thanks to our precautions, we did not have any employment losses and we did not have to benefit from state supports such as short-term work allowance or minimum wage support.”
“Since its inception, however, we have been focusing particularly on Hızır in overseas promotions. We have achieved the first result of these efforts.”
“With the motivation brought by the first export, we believe that we will announce new countries that will include Hızır in its inventory in a very short time. As a company that has exported to nearly 60 countries and always attached great importance to exports, we are determined to introduce the Katmerciler brand further in the world defense industry with the contribution of Hızır,” he added.
HIZIR armored vehicle was launched in November 2016 by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the 3rd High-Tech Port expo of Turkey’s Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD). It comes in various configurations such as combat, command and control, CBRN, weapon carrier (it can be fitted with an Aselsan SARP turret with machineguns or an automatic grenade launcher.), ambulance, border security, reconnaissance, etc.
Hızır was designed to perform highly under conditions of intense conflict in rural and urban areas. It is powered by a Cummins six-cylinder diesel developing 400p, giving a top speed of 110 km/h and a range of 700 kilometers. The HIZIR armored vehicle is designed with a shaped V-hull for a high level of mine and ballistic protection. It can carry up to nine fully equipped soldiers.
Furkan Katmerci, Katmerciler’s CEO, said: “Our contacts continue with many potential clients. We are determined to spread our brand to the world defense industry with Hızır’s contribution.”
