FNSS-produced 2650 ZMA and GZPTs are serving the Turkish Armed Forces, as well as the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and the Philippines. FNSS started to supply these vehicles in 1991, and the final one was delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in 2004.

ZMA and GZPTs, operating independently or in conjunction with tanks, serve as the backbone of the armoured unit operations in which they still operate. The vehicle modernization packages are aimed at improving survivability, situational awareness, firepower and mobility, and have been designed in accordance with the feedback received from officials following recent operations in which they were used.

The intention in this regard is to keep the vehicles up-to-date, in line with the changing threat perceptions, improving their performance and enabling them to continue serving throughout their extended service lives.

While putting together the modernization packages, focus has been on providing savings by keeping costs low and making use of joint logistics support.

For survivability, priority has been on the enhancement of mine and ballistic protection levels, mine resistant seats, protection lining (thread shield) applications, dual-stage automatic fire extinguishing and suppression systems, an NBC System (new locally produced filters), air conditioning for the crew and the RPG protection network.

In order to increase situational awareness in accordance with today’s threats, close distance situational awareness system, acoustic gunshot range detection system and laser warning system applications are being evaluated.

In terms of fire power, improvements are being made to the Remote-Control Gun System (RCGS), the gun system and the existing firing systems on the GZPTs (integrated with acoustic gunshot range detection system).

In addition, important improvements are planned to improve vehicle mobility through alterations to the undercarriage and power pack.