CSG and FNSS debut CFL-120 Karpat medium tank

CSG group and Turkish armored vehicle maker FNSS unveiled the CFL-120 Karpat medium tank at the IDEB 2026 defense exhibition in Bratislava, presenting a joint European-Turkish development program that combines a proven tracked hull with Leonardo’s HITFACT MkII turret and a 120mm main gun capable of engaging the same armored targets as a main battle tank at roughly half the weight.

The world premiere of the CFL-120 Karpat came alongside the announcement of a formal strategic cooperation agreement between CSG and FNSS covering joint development, production, and sales of selected armored platforms for European and international markets, according to the companies’ joint statement.

The partnership is structured to leverage CSG’s existing industrial facilities in Slovakia, introduce technology transfer progressively, engage local suppliers, and build Slovak industrial expertise in combat vehicle production. FNSS brings the vehicle design and tracked vehicle engineering knowledge; CSG brings the manufacturing infrastructure and European market access.

Jan Marinov, CEO of CSG Defence, described the rationale in direct terms. “Cooperation with FNSS represents an important strategic step for CSG. It combines CSG’s experience in the production, servicing, and support of land systems with FNSS’s technological know-how,” Marinov said in the joint announcement. “Our shared objective is to offer modern and competitive vehicles for customers in Europe and other regions while further developing CSG’s industrial capabilities in the field of combat vehicles.” Selim Başbaş, CEO and Board Member of FNSS, tied the partnership to operational realities. “This cooperation with CSG reflects a shared understanding of the requirements of the modern battlefield environment and the importance of building resilient industrial partnerships,” Başbaş said, describing how FNSS’s Kaplan medium tank platform combines with CSG’s industrial capabilities in the CFL-120 Karpat.

The CFL-120 Karpat is built on the Kaplan MT, the medium tank FNSS developed for the Indonesian Army and that has been in Indonesian service as a deployed platform rather than a prototype. The Kaplan MT in its original configuration carries a 105mm gun and was designed around high mobility, a low silhouette, and a favorable power-to-weight ratio in the medium tank category. The CFL-120 Karpat advances that foundation by replacing the 105mm weapon with Leonardo’s HITFACT MkII turret mounting a 120mm cannon compatible with NATO-standard ammunition, moving the vehicle from a fire support and infantry support role toward genuine anti-armor capability against the generation of main battle tanks and heavy armored vehicles that European ground forces currently consider the primary armored threat.

The HITFACT MkII turret that Leonardo contributes to this combination is a well-established design with operational credentials. Italian company Leonardo developed the HITFACT family specifically for medium and light armored platforms that need main battle tank-level firepower without main battle tank-level weight and logistics demands, and versions of the turret have been integrated on wheeled vehicles including the Centauro tank destroyer that Italy, Spain, Oman, and Jordan operate. Mounting HITFACT MkII on a tracked hull rather than a wheeled chassis gives the CFL-120 Karpat better cross-country mobility in soft ground and rugged terrain conditions where wheeled vehicles lose significant capability, while retaining the firepower that makes the turret operationally relevant against armored opponents.

The vehicle’s specifications as provided by the companies place combat weight at up to 34 tonnes, maximum road speed at 70 km/h, and operational range at approximately 450 km. A rear-mounted diesel powerpack with fully automatic transmission contributes to mobility in difficult terrain by lowering the front hull profile and improving weight distribution. The armament package extends beyond the 120mm main gun to include a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and optional secondary weapons including an additional 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm grenade launcher in a remotely controlled weapon station. Ammunition storage outside the crew compartment, a design feature of the HITFACT turret architecture, reduces the risk of catastrophic ammunition detonation if the vehicle is penetrated.

The protection and sensor architecture is configured for a networked battlefield. The CFL-120 Karpat carries day and thermal observation systems, stabilized commander and gunner sights with hunter-killer and killer-killer capability, and a laser rangefinder. Hunter-killer capability allows the commander to identify and designate the next target while the gunner engages the current one, significantly increasing the engagement rate compared to vehicles that require both crew members to work on a single target sequentially. The platform supports integration of battle management systems, laser warning systems, and navigation and communications equipment, and can accept an active protection system against drones, guided missiles, and anti-armor projectiles, per the companies’ statement.

European defense procurement has accelerated sharply since 2022, with NATO members reassessing force structures that atrophied through decades of post-Cold War defense budget reduction. Many smaller European armies face a specific procurement challenge: main battle tanks like the Leopard 2 or Abrams deliver maximum combat power but carry acquisition, training, logistics, and infrastructure costs that strain defense budgets and limit the numbers that can be procured and sustained. Medium tanks and fire support vehicles with 120mm guns offer a path to credible anti-armor capability at lower cost per vehicle and with reduced logistical overhead, making them attractive for armies that cannot field large MBT fleets but need organic capability to engage armored threats.