Texelis, PT SSE sign agreement to develop armoured personnel carrier

Texelis will supply its Celeris 4×4 chassis – pictured above – to Indonesia's PT SSE to develop a new armoured personnel carrier. (Texelis)

French vehicle chassis manufacturer Texelis and Indonesian vehicle manufacturer PT Sentra Surya Ekajayais (PT SSE) have signed a partnership agreement to develop an armoured personnel carrier (APC) for the Indonesian National Armed Forces.

According to a press release by Texelis on 15 February, the company will supply an undisclosed number of Celeris 4×4 chassis kits to PT SSE and will also provide “complete development and support package to customise the mobility solution [chassis] for PT SSE's needs” as part of the agreement.

The Celeris 4×4 chassis features 12 base kits including axle, powerpack, transmission, transfer case, steering system, and so on. According to Texelis, the chassis also comprises 30 optional kits depending on the configuration of the vehicle.

Under this partnership agreement, Texelis will deliver the initial kits for the Celeris 4×4 chassis to PT SSE in the first half of 2024 and the first prototype of the APC is expected to roll out before the end of 2024.

Deliveries of the remaining series of kits will take place in 2025, Texelis said.

“Under the Texelis Celeris programme, an experienced original equipment manufacturer (OEM) can produce a new prototype of a new vehicle in less than a year and qualification can then start with the support of Texelis, which may set the full programme target at 18 months from order,” it added.

The Celeris chassis reportedly weighs 4.5 tonnes including tyres, and it can accommodate vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) ranging from 13 to 18 tonnes.