CSG and FNSS Unveil Strategic Partnership and CFL-120 Karpat at IDEB 2026
Representatives of the CSG Group and the Turkish company FNSS Savunma Sistemleri announced today, on the first day of the IDEB 2026 trade fair in Bratislava, a strategic partnership focused on the joint development and production of selected armored platforms for European and other international markets. At the same time, the new CFL-120 Karpat combat platform – a medium tank equipped with a 120 mm main gun – was unveiled to the public for the first time. This platform combines the expertise of the Turkish company FNSS in the field of tracked armored vehicles, the CSG Group’s manufacturing and industrial infrastructure in Slovakia, and the firepower of Leonardo’s HITFACT® MkII turret.
The collaboration between CSG and FNSS will focus on the production, sale, and further development of selected armored platforms and related systems. The initial phase will primarily involve the CFL-120 Karpat platform. In subsequent phases, the collaboration may be expanded to include other products. The project plans to utilize the CSG Group’s existing production capacities in Slovakia, with a gradual transfer of technology, the involvement of local suppliers, and the development of industrial know-how. The goal of the cooperation is also to strengthen both partners’ ability to respond to the growing demand for modern tracked armored vehicles in Europe and other markets.
“The collaboration with FNSS is an important strategic step for CSG. It combines the CSG Group’s experience in the production, service, and support of ground vehicles with FNSS’s technological know-how. Our common goal is to offer modern and competitive vehicles to customers in Europe and other regions while further developing the CSG Group’s industrial capabilities in the field of combat vehicles,” said Jan Marinov, CEO of CSG Defence.
“Our collaboration with CSG reflects our shared understanding of the demands of the modern battlefield and the importance of building resilient industrial partnerships. The combination of FNSS’s long-standing expertise in the design of tracked armored vehicles, particularly the proven Kaplan medium tank platform, and CSG’s industrial capabilities has resulted in a new platform, the CFL-120 Karpat, which combines high mobility, resilience, firepower, and adaptability for a wide variety of combat missions,” said Selim Başbaş, CEO and Board Member of FNSS.
World premiere of the CFL-120 Karpat medium tank
The program for the first day of the trade show at the CSG Group’s booth included the world premiere of the new CFL-120 Karpat medium tank, featuring a Leonardo HITFACT® MkII turret equipped with a 120 mm cannon. Depending on customer requirements, the vehicle can also be configured with a 105 mm gun. The CFL-120 Karpat is designed as a vehicle that offers firepower on par with main battle tanks, but with lower weight, higher strategic and tactical mobility, and reduced logistical demands. This new development responds to current trends on the ground battlefield, where the importance of rapid deployment, available firepower, crew protection, the ability to operate in a networked environment, and cost-effective operation is growing.
The 120 mm cannon of the HITFACT® MkII turret is compatible with NATO-standard ammunition, while the turret’s design and the placement of ammunition outside the crew compartment enhance safety in the event of a hit to the vehicle. The turret can be equipped with a manual or automatic loading system. Secondary armament includes a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and, optionally, an additional 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun, or a 40 mm grenade launcher in a remote-controlled weapon station.
The vehicle has a combat weight of up to 34 tons, a maximum speed of 70 km/h, and a range of approximately 450 km. It is equipped with a diesel engine located at the rear of the hull and features a fully automatic transmission. The design with the powertrain in the rear of the vehicle contributes to improved mobility in difficult terrain, particularly on soft ground and in rugged environments. The CFL-120 Karpat is designed with an emphasis on crew protection and operational flexibility. It offers the option of installing modular additional armor in accordance with the STANAG 4569 standard, a protection system against the effects of weapons of mass destruction, an automatic fire suppression system, air conditioning, and heating.
The CFL-120 Karpat is also equipped with day and thermal imaging observation systems, stabilized commander and gunner sights, a laser rangefinder, and “hunter-killer” and “killer-killer” systems, and offers the option to integrate various types of combat management systems, laser warning systems, and navigation and communication equipment. The platform is thus ready for deployment in a modern networked environment. An active protection system effective against drones, guided missiles, and anti-armor projectiles can also be integrated into the vehicle.
Growing interest in light combat vehicles with tank-level firepower
The CFL-120 Karpat is based on the proven Kaplan MT vehicle, which was previously developed by FNSS as a modern medium tank equipped with a 105 mm gun and is already in service with the Indonesian Army. The Kaplan MT is designed to combine high mobility, a low profile, a favorable power-to-weight ratio, and a high level of protection within the medium tank category. The CFL-120 Karpat builds on this foundation by integrating the HITFACT® MkII turret with a more powerful gun, thereby shifting from a classic fire support vehicle to a platform capable of engaging armored targets.
The CFL-120 Karpat arrives at a time when many armies are reevaluating the structure of their ground forces and seeking a balance between heavy main battle tanks, mobile fire support assets, and the costs of acquiring and operating such equipment. Medium tanks and fire support vehicles equipped with a 120mm cannon represent a way for some users to gain significant firepower with lower weight and reduced logistical burdens.
In addition to European countries, the CFL-120 Karpat may also be of interest to other NATO and non-NATO customers who are modernizing their armored forces while seeking economically sustainable solutions for a broader range of missions. Promising markets may also include selected countries in Asia, the Middle East, or Africa, where armed forces often need to combine firepower, mobility, operational availability, and the ability to deploy in challenging terrain.
