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Tunisia - Army - Modernization

Although the army had undergone organizational changes, the infusions of manpower and equipment received in the early 1980s were thought to have filled out what had long been an undermanned and ill-equipped force. Most striking was the addition to the armored units of over 50 M-60A3 tanks and 14 older but equally capable reconditioned M-48A5 tanks from the United States. Other newly acquired armored vehicles included a large complement of M-113 armored personnel carriers, some of which were armed with TOW anti-tank missiles. Artillery had been upgraded by the acquisition of new weaponry, and the force's air defense capabilities had been vastly improved by the addition of relatively sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems purchased from Sweden and the United States.

The United States Liaison Office Tunisia (USLOT) Tunisia's Army (TA) program focused on modernizing the Army with U.S. equipment in order to build and maintain a defensive capability against its potentially unstable, hostile neighbors. By 1992 the modernization effort was centered onprocurement of the M60Al/3 tank, the M113A1 armored personnel carrier, the M198 howitzer and the Chaparral Air Defense System. Smaller programs included acquisition of the TOW and HMMWV. Tunisian participation in the U.S. Army's FY91 Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Survey resulted in the inspection and acceptance of 56 M49A2C Tanker Trucks from excess stocks in Germany. A reduction in U.S.-appropriated FMF funds caused the Excess Defense Articles Program to receive greater consideration in Tunisian Army planning. The Army was surveyed to determine requirements for excess Vulcan 20mm Gun systems, and M198 Howitzer and Chaparral parts. The reduction in U.S. funding caused the TA to concentrate on sustainment issues. A Program Management Review in 1991 resulted in reprogramming nearly $5 million from old cases to new sustainment cases. Tunisia received $10 million in concessional loans at the end of FY 199l - about one third the of the almost $30 million in grant funding in FY 1990.

By 2005 the army had slowly acquired 84 main battle tanks (30 M-60A1s and 54 M-60A3s). It had 54 obsolescent Steyr SK-105 Kuerassier light tanks, and 69 relatively low-grade armored reconnaissance vehicles, including 24 Saladins and 45 AML-90s. It had about 268 APCs, including 140 M-113 A-1/2s, 18 EE-11 Urutus, and 110 Fiat F-6614s. During the 2020s, this entire fleet would seem eligible for replacement. Although Tunisia does not face a significant external threat, all these vehicles are aging, and the world is awash with far more capable used hand-me-downs available at bargain prices.

For fiscal year 2008, Washington will continue Tunisia's eligibility to receive Excess Defense Articles (EDA) on a grant basis under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA). This would allow Tunisia to modernize and refurbish its military, transform it into a peacekeeping force (Tunisia had already sent peacekeepers to Haiti, Cambodia, Somalia, Kosovo and Bosnia), and professionalize its ranks.

During the military parade for the 61st anniversary of the Tunisian National Army June 30, 2017, armed forces of Tunisia presented latest acquisition of combat equipment and armored vehicles including the Bastion, Ejder 4x4 armored vehicles and Kirpi and Typhoon MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles.

The Turkish industrial complex became one of the first suppliers of the Tunisian army, which faced a jihadist guerilla in the westen part of the country. Tunisia was the first export customer of the Kirpi with an order of 100 vehicles. Kirpi MRAP's have very very limited difficult terrain capability. Turkey delivered 100 Kirpi 4x4 MRAP vehicles to Tunisia from 2014 to 2016. The Kirpi is a wheeled armoured vehicle in the category of MRAP. This vehicle is manufactured by the Turkish Company BMC.

Tunisia is a long-time user of Otokar buses. Tunisia has become Otokar’s largest export market, which the brand leads with most vehicles sold, after France and Italy in Europe. Otokar also delivered 300 Land Rover 110s to Tunisia in June 2001, under a contract signed on 10 October 2000 worth $9.5 million. Otokar’s Cobra II, which is developed over existing Cobra Vehicle, is a modular platform with superior technical and tactical characteristics. Besides outstanding mobility capability and 9 crew carrying capacity, the vehicle provides protection, firepower and mission equipment for users at different types of missions. The vehicle provides an outmatched performance in a wide range of challenging terrains and climatic conditions. In July 2016, domestic vehicle giant Otokar was contracted to supply COBRA II 4x4 tactical wheeled armored vehicles to Turkish security forces. Reports of sales to Tunisia are not in evidence.

The MRAP of Nurol Makina would join the Cobra and Cobra 2 from Otokar and the Kirpi from BMC. The first of Turkey-made Ejder Yalçin 4×4 armoured combat vehicles for Tunisia have arrived in-country, that was reported by menadefense.net on 13 June 2017. According to menadefense.net, the first 4×4 armored vehicles Edjer Yalçin manufactured by Nurol Makina, entered service in Tunisia. The contract would cover 70 units equipped with teleoperated turrets. The Ejder Yalçin 4×4 is an armored vehicles produced by Turkish company Nurol Makina. It features a V-shaped hull design, integrating floating floor plates and blast mitigation seating to provide protection against mines and IED’s. It can accommodate up to 11 personnel and can carry a payload of up to 4 tons.

The Tunisian Police and National Guard reportedly received some French armored units VAB MKIII, according to Bmpd and Tunisiadefnews websites. VAB MARK 3 is a median 6x6 armoured vehicle with outstanding performances in terms of mobility and carrying capacity. VAB MARK 3 offers a very high level of survivability to its crew with its ballistic protection, according to STANAG 4569. Army-Guide reports Tunisia has receieved 10 Renault Trucks Defense VAB MK III ELECTER 6x6 personnel carrier units.

The Tunisian army faced a serious lack of adequate resources to conduct asymmetric warfare-style operations. Therefore, by 2014 Tunisia was considering a five-year plan aimed at developing and modernizing its army. Germany announced plans to give Tunisia (and Jordan) funds to buy armored vehicles to help combat ISIS. The exact figure was not revealed but the “double digit million” sum would come from a 100m euro fund to strengthen southern partner states. Der Spiegel magazine reported on 06 May 2016 Berlin would give Amman 25 million euros ($28 million) to buy "Marder" armored personnel carriers. The number of vehicles was not reported, but since the Marder is being phased out in favor of the Puma, these could entail bargain prices. Brand new top of the line IFVs can easily cost US$5 million, but a used IFV might be priced at US$1 million [so 24 Marders], or even half that, so 48 Marders.

Hellenic Defence & Technology reported that in the last days of 2009 the Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO), in cooperation with Rheinmetall AG made an official offer to the General Army Staff for the procurement of 422 second hand, refurbished and fully operational Marder 1A3HEL Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). The total cost of the Marder offer was for €200 million [about US$250 million]. This implied a unit price of US$600,000. For Tunisia, $28 million might buy 48 Marders. This buy would probably replace the 50 M113 APCs that have been in Tunisian service since the late Cold War, as well as the equally elderly 20 Saladin FV601s.

Russia will supply military equipment to Tunisia as part of security assistance efforts, Tunisian Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi said on 05 September 2014. The supplies will include bullet-proof vests and night-vision devices, he told the Express FM radio. The Russian government also agreed in principle to provide a US$500 million loan to Tunisia. Military equipment was also pledged by Russia in March 2016 after Tunis requested Moscow’s assistance in preventing militants from crossing the border from Libya. By late 2018, nothing much seems to have come of these promises of equipment.