The Turkish FNSS Zaha and the Spanish Marines: can't Spain do something like this?

The Spanish Marine Infantry has been searching for a replacement for its aging AAV-7A1 armored amphibious vehicles for some time.

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The AAV-7A1s were purchased in the early 1970s. In total, Spain received 19 units: 16 personnel carriers, 2 command aircraft, and 1 recovery aircraft. Below, we can see the recovery version during a landing.

As we saw here, in 2023 the Spanish Navy showed interest in the ACV (below), which is an 8x8 wheeled vehicle that the US Marines are introducing to replace their AAV-7s. A major drawback that many see with the ACV is that it is not a tracked vehicle, as experience shows the advantages of this type of traction in beach landings.

Significantly, yesterday Infodefensa reported that Turkey has presented its Zaha to the Spanish Marine Infantry, on the occasion of the NATO Dynamic Marine exercise held in Spain.

The Zaha is an amphibious armored vehicle developed by the Turkish company FNSS, which officially calls it the MAV (Marine Assault Vehicle). The Turkish Navy has received 27 of these vehicles to be deployed from the amphibious aircraft carrier TCG Anadolu, sister ship of the Spanish L-61 aircraft carrier "Juan Carlos I."

Looking at these images, I assume that veterans of the Tercio de Armada and defense enthusiasts will have been able to easily identify the vehicle on which the Zaha is based. Just look at these images of these maneuvers released by FNSS.

The Zaha is obviously a derivative of the AAV-7A2. It even has the same running gear layout, as can be seen in the following image. Note the space between the three front and three rear wheels, a feature not found on the older Spanish AAV-7A1s.

This is no surprise. Until 2024, BAE Systems held almost half of FNSS's shares, with the remainder owned by the Turkish conglomerate Nurol Holding. Coincidentally, BAE Systems manufactures the AAV7, and the Zaha aircraft were delivered to the Turkish Navy in 2023.

In the current scenario, with a Spanish government very interested in acquiring products from the Turkish military industry, the presentation of the Zaha in Spain is no coincidence. It is possible that the ACV could end up being discarded, as it is a vehicle manufactured by the US and Italy (BAE Systems also participates, along with Iveco). With Europe seeking to distance itself from the US military industry following Trump's shift in foreign policy, the Zaha may gain ground over the ACV. The logical question is: Couldn't Spain do something like this? We have a defense industry capable of making a vehicle like this. What's the point of buying it from Turkey?

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Fotos: Armada Española / BAE Systems / FNSS / Canadian Armed Forces.