At the IDEB 2026 international defense industry trade fair in Bratislava, held on May 12-14 this year, the Czech holding company Czechoslovak Group (CSG) and Turkish company FNSS Savunma Sistemleri presented the CFL-120 light tank, equipped with an Italian Leonardo Hitfact MkII turret with a 120 mm smoothbore gun.
Photos: Czechoslovak Group
According to the published information, the Turkish side developed the chassis and integrated it with the Italian turret, while the Czech side is offering CSG’s industrial and production base in Slovakia, as the vehicle is being offered to the Slovak Land Forces.
Cooperation between CSG and FNSS will focus on the production, sales, and further development of selected armored platforms and related systems. In the initial phase, the cooperation will primarily cover the CFL-120 Karpat. The scope of cooperation may later be expanded to include additional products. The project is expected to use CSG’s existing production capacity in Slovakia, gradually introduce technology transfer, involve local suppliers, and contribute to the development of industrial know-how. The cooperation is also intended to strengthen both partners’ ability to respond to growing demand for modern tracked armored vehicles in Europe and other markets.
“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. 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,” said Jan Marinov, CEO of CSG Defence.
“This cooperation with CSG reflects a shared understanding of the requirements of the modern battlefield environment and the importance of building resilient industrial partnerships. By combining FNSS’s long-standing expertise in tracked armoured vehicle design, particularly the proven Kaplan medium tank platform, with CSG’s industrial capabilities, CFL-120 Karpat brings together mobility, survivability, firepower and mission adaptability,” said Selim Baybaş, CEO and Board Member of FNSS.
World premiere of the CFL-120 Karpat medium tank
The program for the first day of the trade fair at the CSG stand included the world premiere of the new CFL-120 Karpat medium tank, equipped with Leonardo Group’s Hitfact MkII turret and a 120 mm gun. Depending on customer requirements, the vehicle may also be available in a configuration with a 105 mm gun. The CFL-120 Karpat was designed as a vehicle offering firepower comparable to that of main battle tanks, while featuring lower weight, greater strategic and tactical mobility, and reduced logistics requirements. The new vehicle responds to current trends on the land battlefield, where speed of deployment, available firepower, crew protection, the ability to operate in a networked environment, and cost-effective operation are becoming increasingly important.
The 120 mm gun of the Hitfact MkII turret is compatible with NATO-standard ammunition. The turret’s design and the placement of ammunition outside the crew compartment increase crew safety if the vehicle is hit. The turret can be fitted with either a manual or automatic loading system. Additional 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 remotely controlled weapon station mounted on the turret.
The vehicle has a combat weight of up to 34 t, reaches a maximum speed of 70 km/h, and has a range of approximately 450 km. It is powered by a diesel engine located at the rear of the hull, coupled with a fully automatic transmission. The rear-mounted powerpack contributes to improved mobility in difficult terrain, particularly on soft ground and in challenging terrain conditions. The CFL-120 Karpat was designed with an emphasis on crew protection and operational flexibility. It offers the possibility of installing modular add-on armor in accordance with STANAG 4569 ballistic protection standards, as well as a CBRN protection system, an automatic fire-suppression system, air conditioning, and heating.
The CFL-120 Karpat is also equipped with day and thermal observation systems, stabilized commander’s and gunner’s sights, a laser rangefinder, and hunter-killer and killer-killer capabilities. It also offers the possibility of integrating various battle management systems, laser warning systems, and navigation and communications systems. The platform is therefore prepared for deployment in a modern network-centric environment. An active protection system (APS) against drones, guided missiles, and anti-tank missiles can also be integrated into the vehicle.
Growing interest in light combat vehicles with tank-comparable firepower
The CFL-120 Karpat is based on the proven Kaplan MT vehicle, which FNSS previously developed as a modern medium tank armed with a 105 mm gun and which is already in service with the Indonesian Army. The Kaplan MT was designed to combine high mobility, a low silhouette, a favorable power-to-weight ratio, and a high level of protection in the medium tank category. The CFL-120 Karpat builds on this foundation by integrating the Hitfact MkII turret with more powerful armament, transforming it from a conventional fire-support vehicle into a platform capable of engaging armored targets.
The CFL-120 Karpat is entering the market at a time when many armed forces are reassessing the structure of their land forces and seeking a balance between heavy main battle tanks, mobile fire-support assets, and the costs of procuring and operating military equipment. Medium tanks and fire-support vehicles equipped with 120 mm guns offer some users the ability to achieve significant firepower while maintaining lower weight and reduced logistics requirements.
In addition to European markets, the CFL-120 Karpat may also be attractive to allied customers modernizing their armored forces and seeking economically sustainable solutions for a broad spectrum of missions. Potential export markets may also include selected countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, where armed forces often require a combination of firepower, mobility, operational availability, and the ability to operate in difficult terrain conditions.
Two major milestones for CSG at #IDEB2026 🇸🇰
✔️ Presentation of a strategic cooperation with FNSS Savunma Sistemleri focused on the joint development and production of selected armoured platforms for European and other international markets.
✔️ World premiere of the new CFL-120… pic.twitter.com/GeRvQ4t3xZ
— CSG (@CSG_HOLDING) May 12, 2026