Indonesia has officially replaced its aging fleet of Russian-made BTR-80A armored personnel carriers with Czech Pandur II 8×8 vehicles for its UN peacekeeping deployment in Lebanon. The decision comes as Indonesia modernizes its overseas mission capabilities and phases out older assets. Twelve BTR-80As previously used by the Indonesian Marine Corps were recently redeployed back to Jakarta after 16 years of continuous service in the Middle East.
The returned vehicles are currently stored at the 1st Marine Cavalry Regiment base in Jakarta. However, their long-term future remains unclear, with reports suggesting they could be retired from service or possibly transferred to another country, according to information sourced by United24 from local Indonesian officials. Indonesia originally purchased these Russian APCs in 2000, and while an additional batch of 20 was planned, the order was later canceled in favor of developing the indigenous APS-3 Anoa 6×6.
The BTR-80A, introduced by Russia in the mid-1990s, is equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon and a 7.62mm machine gun, both mounted on an upgraded turret system. Its design later contributed to the development of the more advanced BTR-82A. Despite its proven reliability, the platform is now considered outdated compared to modern wheeled combat vehicles used in today’s multinational operations.
Indonesia’s transition to the Pandur II 8×8 began after the deal was first disclosed in 2020, involving 23 units supplied by Excalibur Army, part of the Czechoslovak Group. Vehicle kits were produced by TATRA Defence Vehicle—another company in the same conglomerate—and shipped to state-owned PT Pindad for local assembly. The Pandur II offers improved mobility, armor protection, and weapon modularity, supporting armament options ranging from a 30mm cannon to a 105mm gun and anti-tank missiles. Powered by a 455-horsepower diesel engine, the vehicle reaches speeds of up to 100 km/h and offers a range of 700 km.
