The RN-94 (6 × 6) armoured personnel carrier was originally developed by Nurol Machinery and Industry Co Inc based in Ankara and S N Romarm SA Filiala S C Moreni of Bucharest, Romania.

Development commenced in 1994 with the prototype making its first appearance in late 1995. Between 1995 and 1996 three prototypes were built with the last one being produced in Turkey. It was subsequently presented to the Turkish Land Forces Command for test and qualification purposes.

After the qualification was complete in 1997, the Turkish MoD placed an order for a preproduction batch of five RN-94 vehicles for an extensive series of trials all over Turkey.

Based on the same basic vehicle chassis, three different types of turret have been adapted to the five vehicles:

One of the five vehicles was fitted with the Kollmorgen Compact Lightweight Armoured Weapon Station (CLAWS) equipped with 40 mm grenade launcher

Two of the vehicles were fitted with a locally produced standard Gunner's Cupola equipped with a .50 (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun.

The last two vehicles were fitted with the General Dynamics Dragon turret armed with a 12.7 mm M2 machine gun

The five RN-94 vehicles that were delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command early in 1998 each covered about 18,000 km by the end of 1998 which included road and cross-country running.

For trials purposes the RN-94 has also been fitted with a Nexter Systems (previously Giat Industries) Dragar one-person power-operated turret armed with a 25 mm M811 cannon and 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun.

This turret has been manufactured under licence by Nurol in Turkey for installation on some of the locally built FNSS Savunma Sistemleri Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicles (AIFV). The 25 mm M811 cannon has been produced under licence in Turkey by MKEK.

The RN-94 has been certified by the Turkish Land Forces Command but, as of late 2007 no production orders had been placed for the RN-94 by Turkey.

According to the United Nations Arms Transfer List, in 2005 Romania supplied nine RN-94 in ambulance/APC role to Bangladesh. It is understood that these were earmarked for United Nations service.

Description

The hull of the RN-94 is all-welded steel armour structure which provides maximum protection against 7.62 mm armour-piercing ammunition and shell splinters all round. If required, a higher level of armour protection could be provided but this would mean the vehicle losing its amphibious capability.

The driver is seated at the front left with the vehicle commander to the right, with each being provided with a roof hatch that opens to the rear and four day periscopes for forward observation.

The engine compartment is to the rear of the driver with an aisle on the right side connecting the troop compartment at the rear. The exhaust outlet is on the left side of the hull with air inlet and outlet louvres in the roof. There is a forward-opening door in the left side of the hull that allows access to the power pack for maintenance purposes.

In addition to the driver and commander, a further 11 fully equipped troops can be carried, with the capability of dismounting quickly through the hull rear, which has two doors. The upper part opens left and right with the lower part opening downwards to form a step. The upper part also has a circular firing port with integral sighting system with a vision block above.

In the left side of the troop compartment are three firing ports with integral day sighting systems and two periscopes while in the right of the hull are three firing ports with integral day sighting systems and three periscopes.

Over the top of the troop compartment are two roof hatches which open upwards with each of these being provided with a circular firing port. These can be locked in the vertical position if required.

Eight of the infantrymen are seated in the rear of the troop compartment, four either side facing outwards on individual seats which can quickly be folded up. The remaining three men are seated with individual seats.

Steering is power assisted on the front four wheels and the RN-94 is fitted with the Hutchinson VFI run-flat system and an automatic inflation/deflation system.

The RN-94 is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by two Ultra Hydraulic water-jets mounted one either side at the rear. Before entering the water the trim vane is erected at the front of the hull and the bilge pumps are switched on. Maximum water speed is 8 km/h.

The RN-94 can be fitted with a wide range of optional equipment as well as night vision aids and additional armour protection.

Variants

The RN-94 can be adopted for a wide range of battlefield missions such as command post, ambulance and specialised weapons carrier.

120 mm mortar carrier

This was shown for the first time in 1999 and is armed with a 120 mm mortar system firing through a two-part opening roof hatch. The rifled mortar barrel was supplied by MKEK while the recoiling mortar mount is from Soltam Systems of Israel. The Turkish company Deha Insaat is also involved.

The mortar can be traversed through a full 360°, with elevation and traverse being powered with manual back-up. Firing a standard mortar bomb it has a maximum range of 8,300 m, although longer-range mortar bombs are under development. Rate of fire of the system is claimed to be 14 rounds per minute rapid fire and 10 rounds per minute sustained.

A key feature of the 120 mm mortar system is that it has a BGT inertial navigation system for incorporating a Global Positioning System (GPS) and north pointing gyro.

This, used in conjunction with a Windows-based ballistic computer with built-in test functions, enables the mortar to be rapidly and accurately laid onto the target with an accuracy of ±1 mil. A standard M3 optical sight is mounted on the left side of the mortar as a back-up.

Mounted towards the front of the hull on the right sight is a Kollmorgen Compact Lightweight Armoured Weapon Station (CLAWS) armed with an externally mounted .50 (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun (MG).

Battlefield surveillance vehicle

The Nurol Machinery and Industry Co has also completed a battlefield surveillance model of the RN-94 fitted with a hydraulically operated arm on which is mounted a locally produced ASELSAN battlefield surveillance radar. Prior to raising the hydraulic arm, two stabilisers are lowered to the ground.