At the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026 arms exhibition in Saudi Arabia, local company SAMI presented a new HEET 8x8 fire support vehicle with a 105mm gun. It will join the global fleet of various wheeled tanks.
As ArmyRecognition learned at the company's booth, this vehicle was supposedly fully developed by Saudi enterprises. Therefore, mobility is optimized for use on local terrain, which includes sandy and urbanized regions.
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Another interesting feature of the vehicle is its rather unusual configuration, where the crew is located in the front section behind a wide window. This provides 180-degree visibility, which should give better situational awareness on the battlefield.
Defense Express notes that such a configuration is quite unpopular among similar vehicles. Typically, the driver is located in front next to the engine, while the commander either sits behind them or, if space permits, is positioned in the turret. This approach is supposed to provide better survivability.
However, there are similar armored vehicle examples, such as the Ukrainian BTR-4, which has windows for the commander and driver. However, they are significantly larger than on the Saudi vehicle, so the latter could potentially provide greater protection here.
Overall, regarding visibility, many models from various countries rely on cameras rather than large windows, thus not compromising armor. At the same time, a driver's viewing window outside the battlefield can be implemented as retractable.
It should also be noted that HEET 8x8 is not a completely Saudi development and is based on technologies and solutions from Turkish company FNSS, with which relevant cooperation documents exist. Moreover, it is quite likely that we are looking at a localized version of vehicles from the PARS lineup, which have a very similar appearance and configuration.
Presenting similar solutions as domestic products is not unique in the global arms market, especially when one wants to raise the prestige of local defense industry and secure a contract. However, it is possible that we are indeed looking at only the use of certain solutions and developments, not the entire vehicle, as visual differences from specific PARS series still exist.
In addition to the 8x8 variant, HEET 4x4 was also presented, which also has a wide window but is armed with a turret with a machine gun, possibly 12.7mm caliber. It similarly has a wide window to provide better visibility.
Overall, we see an interesting attempt by Saudi Arabia to break into the armored vehicle market, particularly wheeled tanks. However, most likely for success, these vehicles will need to receive orders domestically, as foreign competition in these segments is quite ruthless.
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