Newsletters
Kazakhstan has revealed plans to launch domestic production of a light tank based on Otokar's Tulpar infantry fighting vehicle platform, fitted with an Italian-made Leonardo 120mm HITFACT MkII turret, following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's visit to defense manufacturing facilities in Astana.
During the visit to the Besqaru plant, company officials briefed the president on current manufacturing processes and near-term production plans, announcing that production of the light tank variant would begin next year.
Tokayev toured production workshops at Besqaru, a company engaged in the production and technical maintenance of wheeled and tracked armored vehicles.
According to the company, Besqaru plans to manufacture up to 200 amphibious wheeled armored vehicles, including the Taimas 8×8 and the Aibar 4×4.
The vehicles are localized variants derived from armored platforms developed by Otokar, a Turkish defense manufacturer.
The production site was launched in February 2025 with a total investment of 13.5 billion tenge ($26 million), providing 134 jobs. Besqaru supplies its products to the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense and other law enforcement agencies.
Company representatives said the planned light tank would use the Tulpar chassis as its base platform, Defence Blog reported.
The Tulpar is designed as a multi-purpose tracked vehicle intended to support a range of mission profiles, including armored combat roles, and is marketed by Otokar as adaptable to different turret and weapon configurations.
The HITFACT MkII turret is a modern medium-caliber turret system developed by Leonardo and designed for installation on tracked and wheeled armored platforms. The system is intended to provide direct-fire capability against armored and fortified targets, aligning with the requirements typically associated with light tank concepts.
Besqaru's current armored vehicle lineup focuses on wheeled systems, including amphibious platforms for regional terrain requirements. The planned introduction of a tracked light tank would mark an expansion of Kazakhstan's domestic armored vehicle manufacturing scope.
Kazakhstan's Taimas 8×8 armored combat vehicle was developed through a trilateral defense partnership with Türkiye and China.
The vehicle was first unveiled at a military parade in Astana attended by senior representatives of Chinese Norinco and Turkish Otokar.
The Taimas program is a joint venture with Kazakhstan's Astana MPR Project as the main integrator, Türkiye's Otokar supplying the Arma 8×8 platform, and China's Norinco providing the VN11 turret system equipped with dual-caliber 100mm and 30mm gun configuration.
According to Defence Blog, the Taimas 8×8 weighs 30 tons, has amphibious capabilities and can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h. The vehicle was tested over 50,000 kilometers across three climate zones in Kazakhstan and has been officially adopted by the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan.
Astana MPR Project Director Vadim Shakshakbayev said, "This vehicle is one of the most powerful AFVs in its class globally. It can withstand a mine blast of up to 10 kilograms under the hull and remain fully operational under radiation threat conditions. Even with a heavy turret, the vehicle maintains full amphibious functionality."
Kazakh media outlet Orda had reported that Kazakhstan was planning to procure 834 Otokar Arma armored combat vehicles for $4.4 billion, which would be the largest single-item export for the Turkish defense industry.
However, the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense denied the report.
"Information circulating on social media about the conclusion of an agreement between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Turkish company Otokar for the purchase of armored vehicles worth about 2 trillion tenge does not correspond to reality. To date, there are no agreements on the supply of armored vehicles from the Turkish side," the ministry said.
Set as preferred source
1 min read
