One year ago, at the IDEX 2025 international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Uzbekistan unveiled its NATO-standard Arslon 8x8 and 6x6 armored personnel carriers. These military vehicles are seen as a cornerstone of Uzbekistan's comprehensive program to modernize its Armed Forces, while also aimed at reducing dependency on foreign defense suppliers.
Now, the "Arslon" 8x8 armored vehicle has successfully completed its state trials, with plans underway to launch serial assembly line production. This milestone was announced by Akmal Karimov, head of the Nurafshon Maxsus Texnika enterprise, in an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel following a presidential visit to the facility.
“We designed, engineered, and manufactured the new 'Arslon' 6x6 and 8x8 armored personnel carriers completely from the ground up," Karimov stated. "The vehicle has now successfully passed state trials. Our enterprise is actively gearing up to transition these models to assembly line mass production.”
About the Enterprise
During his visit to the Tashkent region, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev closely inspected operations at Nurafshon Maxsus Texnika. Spanning 25.8 hectares, it stands as one of the region’s largest specialized machinery manufacturing hubs. Alongside military hardware, the facility manufactures truck cranes, tow trucks, dump trucks, utility vehicles, hydraulic mechanisms, and specialized trailers. Its defense lineup features the Tarlon, Qalqon-1, and Qalqon-2 light armored vehicles, the NATO-standard Arslon 8x8 and 6x6 armored personnel carriers, and the "Toʻfon" tactical vehicle.
Operating under the Defense Industry Agency, the enterprise supplies its products under the Krantas brand. The project represents a total investment of $50 million and employs over 300 highly skilled specialists. The advanced manufacturing technologies utilized at the plant were imported from the United States, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Russia, China, and Turkey. Looking ahead, the company plans to scale its operations further by establishing a new 10-hectare production facility in Tashkent's Yangihayot district.
Stay up to date with all the latest news:
