Uzbekistan is considering the purchase or local assembly of the Chinese-made VN22 armoured vehicle, according to Defence Blog.
The vehicle was recently spotted at Uzbekistan’s Military Scientific and Technical Institute, prompting speculation that local engineers are evaluating options to buy, modify or assemble the platform domestically. Defence Blog noted that Uzbekistan has previously used foreign military platforms as benchmarks for its own development programmes.
The VN22 is an export-oriented wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed by China’s state-owned defence company Norinco. It is designed as a multi-purpose platform for troop transport, patrol missions and infantry fire support. The vehicle features reinforced add-on armour covering most of the hull and, in its full protection configuration, can withstand armour-piercing rounds of up to 14.5 mm calibre.
As of early 2026, the VN22 is in service with Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal, while licensed production has been established in Iraq.
According to Defence Blog, Tashkent has stepped up purchases of foreign military equipment in recent years, including Chinese systems. In 2024, Uzbekistan acquired HQ-7B and HQ-12 air defence systems from China.
Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan is stepping up border security through expanded use of digital surveillance systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, including Turkish-made Bayraktar drones.
