The Uzbek military has long relied on Soviet stockpiles or foreign vendors to maintain its arsenal. Kursiv Uzbekistan looks at a new generation of locally designed armoured vehicles recently displayed for the President.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev toured production facilities of Krantas Group, a local manufacturer of trucks, construction machinery and, most recently, dual-use and military vehicles, on July 23. The company’s presentation offered a rare glimpse of weapons systems that may soon enter service with the Uzbekistan Armed Forces.
Arslon armed personnel carrier
The Arslon (Uzbek for «Lion») is an armoured personnel carrier (APC) available in 6×6 and 8×8 variants. It can transport up to eight troops and three crew members. The turret is equipped with an automatic cannon, a machine gun, and multiple sensors.
According to local media, the 6×6 version weighs 22 tonnes. Its 450 hp engine enables a top speed of 100 km/h and a range of up to 650 km. Krantas said that the Arslon’s protection meets NATO STANAG Level 4 and can withstand 12.7 mm and 14.5 mm rounds, as well as mine blasts equivalent to 8 kg of TNT.
The larger Arslon 8×8 weighs 33 tonnes and provides STANAG Level 6 protection against 14.5 mm and 30 mm rounds.
According to Kursiv Uzbekistan, the Uzbek military has been testing both variants since 2024.
A T-64 refit
The July 23 presentation also featured an upgraded T-64, a Soviet-built 38-tonne main battle tank that entered service in 1967.
Footage of the T-64 that emerged online shows the tank fitted with a new turret and enhanced exterior protection. With a 950 hp engine from South Korea’s Doosan Infracore, the upgraded T-64 is expected to offer improved propulsion and off-road capabilities.
Tofon self-propelled howitzer
Krantas also presented the Tofon (Uzbek for «Storm»), a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on a 6×6 wheeled chassis. The company stated that the howitzer, designed for fire support, can be deployed in about 30 seconds.
Depending on the ammunition, it reportedly has a firing range of 41 to 50 kilometres and a firing rate of six to seven rounds per minute.
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