Kazakhstan has officially introduced a new wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, the Taimas 8×8, developed through a trilateral defense partnership with Türkiye and China.
The vehicle was showcased for the first time during a recent military parade in Astana, where senior representatives from Chinese Norinco and Turkish Otokar were present to mark the occasion.
The Taimas program is a joint initiative involving Kazakh firm Astana MPR Project as the prime integrator, Turkey’s Otokar contributing its Arma 8×8 wheeled platform, and China’s Norinco supplying the VN11 turret system, equipped with a dual-caliber 100mm and 30mm gun configuration.
The turret design itself is an iteration of a Russian combat module similar to those used on BMP-3 and BMD-4 vehicles. The ongoing war in Ukraine has highlighted serious shortcomings in such turret designs. The 100mm ammunition load is limited due to weight, and when the vehicle is struck by anti-tank weapons or FPV drones, the resulting explosion often leaves little chance for crew survival.
According to developers, the Taimas 8×8 weighs 30 tons, maintains amphibious capabilities, and can reach speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour. It has passed more than 50,000 kilometers of testing across three climatic zones in Kazakhstan and has been formally accepted into service by the Ministry of Defense.
“This is arguably one of the most powerful IFVs in its class globally,” said Vadim Shakshakbayev, Director of Astana MPR Project. “It can survive a mine blast of up to 10 kilograms beneath the hull and remain fully operational under radiation threat conditions. Even with a heavy turret, the vehicle retains full amphibious functionality.”
Uufuk Aybar, a board member of Otokar Central Asia, also emphasized the combat capabilities of the platform: “This vehicle is capable of destroying tanks.”
Kazakhstan has obtained exclusive technology transfer rights as part of the partnership, allowing for complete local production. All key stages of manufacturing—from cutting armored steel to final assembly—will take place at the Astana-based plant.
Despite the system’s official adoption by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense, there has been no official announcement regarding the number of Taimas 8×8 vehicles to be procured. The country already hosts a competing wheeled IFV project, the Terrex-based Barys A 8×8, developed by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering.