Kazakhstan parades Arma 8×8 IFVs

An Arma 8×8 IFV seen during preparations for the parade. (Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan)

Three Otokar Arma 8×8 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) with previously unseen turrets in Kazakhstan's Victory Day parade on 7 May, in addition to a single Barys A and three Barys 8×8 IFVs, raise questions about what type will be ordered in significant numbers for the Kazakh Ground Forces.

The two-man turrets on the Arma 8×8s were armed with both 100 mm and 30 mm guns, as well as a remotely operated weapon station for a 7.62 mm machine gun, and appeared to be the same as ones seen fitted to some versions of the Chinese VN20 tracked IFV.

The Kazakh Ministry of Defense (MoD) has previously confirmed that it was testing the Arma 8×8 as a possible alternative to the Barys 8×8, which is based on the Mbombe 8 developed by the South African company Paramount and will be built by the Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) joint venture.

In a statement released on 11 September 2023, the MoD said an Arma 8×8 fitted with China's VN-11 turret with both 100 mm and 30 mm guns was being tested as it offered more firepower than the Barys, which has a 30 mm 2A72 cannon mounted in the Ansar turret. It also said that testing earlier that year had shown that the previously identified shortcomings of the Ansar turret had not been addressed.

These shortcomings were revealed in a statement released by the MoD on 4 August 2022 that said the Ansar was insufficiently accurate when firing its cannon and there were problems with its optics and monitors.