Kazakhstan's new Taimas 8×8 IFV merges Turkish design and Chinese weapons.

Kazakhstan has introduced the Taimas 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle, built on Türkiye’s Otokar Arma chassis and armed with a Chinese Norinco turret.

As reported by The Dead District on October 1, 2025, the Taimas 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle is now entering frontline service with Kazakhstan’s Army, combining Türkiye’s Otokar Arma 8x8 chassis and China’s Norinco VN-11 turret. First shown at the May 2025 Victory Day parade in Astana, the 30-ton vehicle carries up to 11 troops, is amphibious, and completed 50,000 kilometers of trials across Kazakhstan before entering service.
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The armament of the Taimas is centered around a Chinese dual-caliber turret system that integrates a 100 mm cannon, a 30 mm automatic cannon, and anti-tank guided missiles. (Picture source: X/The Dead District)

Kazakhstan has introduced the Taimas 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle during the Victory Day parade in Astana in May 2025, where its name was visibly displayed and confirmed. It was developed under a trilateral cooperation involving Türkiye, China, and Kazakhstan, with Otokar providing the Arma 8×8 chassis, Norinco supplying the turret system, and Astana MPR Project leading local integration and production. Senior representatives from both Otokar and Norinco attended the event, highlighting their role in the program. The Ministry of Defense has codified the vehicle for service, but the number of units to be procured has not been disclosed. Alongside the Taimas, the Aibar 4×4 was also introduced during the parade as part of Kazakhstan’s initiative to expand its domestic armored vehicle programs.

The industrial aspect of the program is based on exclusive technology transfer rights, which allow Kazakhstan to undertake full local production from the cutting of armored steel to the final assembly of the vehicle at an Astana-based facility. Astana MPR Project was designated as the prime integrator, ensuring that the platform becomes part of Kazakhstan’s defense industry capacity rather than being produced abroad. According to official program statements, the Taimas has been accepted into service following a comprehensive set of trials. Amphibious evaluations were included during development, with testing conducted in Kazakhstan’s rivers and the Caspian Sea. These steps were taken to validate the vehicle’s ability to operate in diverse terrain and climate conditions.

Based on the Turkish Otokar Arma 8x8, the Taimas has a combat weight of 30 tons and is designed for mobility and survivability. It is capable of reaching speeds of 110 kilometers per hour on roads and retains its amphibious capacity even when equipped with a heavy turret. The vehicle can carry up to 11 soldiers, providing transport and fire support for mechanized infantry units. Developers state that the vehicle can withstand a mine blast of up to 10 kilograms beneath the hull and remain operational even in environments affected by nuclear or radiological threats. The system completed more than 50,000 kilometers of trials across three climatic zones in Kazakhstan before being formally accepted into military service. These trials validated not only its mobility but also its protective features and ability to function under varied conditions.

The armament of the Taimas is centered around a dual-caliber turret system that integrates a 100 mm cannon, a 30 mm automatic cannon, and anti-tank guided missiles. The 100 mm gun, identified as part of the ZPL04 family, is a low-pressure rifled weapon that can fire high-explosive fragmentation rounds, bunker-busting ammunition, and tube-launched guided projectiles. The coaxial 30 mm cannon, referenced in some sources as ZLB02 and in others as ZPT-99, provides effective fire at ranges up to two kilometers against infantry, fortifications, and light armored vehicles. The turret also carries two HJ-12 anti-tank guided missiles in ready-to-fire launchers, with additional missiles carried in internal racks. The HJ-12 is infrared-guided, top-attack capable, and can engage targets at ranges of up to four kilometers. Some turret variants are additionally fitted with a roof-mounted remote weapon station carrying a 7.62 mm machine gun for close-range defense.

But there is still a problem, as the identity of this turret fitted to the Taimas has been described differently. Some accounts list it as Norinco’s VN11, while others attribute it to the VN20 family, which is a heavier design based on the VT4 tank chassis and features additional protection. In some discussions, the system is referred to as the AUS1 turret, considered to be an improved Chinese development of the Russian Bakhcha-U module used on the BMP-3. The AUS1 is described as combining the 100 mm ZPL04 cannon, the 30 mm coaxial autocannon, and two HJ-12 missiles, with provisions for storing more rounds internally. Before adopting the Chinese turret, Kazakhstan tested the Arma chassis with BMP-3 turrets and with Aselsan’s Nefer turret armed with a 30×165 mm 2A72 automatic cannon. These earlier trials demonstrate Kazakhstan’s search for the most suitable configuration before finalizing the Taimas system.

The 100 mm ammunition load seems to be restricted due to the weight and size of the rounds, which reduces sustained fire capability. When vehicles equipped with such turrets are struck by anti-tank weapons or FPV drones, the resulting explosions often severely compromise crew survivability. These vulnerabilities have been observed in recent conflicts and remain relevant for the Taimas despite its amphibious and mine-protection features. Developers describe the intended use of its weapon systems as layered, with the 30 mm cannon used for suppression, the 100 mm gun for heavier direct fire and guided munitions, and the HJ-12 for precision anti-tank engagements.

The Taimas is part of Kazakhstan’s broader strategy to strengthen its mechanized forces while developing a domestic defense industry. It will coexist with the Barys A 8×8 program, which is based on Singapore’s Terrex platform, indicating that Kazakhstan is diversifying rather than standardizing on one design. The Taimas also join a larger family of Arma derivatives worldwide, such as the UAE’s Rabdan, which carries a BMP-3 turret, and Estonia’s Arma 6×6 APCs. A reported Kazakh order for 834 Arma vehicles valued at $4.4 billion in 2023 was never officially confirmed, but the appearance of the Taimas and its integration into local production demonstrate progress in building a national capacity, with the possibility of export in the future.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.