Serbia’s Yugoimport Showcases Lazar III M IFV with Remote 30 mm Turret at Partner 2025.

At the PARTNER 2025 show in Belgrade, Yugoimport presented the Lazar III M 8×8 IFV with a remotely operated 30 mm turret.The upgrade enhances direct fire support, improves day/night observation, and boosts crew protection while maintaining high road speed and obstacle performance.

At the Partner 2025 show in Serbia, Yugoimport presents the Lazar III M 8x8 with a new remotely operated 30 mm turret designed to increase direct fire support, day and night observation, and crew protection while maintaining high road speed and good obstacle performance. The infantry fighting vehicle uses modular ballistic protection and a steel hull that can be fitted with a spall liner.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Lazar III M 8x8 displayed at Partner 2025 in Serbia with modular protection, dual-level anti-mine floor, and a 30 mm remotely operated weapon station. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The floor is described with two levels of anti mine protection to reduce the effects of an explosion under the hull and to preserve the crew during movement on main or secondary roads. The platform mounts the 32V01 remote turret armed with a 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm 6P7K coaxial machine gun. The primary armament is paired with a TV sight, a thermal channel, and a laser rangefinder for range estimation and engagements in poor weather or low light.

Mobility figures place the vehicle within the upper range of contemporary 8x8s. Maximum speed is 110 km/h, the gradient is 60 percent, and the side slope is 30 percent. The vehicle climbs a 0.55 meter vertical obstacle and crosses a 2 meter trench. A turning radius of 11.5 meters helps in urban routes or confined areas. Fording depth is 1.6 meters without preparation, which covers most water obstacles encountered on secondary networks.

The 32V01 turret provides an elevation arc from minus 10 to plus 60 degrees with full traverse. This envelope enables engagements on uneven terrain, support in urban areas, and aim at elevated points while retaining the ability to fire in depression from hull defilade. Effective ranges are stated as four kilometers for the 30 mm cannon and one and a half kilometers for the 7.62 mm machine gun. The ammunition load includes 200 high explosive rounds for unprotected positions and 100 armor piercing tracer rounds for lightly armored targets, plus 1,000 cartridges for the coaxial. Turret weight with ammunition does not exceed 1.5 tons and the turret ring diameter is 1,350 millimeters, figures relevant for integration and maintenance on compatible chassis.

The armor architecture is intended to be adaptable. Modular protection allows different configurations by theater, from lighter kits to support strategic mobility to additional elements when the threat level rises. The spall liner reduces the risk of internal fragments from non penetrating hits. The two level anti mine floor reflects an effort to absorb and deflect blast effects, with direct impact for crews operating on road networks exposed to buried charges or remotely triggered devices.

At the tactical level, the gun and sensor suite provides a detection and engagement advantage at medium range. The daylight sight and thermal channel enable identification in dusk, fog, or dust, while the laser rangefinder supplies reliable distance data for fire adjustment. The wide elevation range is useful in urban areas against shooters located above street level and in rolling terrain against dug in positions. With its mix of high explosive and armor piercing tracer ammunition, the 30 mm covers targets from entrenched infantry to lightly armored vehicles, with suppressive fire out to four kilometers when line of sight and observation permit. Road mobility and obstacle performance support escort, patrol, and quick reinforcement tasks, with the ability to move between sectors without heavy transport assets.

The 8x8 chassis aims at compatibility with land forces that require controlled operating costs and manageable logistics. Obstacle figures and the turning radius reflect day to day constraints, including curbs, ditches, and tight intersections. The 1,350 millimeter ring and controlled turret mass ease integration and upkeep across mixed fleets.

Across Europe and beyond, many armies have expanded the use of eight wheeled platforms to carry infantry under armor while retaining endurance on long road movements. Recent operational experience has reinforced the utility of remotely operated medium caliber turrets that support units while limiting crew exposure. The Lazar III M fits within that category, combining adaptable protection, day and night sensors, and a 30 mm armament with practical reach. This profile aligns with needs in reinforced internal security, deployments in mixed threat theaters, or equipment for medium brigades, with attention to solutions that can be replicated across a fleet.

This approach seeks a balance of survivability, observation, and mobility. The vehicle is not intended to replace heavier platforms in engagements with dedicated anti tank systems, but it provides a credible capability for frequent missions where protection against mines and small arms fire, sensor reliability, and movement speed weigh most in the tactical outcome. This position explains recurring interest from forces that look for ready to use solutions interoperable with available ammunition stocks and integrable without major infrastructure changes.