Turkish and Uzbek firms sign deal for 1,000 armored vehicles

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

A Turkish armored-vehicle maker has signed a deal for the joint production of 1,000 four-wheel drive armored vehicles with an Uzbek firm in the Central Asian country.

Nurol Makina signed the memorandum of understanding with Uzbek firm UzAuto, said a statement from the company on Oct. 27, adding that the deal was signed alongside Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Turkey earlier this week.

Under the deal, 1,000 Ejder Yalçın 4x4 tactical armored vehicles—called “Dragon” in English—will be co-produced in Uzbekistan. The deal also includes the vehicles’ sales to third countries.

The Ejder Yalçın 4x4 has a unique design, with the highest level of protection in its class, allowing the vehicle to negotiate all kinds of terrain, including off-road, said the company.

According to Nurol Makina’s website, the vehicle has a crew capacity of 11 and can reach maximum speeds of 120 kilometers per hour (about 74 miles per hour).

The vehicle’s engine has a horsepower of 375.

The vehicle is a “dynamic, agile, modular, versatile, easy-care and low-maintenance combat vehicle,” it added.

Various weapon systems and a high payload capacity can also be integrated into the Ejder Yalcin 4x4.

Optional weapon systems include a 7.62-millimeter machine gun, a 12.7-mm machine gun, a 25-mm anti-aircraft gun, or a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, which can be added to the vehicle, according to the website.

It also boasts various configurations such as armored combat, command control, ambulance, armored personnel carrier, border surveillance and security, air defense and mine/handmade explosive detection and destruction vehicles.