Samarqand Steel: Uzbekistan’s Fighting Vehicles

By Jan Kerdijk, Stijn Mitzer and Buschlaid

The Republic of Uzbekistan finds itself surrounded by five landlocked countries that define its borders: Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Tajikistan to the southeast, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest. This unique positioning designates Uzbekistan as one of just two doubly landlocked countries in the world. Its location in Central Asia becomes even more significant due to its shared border with Afghanistan. Given that the potential dangers of a terrorist threat outweigh the risk of a conventional military invasion, a significant portion of the country's military investments has been directed towards enhancing its counterterrorism capabilities through the acquisition of equipment such as K-53949 Taifun-K and Ejder Yalçın MRAPs and more than a dozen Eurocopter AS532 transport helicopters, a dozen Eurocopter AS550 utility helicopters, and four C-295W transport aircraft.

Most of Uzbekistan's military equipment originates from the Soviet Army's Turkestan Military District, although some other equipment was acquired via the CFE treaty. Due to the treaty's regulations mandating the USSR to relocate a significant amount of hardware behind the Ural Mountains, Uzbekistan ended up with hundreds of T-64s and T-80s on its territory. Faced with a severe shortage of wheeled APCs, Uzbekistan repurposed a number of specialised AFVs into APCs in the 2000s, later supplemented by a number of BTR-80s acquired from Russia. The BTR-80s were one of the few acquisitions made under President Karimov's reign. Due to the volatile region Uzbekistan is located in, the US sought to strengthen the country's counterterrorism capabilities through the donation of 308 MRAPs and 20 MRVs (MRAP-based recovery vehicles) in 2015. [1] This represented the single largest transfer of US military equipment to a post-Soviet state prior to the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian War, and greatly strengthened the country's capabilities.

President Karimov's successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has significantly increased investments in the Armed Forces and procured KamAZ Taifun-K MRAPs and BTR-82As APCs from Russia in the late 2010s. Despite not yet leading to the acquisition of new tanks, Uzbekistan's defence industry has initiated the modernisation of a number of the country's T-62, T-64, and T-72s. Nevertheless, these modernisations have not yet progressed beyond the prototype phase. Furthermore, domestically manufactured weaponry is being integrated into active service. This has so far encompassed tactical vehicles and IMVs. As Uzbekistan is making concerted efforts to further expand its capabilities to produce and modernise military equipment, it appears likely that additional Uzbek-produced AFVs are to make their debut in the near future. These additions will join an esoteric collection of Soviet, US, and Russian vehicle types.

This list attempts to list all AFV types currently in service with the Uzbek Army. This list only includes vehicles and equipment of which photographic evidence is available. ATGMs, MANPADS, mortars trucks and jeeps are not included in the list. If a vehicle or equipment type is operated by a service branch other than the Ground Forces this branch is indicated in brackets.

(Click on the equipment to get a picture of them in Uzbek service)

Tanks

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Clik here to view.T-44 (Used for ceremonial roles)
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Clik here to view.T-62 Obr. 1972 And Obr. 1975
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Clik here to view.T-62M (Some equipped with slat armour or a NSVT HMG)
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Clik here to view.T-62MV (Some equipped with rubber turret armour instead of Kontakt-1 ERA)
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Clik here to view.T-62(M)UZ [Prototype]
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Clik here to view.T-64A Obr. 1972/1975
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Clik here to view.T-64B1 Obr. 1981 (Some equipped with Kontakt-1 ERA)
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Clik here to view.T-64B1V
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Clik here to view.T-64BV Obr. 1985
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Clik here to view.T-64(B1)UZ [Prototype]
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Clik here to view.T-64MV
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Clik here to view.T-64 With T-72A Turret
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Clik here to view.T-72 'Ural'
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Clik here to view.T-72A Obr. 1979 And Obr. 1982
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Clik here to view.T-72AV (Some fitted with cope cages)
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Clik here to view.T-72B1
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Clik here to view.T-72B Obr. 1985 (Some equipped with T-64BV Kontakt-1 ERA sideskirts)
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Clik here to view.T-72(B/B1)UZ Two configurations: (2) [Prototype]
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Clik here to view.T-80BV

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

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Clik here to view.BRDM-2 Reconnaissance Vehicle

Infantry Fighting Vehicles

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Clik here to view.BMP-2 Obr. 1980 (Some equipped with armour from the BMP-2D)
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Clik here to view.BMP-2 Obr. 1984
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Clik here to view.BMP-2D
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Clik here to view.BMD-1P
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Clik here to view.BTR-82A

Armoured Personnel Carriers

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Clik here to view.BTR-70 (Some of them have undergone internal modifications)
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Clik here to view.BTR-70 Fitted With Applique And Slat Armour And Smoke Grenade Launchers [Prototype]
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Clik here to view.BTR-80 [Also in service with the State Security Service, Internal Troops, National Guard and Border Guard]
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Clik here to view.BTR-D
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Clik here to view.BTR-60 Fitted With A BPU-1 Turret And BTR-80 Firing Ports
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Clik here to view.BTR-60 Fitted With A NSVT-12.7 Cupola
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Clik here to view.BTR-60PU-12/R-145BM Command Vehicle Fitted With A BPU-1 Turret And BTR-80 Firing Ports
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Clik here to view.BTR-60PU-12/R-145BM Command Vehicle Fitted With A NSVT-12.7 Cupola And BTR-80 Firing Ports
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Clik here to view.BTR-60PU-12 Command Vehicle Fitted With A NSVT-12.7 Cupola And BTR-80 Firing Ports
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Clik here to view.R-145BM Command Vehicle Fitted With A NSVT-12.7 Cupola
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Clik here to view.R-145BM Command Vehicle Converted Into An APC
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Clik here to view.1V18/1V19 Command Vehicle Converted Into An APC
(Some equipped with side-doors)
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Clik here to view.BRDM-2 Reconnaissance Vehicle Converted Into An APC
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Clik here to view.9P133 ATGM Carrier Converted Into An APC Two configurations: (2)

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles

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Clik here to view.KamAZ K-53949 Taifun-K (Some fitted with a NSVT-12.7 cupola. Others used as ambulance)
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Clik here to view.Ejder Yalçın
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Clik here to view.International M1224 MaxxPro [Also in service with the Border Guard]
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Clik here to view.Cougar H (Some fitted with SPG-9 RCLs)
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Clik here to view.Oshkosh M-ATV [Also in service with the Border Guard]
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Clik here to view.BAE RG-33L [Also in service with the Border Guard]
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Clik here to view.Tarlon Prototype: (1)

Infantry Mobility Vehicles

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Clik here to view. Tigr-M (Some fitted with crowd control shields or aircraft boarding ramps) [In service with the Internal Troops and National Guard]
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Clik here to view.M998(A1) HMMWV
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Clik here to view. M1038 HMMWV [In service with the Internal Troops or National Guard and Border Guard]
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Clik here to view.Aksum MAX-S [Also in service with the State Security Service and Border Guard]
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Clik here to view. Qalqon [In service with the Internal Troops and National Guard]

Tactical Vehicles And Technicals

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Clik here to view. UAZ-469 (Fitted with NSV HMGs, AGS-30 AGLs or SPG-9 RCLs)
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Clik here to view. UAZ-39094 'Fermer' (Fitted with NSV HMGs, AGS-30 AGLs or SPG-9 RCLs)
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Clik here to view.UAZ-3303 Golovastik Fitted With SPG-9 RCL
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Clik here to view.UAZ PickUp With PK MG Cupola [In service with the Border Guard]
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Clik here to view.Polaris MRZR (Some fitted with PK MGs or 9M111 Fagot ATGMs)
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Clik here to view. Landrover Defender (Some fitted with NSV HMGs, AGS-30 AGLs or SPG-9 RCLs)
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Clik here to view.Toyota Hilux Gen 7 With NSV HMG [In service with the State Security Service]
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Clik here to view.Indigenious 4x4 Tactical Vehicle (Some fitted with PK MGs or Mortars)

Command Vehicles And Fire-Control Vehicles

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Clik here to view.BMP-1KSh 'Potok-2'
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Clik here to view.BMD-1KSh 'Soroka'
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Clik here to view.K1Sh1
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Clik here to view.R-145BM 'Chaika' (Late)
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Clik here to view.PRP-4 'Nard' (1V121)/PRP-4M 'Deyteriy' (1V145)
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Clik here to view.1V14/1V15
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Clik here to view.1V13/1V16
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Clik here to view.1V119 Rheostat
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Clik here to view.1V18 Klen-1/1V19 Klen-2
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Clik here to view.Indigenous FCS Vehicle Based On The BTR-60PU-12 Two configurations: (2)

Engineering Vehicles And Equipment

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Clik here to view.BTS-4 Armoured Recovery Vehicle
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Clik here to view.BREM-1 Armoured Recovery Vehicle
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Clik here to view.International MaxxPro Recovery Vehicle
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Clik here to view.IMR-2(M) Combat Engineering Vehicle
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Clik here to view.BAT-2 Heavy Engineering Vehicle
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Clik here to view.BMR-2 Mine-Clearing Tank
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Clik here to view.UR-77 'Meteorit' Mine-Clearing Vehicle
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Clik here to view.MT-55A Bridge Layer
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Clik here to view.TMM-3 Bridge Layer
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Clik here to view.PMP Floating Bridge
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Clik here to view.BMK-T Towing And Motor Boat
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Clik here to view.BMK-130M Towing And Motor Boat
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Clik here to view.PTS-M Tracked Amphibious Transport
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Clik here to view.MDK-3 Trench-Digging Vehicle
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Clik here to view.PZM-2 Trench-Digging Vehicle
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Clik here to view.GMZ-3 Minelayer
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Clik here to view.ATS-59G Multi-Purpose Tracked Transporter
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Clik here to view.MT-T Multi-Purpose Tracked Transporter
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Clik here to view.MT-LBu Fire-Fighting Vehicle
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Clik here to view.ZS-82 PsyOps Vehicle (Some fitted with side-doors, applique armour or slat armour)
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Clik here to view.ZS-88 PsyOps Vehicle
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Clik here to view.9T452 Transporter-Loader (For BM-27 Uragan MRL)
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Clik here to view.PR-14M(A) Transporter-Loader (For S-125 SAM System)
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Clik here to view.PR-14-2M Transporter-Loader (For Pechora 2-M SAM System)

Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Missile Systems

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Clik here to view.BTR-RD Robot

Towed Artillery

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Clik here to view.100mm MT-12 Anti-Tank Gun
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Clik here to view.122mm D-30 Howitzer
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Clik here to view.122mm D-30A Howitzer
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Clik here to view.152mm D-20 Howitzer
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Clik here to view.152mm 2A36 Giatsint-B Field-Gun

Self-Propelled Artillery

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Clik here to view.82mm 2B9(M) Vasilek On Truck Three configurations: (2)(3)
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Clik here to view.120mm 2S9 Nona
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Clik here to view.120mm 2S9 Turret On A Modified BTR-60PU-12 Hull [Prototype]
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Clik here to view.122mm 2S1 Gvozdika
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Clik here to view.152mm 2S3 Akatsiya
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Clik here to view.203mm 2S7 Pion

Multiple Rocket Launchers

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Clik here to view.122mm 9P138 Grad-1
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Clik here to view.122mm BM-21 Grad
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Clik here to view.122mm BM-21MK Buron
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Clik here to view.220mm BM-27 Uragan

Anti-Aircraft Guns

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Clik here to view.12.7mm NSV-12.7 'Utyos'
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Clik here to view.23mm ZU-23-2 (Some fitted with two PKT MGs or shields: two configurations (2)) [Also in service with the Border Guard]
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Clik here to view.37mm M-1939

Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns

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Clik here to view.14.5mm ZPU-2 On Truck
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Clik here to view.14.5mm ZPU-4 On Truck
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Clik here to view.23mm ZU-23 On Truck Nine configurations: (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)
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Clik here to view.23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka (Some equipped with Kontakt-1 ERA and/or slat armour)

Static Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) Systems

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Clik here to view.S-125
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Clik here to view. FD-2000

Self-Propelled Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) Systems

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Clik here to view.9K35 Strela-10
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Clik here to view. Pechora-2M

Electronic Warfare Systems

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Clik here to view.R-381T1/2 Taran

Radars

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Clik here to view.P-18 'Spoon Rest D'
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Clik here to view.P-37 'Bar Lock'
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Clik here to view.NRZ-4P Parol-4
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Clik here to view.SNR-125 (For S-125)
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Clik here to view.SNR-125-2M (For Pechora-2M)
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Clik here to view. HT-233 (For FD-2000)
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Clik here to view. HK-JM2 (For FD-2000)

Surveillance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

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Clik here to view. DJI Mavic
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Clik here to view. DJI Matrice 300 RTK [Used by the Internal Troops]
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Clik here to view.Orlan-10
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Clik here to view.ZALA 421-16E
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Clik here to view. RQ-11B Raven