Singapore’s ST Engineering and Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) have signed an agreement to build a new 8×8 amphibious armoured vehicle for the Kazakhstan military, the Singaporean company announced on 6 December.
The agreement includes engineering and technical support for the design and production of the new vehicle, based on ST Engineering’s Terrex platform, which it claims can operate effectively in open water conditions. Production will be carried out by KPE in Kazakhstan.
“This marks a breakthrough for our Land Systems business in terms of securing its first significant international land platform contract in recent years, as well as entry into a new market in Central Asia,” said Lim Kok Ann, President of Land Systems at ST Engineering.
However, the specific Terrex design – the Terrex 1 is in service with the Singapore Army, the Terrex 2 was defeated by the BAE Systems-IVECO entry for the US Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle requirement, Terrex 3 did not progress in the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 2 programme, and ST Engineering launched the Terrex s5 in February 2024 – was not disclosed, as was the number of vehicles to be built by KPE.
However, the emphasis on amphibious capabilities could suggest a Terrex 2-based platform for Kazakhstan.
“KPE’s production capabilities stand at 500 units of various types of armoured vehicles per year per shift and our extensive experience in deep localisation, scientific research, and the operation of armoured vehicles in Kazakhstan’s unique geographic conditions, together with ST Engineering, will enable us to fully meet the needs of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan for amphibious 8×8 vehicles,” said Aibek Baryssov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering.
The announcement of the partnership with ST Engineering puts KPE’s own Barys 8×8 vehicle development, which was first announced at the 2016 edition of KADEX in Astana, in doubt.
by Jr Ng
