On July 15, 2024, Uzbekistan’s national broadcaster MTRK reported that the first domestically produced Arslon 8×8 armored personnel carrier (APC) and the modernized Tarlon-M 4×4 armored vehicle are undergoing field testing, with subsequent delivery planned for the Uzbek army. Additionally, the reports announced that the Uzbek army will receive a batch of this updated generation of the Tarlon armored vehicle.
According to the MTRK report, the ‘Arslon’ (Uzbek for lion) is the outcome of extensive studies and analysis of foreign APCs and was produced through the cooperation of different organizations within the Uzbek Defense Industry Agency. The vehicle was assembled by Krantas, a Tashkent-based equipment and agricultural machinery manufacturer, that has previously participated in the development and production of the Tarlon and Qalqon 4×4 APCs. Assembly took place at the same plant where the Qalqon was built.
Depending on the configuration, the APC weighs between 32 and 35 tons, and follows a conventional layout, with the engine located in the front right and the crew next to it. The crew, composed of a driver, commander, and gunner, is seated one behind the other. The gunner accesses his station via the troop compartment at the rear of the APC, which contains seats for eight paratroopers and is accessible through a rear hydraulic ramp. For comfort, the vehicle includes an air conditioning unit.
According to Jan Kerdijk, the Arslon 8×8 is equipped with a Guardian 30 weapon station by the Spanish company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering. The weapon station is placed directly upon the Arslon’s troop compartment. It is normally fitted with a MK 44 Bushmaster II, though Escribano M&E promotes the possibility of installing the Soviet 2A42 30mm autocannon. The Uzbek Army chose this option, given the presence of BMP-2s (with the same gun) and BTR-82As (with the related 2A72 using the same ammunition) in its arsenal. As a secondary armament, a 7.62mm machine gun is mounted coaxially to the main gun.