Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE), the joint venture between the global aerospace and technology company, Paramount Group and one of Kazakhstan’s leading defence and engineering companies, showcased the advanced capabilities of its next-generation Barys 8×8 Infantry Combat Vehicle (IFV), at one of Eurasia’s largest defence expos, the Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX) held in Baku, The Barys 8×8, the local variant of Paramount’s Mbombe 8 ICV, is at the vanguard of armoured vehicle technologies, and most recently and successfully completed an extensive four-year series of trials conducted by the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan, wherein the platform, capable of performing the functions of an armored personnel carrier (APC) and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), was tested throughout the mountainous terrains of Southern Kazakhstan, across the forested and savannah-like steppe and the salt marshes of Central Kazakhstan. The campaign came to its conclusion upon the sands of Mangistau, near the Caspian Sea, covering a total distance of 25,000 km. In addition to testing the outstanding mobility and versatility of the Barys, its firepower was also tested to the ultimate, with more than 5,000 rounds of 30 mm and 7,000 rounds of 7.62 calibre ammunition discharged.
The Barys 8×8 previously underwent testing activities in adverse weather conditions across Central Asia, withstanding temperatures between +45º and -60ºC, during both of its summer and winter trials. The platform offers for its crew of up to 11 (including a driver, two crew members and eight infantry troops) advanced technological solutions and, in the field of combat, high versatility, high mobility and world-class mine-resistant protections. Despite offering a maximum speed of 110 km/hr and an operating range of 800 km, the Barys 8×8 provides a payload of up to 9 tonnes, hosting unsurpassed STANAG 4569 Level 4B protection against mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and roadside shell-less landmines. Special ‘anti-mine’ seats have further been designed and equipped within the Barys 8 to prevent injury to the crew during extreme acceleration, which can take place due to the effects of an explosion near or directly under the vehicle. The Barys 8 employs an innovative new form of construction to keep its profile to a minimum; its anti-mine flat bottom allows its overall silhouette to be reduced to 2.4 meters, which provides additional advantages in combat, as well as protects against the excessive force of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The Barys 8 notably also sports a locally produced ‘Ansar’ manned combat automatic system; a remotely controlled turret variant with a 30-mm 2A72 automatic gun equipped with stabilizing barrel support, a twin 7.62-mm PKT(M) machine gun, ammunition storage, feeding and loading system, and 81-mm smoke grenade launchers. The installation of ATGM launchers can also be provided on an optional basis. The vehicle’s retractable searching and tracking system is equipped with a television camera, thermal imager, laser rangefinder, night vision devices and a weather station. A missile guidance unit can additionally be installed, capable of addressing low-flying aerial targets. The Barys 8×8 ICV has been manufactured entirely from within Kazakhstan, at the 15,000m2 KPE armoured vehicle production facility in Nursultan. The facility is today recognised as one of the largest and most modern armoured vehicle factories in Eurasia, with the capacity to produce 300 vehicles per year. Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) plans to further bolster the Eurasian nation’s industrial capability by expanding into new land, aerial and maritime production lines. The international military exhibition, ‘ADEX’, brings together some of the most authoritative companies, organisations, agencies, and delegations, exploring latest military technologies alongside defence and law-enforcement agencies from in-country in Azerbaijan, throughout Eurasia and beyond, highlighting contemporary innovations in security and peacekeeping.
About Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) is the joint venture between Paramount Group, the global technology and aerospace company, and Kazpetromash, a leading defence company in Kazakhstan. KPE is one of the leading defence companies in Kazakhstan and the greater CIS region. About Paramount Group Paramount Group is a global technology and aerospace business, a leader in defence and security innovation and a trusted partner to sovereign governments across the globe. Paramount specialises in the creation of portable manufacturing facilities through technology and skills transfer, resulting in new local capabilities and sustainable jobs, proven to not only benefit local defence industrial capabilities but economic diversification and growth. Paramount Group has been responsible for the development and production of a broad range of highly advanced armored and mine protected vehicles that are in operation around the world. The family of APC and combat vehicles which has been developed from clean-sheet design is at the vanguard of armored vehicle technologies. These vehicles have been designed and developed to meet the increasing demand for multi-role, high mobility, and mine hardened platforms, providing a solution to the ever-changing demands of the global battlefield.
