Turkey's Nurol signs armored vehicle deal with UzAuto

By Goksel Yildirim

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish armored carmaker on Friday signed a deal for joint production of 1,000 four-wheel drive armored vehicles with an Uzbek firm.

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

Under the deal, 1,000 Ejder Yalcin 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 Yalcin 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 makes 375 horsepower.

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 antiaircraft 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.