Kazakhstan has tested Barys 8x8 armoured fitted with Russian 2A42 30mm cannon

The Barys 8x8 armored fighting vehicle (AFV) developed by the Company Kazakhstan Paramount Enineering (KPE) has been tested with the Russian-made 2A42 30 mm automatic cannon, according to Director of Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) Yerbol Salimov.

Barys 8x8 armoured vehicle fitted with an unmanned turret armed with Soviet-made 2A42 30mm automatic cannon (Picture source informburo.kz)

"The combat turret developed and mounted on the Barys armoured by our partner, the KAE company, meets the latest requirements to the weapons of this type. Of course, we use Russian weapons, namely, the 2A42 gun. Kazakhstan is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO] and therefore we shall use unified munitions. The new weapon station increases the situational awareness of the crew, owing to the integration of a thermal imager, a laser rangefinder and optical devices. The module also features high rate of fire and agility," said Salimov.

In May 2016 during KADEX, the International defense exhibition, the Barys AFV was demonstrated with the Russian-originated AU-220M Baikal combat module armed with a 57 mm gun. Salimov said the vehicle is expected to be armed with this turret at an early date. "We are waiting for the trials of this 57 mm cannon and for its adoption by the Russian military.

According to our agreement with the Burevestnik institute, a subsidiary of the Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) corporation, a subsidiary of the Rostec Russian state defense company, once the module AU-220M is finished, we will receive it for trials. This a highly effective turret armed with a 57 mm gun that has a rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute and a firing range of up to 8 km. The integration of such weapon station results will offer fire superiority over all current armoured vehicles of this class." added Salimov.

Close view of the Barys turret fitted with the Russian-made 2A42 30mm automatic cannon (Picture source  informburo.kz)