ARMA 8x8 Otokar

Modular wheeled armored vehicle - Türkiye

ARMA 8x8 is a next-generation, modular, multi-wheel armored vehicle with superior tactical and technical capabilities. Thanks to its modularity and highly protected, armored monocoque hull design, ARMA 8x8 is a multipurpose platform that integrates a wide range of mission equipment and weapon systems to meet the current needs of modern armies in real battlefield and peacekeeping operations. The ARMA 8x8 is developed, designed, and manufactured by the Turkish Company Otokar.

The ARMA vehicle development program was started in 2007. Concept design, detailed design, and engineering studies were completed in 2008. Mine blast effects, mobility performance, hydrostatic stability, driving comfort, and other features were analyzed using specialized engineering tools and simulations. First prototypes were produced at the beginning of 2009, and validation tests regarding trials, durability, driveline durability, reliability, hot and cold climate tests were performed successfully. Furthermore, a mine-blast mock-up was produced concurrently, and explosion tests were successfully conducted in 2010.

Otokar continued to offer an 8X8 version of the family, which was initially unveiled at IDEF Istanbul in May 2011. The production and product development studies have been conducted and the new member of the ARMA family has already taken its place in the market. Production can commence once orders are placed. In the last 2 years, ARMA proved its performance and mobility under diverse conditions in trials and capability demonstration runs at different GCC countries.

Following its public unveiling in 2011, the ARMA family entered a phase of progressive international adoption, driven primarily by export contracts and derivative programs. Otokar positioned the ARMA platform as a modular wheeled armored vehicle available in 6x6 and 8x8 configurations, capable of fulfilling a wide range of missions including armored personnel carrier, infantry fighting vehicle, command and control, reconnaissance, and support roles. Production after 2011 focused on fulfilling foreign military requirements rather than large-scale domestic procurement.

One of the earliest confirmed export customers was Bahrain, which in 2010 procured 73 ARMA vehicles under a contract valued at approximately 74 million US dollars. These vehicles were delivered to equip mechanized units of the Bahraini armed forces and marked one of the first major export successes of the ARMA program in the Gulf region.

In Central Asia, Otokar ARMA vehicles have been associated with Kazakhstan, although official contract details have never been publicly confirmed. In 2023, media reports indicated a potential order for up to 834 ARMA vehicles, with a total value estimated at US$ 4.4 billion. While this information was not formally acknowledged by either Otokar or the Kazakh authorities, ARMA vehicles in an 8x8 configuration were publicly observed participating in Kazakhstan’s Victory Day parade on 7 May 2025, suggesting operational use or at least advanced induction into service. The exact number of vehicles delivered or fielded by the Kazakh Ground Forces remains undisclosed.

A major evolution of the ARMA 8x8 platform occurred through its adaptation for the United Arab Emirates, which selected a heavily modified infantry fighting vehicle variant known as RABDAN. In 2017, the UAE Army received 400 RABDAN 8x8 vehicles, developed from the ARMA 8x8 design and tailored to Emirati operational requirements, including enhanced protection and heavier armament. The UAE has indicated plans for a total fleet of up to 700 vehicles, making the RABDAN program the largest known ARMA-based production to date and a key reference for the platform’s maturity and scalability.

More recently, the ARMA family expanded its footprint in Europe. In October 2023, Estonia placed an order for 230 armored personnel carriers from Otokar under a contract valued at approximately 130 million euros. Based on available information, approximately half of the vehicles are expected to be delivered in the ARMA 6x6 configuration, with the remainder likely to be other variants. Deliveries began in 2025, marking the ARMA platform's entry into service with a NATO member state and reinforcing its credibility in European defense procurement.

The Arma 8x8 is also produced in Kazakhstan at the Besqaru Defense Industrial Plant under the name of Taimas.

ARMA 8x8 Variants:

ARMA vehicle has an adaptable platform for evolving mission needs in a modern battlefield. The vehicle can be offered with the integration of different equipment and accessories on the base platform. Flexible design enables it to be easily adapted for a wide range of roles and missions, such as :
- Personnel Carrier
- Command Vehicle
- Reconnaissance / Surveillance Vehicle
- Radar Vehicle
- Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- Mobile Gun Carrier
- CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle
- Maintenance and Recovery Vehicle
- Ambulance
- Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle

The Rabdan 8x8  IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is based on the Otokar Arma 8x8. This vehicle is produced by Al Jasoor Heavy Vehicles Industries, a joint company established by Otokar and Tawazun in UAE. The Rabdan was unveiled at IDEX 2017.