Published
10/16/2026, 16:59The first ‘Ilbirs’ armoured vehicles, manufactured in Kyrgyzstan, are on display at the ‘Expo Kyrgyzstan – 2026’ exhibition.
The production of modern armoured vehicles for military and civilian use has been organised by the private domestic company S.M. ILBIRS LLC, drawing on international expertise and cutting-edge technologies.
The implementation of this project represents an important step in the development of the national defence-industrial complex, the creation of a domestic production base and the reduction of dependence on imports of specialised vehicles.
In February 2023, during the IDEX 2023 international defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi (UAE), representatives of the State Border Service held talks with INKAS on organising the production of lightly armoured vehicles in Kyrgyzstan.
Following the talks, an agreement was reached to implement a joint project for the assembly and production of armoured vehicles.
In January 2023, S.M. ILBIRS LLC was established in Kyrgyzstan, and on 1 May of the same year, a partnership agreement was signed between the company and INKAS VEHICLES DMMC, providing for the transfer of armouring technology, the training of specialists and technical support for production.
In September 2023, the company received a licence from the Ministry of Defence to develop, manufacture and market military products and services.
The company specialises in the production of lightly armoured military vehicles and focuses on the manufacture of armoured executive cars, saloons, buses, ambulances, cash-in-transit vehicles and other specialised vehicles.
Consequently, ‘Ilbirs’ products are intended not only for the Armed Forces, the State Border Service and other law enforcement agencies, but also for the civilian sector.
The production process utilises modern laser metal-cutting technologies, certified composite materials and ballistic protection systems. The vehicles produced undergo a multi-stage quality control process and a comprehensive programme of reliability and safety tests.
It should be noted that similar models of lightly armoured vehicles were previously procured for the Armed Forces and demonstrated high quality and reliability during service.
Going forward, the company plans to expand its production capacity, introduce state-of-the-art production lines for processing armour steel and armouring vehicle glass, and develop services for the repair, maintenance and modernisation of armoured vehicles.
The implementation of the project will contribute to the creation of new jobs, the training of domestic specialists, the introduction of cutting-edge technologies and the development of related industrial sectors.
The unveiling of the first ‘ILBIRS’ armoured vehicles manufactured in Kyrgyzstan marked a significant milestone for the domestic industry and a tangible result of efforts to develop domestic production of modern specialised automotive equipment.
