BattleCamel APC
The need for a new armoured personnel carrier to replace the Turkestani Army's old Russian PBT-3s was evident in the wake of the 1991-1994 war with Uyguristan, in which Uyguristan's NBM-2 infantry fighting vehicles made short work of the older, simpler armoured personnel carriers used by Turkestan, and following the end of the war, the Turkestani government announced the development of a new APC as one of 4 "Key National Defence Projects".
However, budgetary overruns in the development of the Timur Main Battle Tank and T-9 Boran jet fighter meant that the budget for the new APC was slashed part-way to completion, and instead of the expected hyper-capable mini-tank for the infantry, the new armoured personnel carrier was to be done as cheaply as possible, while still incorporating every possible advance over the old PBT-3.
The resultant PBT(T) BattleCamel is heavily based on the older Russian PBT ("Пежикная Бронетранспортр" - "Infantry Armoured Transporter") series, as evidenced by the adapted designation. It utilises improved armour technology and an upgraded engine, but is still very much a member of the PBT family. The additional "T" in parentheses indicates that this is a Turkestan-developed series variant, not a Russian member of the class.
It can, on the other hand, comfortably transport a full squad of soldiers (as opposed to the half squad managed by the NBM (Новая Боевая Машина - "New Combat Vehicle") series, and has an increased armament, carrying two attack rocket tubes as well as the 35mm espingol cannon.
The PBT(T) entered service with the Turkestani Army in 2006.
