Kurdistan Company Unveils Domestically Made B70 Tank
Duhok-based SHIELD says its locally designed B70 has undergone field testing as the company seeks support to expand indigenous armored-vehicle production.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A Duhok-based Kurdish company has unveiled what it describes as the B70, a domestically designed and manufactured main battle tank, highlighting the Kurdistan Region's emerging capabilities in armored-vehicle production.
The 25-ton vehicle was presented in a Kurdistan24 report from the factory of Anwar Atroshi Company SHIELD, with company owner Anwar Saeed saying the tank was developed locally by Kurdish engineers and technicians.
Saeed said the company wants to expand its work to support the Peshmerga and develop more advanced military equipment, but stressed that greater institutional support would be needed to move toward larger-scale production.
A Locally Developed Vehicle
According to Saeed, the B70 was designed at the company's facility in Duhok rather than assembled from an existing foreign model.
"We didn't copy anyone; we designed it ourselves from the ground up," Saeed said in the Kurdistan24 interview with Kurdistan24's Kamaran Haji Omar.
He described the vehicle as a 25-ton machine that incorporates sensors and laser-based systems and said the company has conducted tests in mountainous terrain, water and open areas.
Saeed said the company is still finalizing elements of the vehicle's running and track systems but described the platform as designed for military use.
The manufacturer also said that, at full production capacity, it could produce approximately one vehicle per month.
Cost and Domestic Production
Saeed compared the B70's reported production cost with foreign armored vehicles, telling Kurdistan24 that a comparable 2025 model sold internationally for around $2 million could cost significantly less when produced locally.
He estimated that his company could manufacture a vehicle for roughly one-quarter of that figure.
The claim highlights one of the potential arguments for domestic defense manufacturing: reducing dependence on imported equipment while developing local engineering and industrial expertise.
However, production at scale would require continued investment, specialized components and institutional support.
From Vehicle Refurbishment to Armored Manufacturing
The B70 is the latest development in a manufacturing effort that SHIELD says began more than a decade ago.
In an earlier interview with Kurdistan24, Saeed said Anwar Atroshi Company SHIELD, established in 2014, initially focused on maintaining and refurbishing vehicles and armored units before expanding into manufacturing.
The company has produced several types of armored vehicles for military, security and civilian applications, including protected vehicles for companies and diplomatic missions.
Saeed previously told Kurdistan24 that most components were produced locally, while engines and tires were sourced from Germany.
The company has also supplied some armored vehicles for Peshmerga use, according to the earlier report.
Building a Local Defense Industry
The development of the B70 reflects a wider push toward greater industrial self-reliance in the Kurdistan Region.
For the Peshmerga, domestic access to armored vehicles could offer potential advantages in maintenance, customization and long-term supply, particularly where imported systems can be expensive or difficult to procure.
Saeed said his objective extends beyond the B70. He told Kurdistan24 that the company has additional designs in development and believes it can produce larger and more sophisticated vehicles with sufficient support from the Kurdistan Regional Government and Peshmerga authorities.
"We are just waiting for the support and cooperation of the Peshmerga and the Kurdistan Regional Government," he said.
The company has previously received public recognition for its work. Saeed said Prime Minister Masrour Barzani visited the company's display at the Zakho International Fair and described its achievements as "unprecedented," while expressing support for its efforts.
Read More: Kurdistan Region Company Leads in Armored Vehicle Production
A Test of Kurdish Industrial Capacity
The B70's unveiling comes as the Kurdistan Region seeks to expand domestic industrial capacity beyond traditional sectors.
While the company's claims about the vehicle's specifications and protective capabilities remain those of the manufacturer, its development represents a notable attempt to move from repairing armored vehicles to designing and producing them locally.
The larger question is whether that capability can be transformed from a small-scale private manufacturing effort into a sustained defense-industrial base.
For SHIELD, the answer depends partly on whether it can secure the institutional backing, investment and technical resources needed to increase production.
For the Kurdistan Region, the B70 offers a visible example of how local engineering talent could contribute to a more self-reliant industrial and security sector.