Kazakh Air Defense Forces Explained

Unit Name:Kazakh Air Defence Forces
Country: Kazakhstan
Type:Air force
Size:12,000 airmen, 261 aircraft
Command Structure:Kazakh Armed Forces
Garrison:Astana
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Commander1:President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Commander1 Label:Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Commander2:Kunurov Ruslan Zarlykovich [1]
Commander2 Label:Commander of the Air Force
Commander3:Dauren Kosanov[2]
Commander3 Label:Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces
Commander4:Nurtas Kabakov
Commander4 Label:Commander of anti-aircraft defense forces
Identification Symbol Label:Roundel
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Flag
Aircraft Attack:Su-24, Su-25
Aircraft Fighter:MiG-29, Su-27, Su-30
Aircraft Helicopter:Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17, Mil Mi-26, Bell UH-1, Eurocopter EC145
Aircraft Helicopter Attack:Mil Mi-24, Mil Mi-35
Aircraft Interceptor:MiG-31
Aircraft Recon:CAIG Wing Loong, Aeronautics Defense Orbiter, Elbit Hermes 90, Elbit Hermes 450, Elbit Skylark
Aircraft Trainer:Aero L-39, Zlín Z 42
Aircraft Transport:An-12, An-24, An-26, An-72, An-74, EADS CASA C-295, Boeing 757, Shaanxi Y-8

The Kazakh Air Defense Forces (Kazakh: Қазақстан Әуе қорғаныс күштері, Kazakh: Qazaqstan Äwe qorğanıs küşteri, Russian: Силы воздушной обороны Казахстана/Sily vozdušnoj oborony Kazahstana) is the aviation warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Their responsibilities include protecting Kazakh airspace, as well as combat missions in support of other branches of the armed forces. The official holiday of the air forces is Aviation Day on August 18.

The Talgat Bigeldinov Military Institute of the Air Defence Forces serves as the only educational service of the air force, having trained cadets from foreign countries including Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.[3] [4] [5]

History

Soviet era

In the first formation of the Central Asian Military District, it operated a Soviet Air Force district branch led by Major General M.P. Kharitonov. It operated in the early to mid-40s during the Second World War, and consisted of air brigades based on the territory of the Kazakh SSR.[6] The Central Asian Military District was reinstated in 1969 in relation with the increased hostility between the USSR and the People's Republic of China, by splitting the territories of the Kazakh SSR, Kyrgyzstan SSR and the Tajik SSR from the Turkestan Military District. The 73rd Air Army provided all air support for the district,[7] being known as the Air Forces of the Central Asian Military District from 1980 to 1988. Air defence was also provided by the 12th and 14th Air Defence Armies. In 1989 the military district was disbanded, being merged back into the Turkestan MD. This led to the amalgamation of the 73rd Air Army into the 49th Air Army of the TurkMD. The new air army inherited the headquarters of the 49th, but has taken the designation of the 73rd, so while air force units were nominally still subordinated to the 73rd AA, this was not the one of the CAMD with its HQ in Almaty, but another formation with its HQ in Tashkent.

Post-independence

At the time of the declaration of the independence of Kazakhstan and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 24th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Division, as well as three other separate air regiments, were stationed in the country.[8] On May 7, 1992, a meeting was held in Almaty between Russian and Kazakh government representatives and an agreement was reached for the transfer of all units and formations of the Turkestan Military District, to the authority of Kazakhstan. On the same day President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a decree for the transformation of the State Committee of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan into the Ministry of Defence, and for the creation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. For the Air Force this included the following units:

The territory of the Kazakh SSR was provided air defence by two separate armies of the Air Defence Forces and the Kazakh military took control over their Kazakhstan-based assets:

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan have also inherited an army aviation unit.

Directly subordinated to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR:

The air defence and the army aviation units were kept separate from the air force, but by the time the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces were established on 1 June 1998 they were merged into it.

By late 1993 the small Kazakh Air Force consisted of a six regiments as well as an air defence fighter regiment.

It included the following units:

Creation of Kazakh Air Defence Forces

On 17 November 1997, President Nursultan Nazarbayev issued a decree titled "On Further Measures for Reforming the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan". As instructed by this, on 1 April 1998, Minister of Defense Sagadat Nurmagambetov, announced the creation of the Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces, with the first day of operation being 1 June 1998. On 17 April 2008, the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces announced August 18 would be celebrated as 'Aviation Day.'[15]

In November 2007, Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Belarus, under which 10 Soviet-made Su-27 fighters were modernised at an aircraft repair plant in Baranavichy, designated for the Kazakh Air Defence Forces. In 2008, EADS agreed titanium sourcing agreements with Kazakh suppliers.[16] On 28 October 2010, Eurocopter created a 50/50 joint venture with Kazakhstan Engineering, under which 45 Eurocopter EC145s would be assembled locally for government use.[17] The first of six EC145s ordered by the Kazakh Ministries of Defence and Emergencies was delivered in November 2011.[18]

In early January 2012, Airbus Military and the state-owned Kazspecexport defence company, signed a contract to deliver two EADS CASA C-295 military transport aircraft, and a Memorandum of Understanding for another six aircraft, which were to be delivered over the course of the following year. In May 2012, Kazakhstan announced its intent to acquire 20 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters that were to be assembled in Astana by officials from Kazakhstan Engineering and fitted by the Turkish firm Aselsan.[19]

Commander

Aircraft

Current inventory

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Combat Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-27RussiaSu-27 / Su-27UB20 / 4[26] 4 UBs provide conversion training
Sukhoi Su-30RussiaSU-30SM43
Mikoyan MiG-29Soviet UnionmultiroleMiG-29/MiG-29UB12 / 22 UBs provide conversion training
Mikoyan MiG-31Soviet Unioninterceptor31
Sukhoi Su-25Soviet UnionattackSu-25/Su-25UB12 / 2
Transport
Airbus A400MSpainheavy transport2 on order[27]
CASA C-295SpaintransportC-295M/W8 / 1
Antonov An-12Soviet Unionheavy transport2
Antonov An-26Soviet Uniontransport 6
Antonov An-72Soviet Unionheavy transport2STOL capable aircraft – one is a An-74[28]
Let L-410 TurboletCzechoslovakiatransport2[29]
Helicopters
Bell UH-1United StatesutilityUH-1H4
Mil Mi-17RussiautilityMi-17V-5 / Mi-171Sh20 / 6
Mil Mi-24RussiaattackMi-24V20
Mil Mi-35RussiaattackMi-35SM12
Mil Mi-26Russiaheavy lift / transport4
Eurocopter EC145Franceutility8
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39Czechoslovakiajet trainer17
Zlín Z 42Czechoslovakiabasic trainerZ 242L2
UAV
CAIG Wing LoongChinaMALE UCAV3[30]
TAI AnkaTurkeyUCAV3[31]
In April 2024, it was reported that the US had acquired 81 obsolete Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers, for $2.26 million, equalling an average price of each plane of $19,300. It is likely they will be transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force, for use as a source of spare parts. [32] [33] [34] [35] In a later statement, the Kazakh state-owned weapons importer and exporter Kazspetexport denied such claims, saying that foreign companies were not allowed to bid.[36] [37]

Structure

The general composition of the Air and Air Defence Force is as follows:[38]

Today the Air and Air Defence Force has four jet bases:[39] [40]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Назначен командующий военно-воздушными силами. kapital.kz. 26 September 2022 .
  2. Web site: Распоряжение Главы государства. ru. akorda.kz. 2022-12-29.
  3. http://www.aktobetimes.kz/index.php/city/item/972-167-%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8F%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8F%D0%B3%D1%83 167 ЛЕЙТЕНАНТОВ ПРИНЯЛИ ПРИСЯГУ
  4. http://www.mod.gov.kz/mod-ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=119 Военный институт Сил воздушной обороны им. дважды Героя Советского Союза Т. Я. Бегельдинова
  5. http://www.redstar.ru/index.php/component/k2/item/11328-v-nebe-on-byl-neustrashim В небе он был неустрашим
  6. Leo Niehorster, Order of Battle, CAMD, 22 June 1941, Orbat.com.
  7. Web site: 73rd Air Army. Holm. Michael. www.ww2.dk. 17 March 2017.
  8. Michael Holm, 24th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Division, accessed October 2011. Note division was given as the 11th in Kazakhstan AF Restructures, Jane's Defence Weekly, 25 September 1993
  9. Drozdov . Sergey . Feb 2016 . Была такая авиация [There Was Such an Aviation... Echo of Air Power Past] . Авиация и космонавтика [Aviation and Spaceflight] . 02-2016 . 16–18.
  10. Web site: Vasquez . Tim . September 2009 . Zhaneysmey - Russian Airfield Index . 2023-09-24 . Survey of Russian Airfields: CIVILIAN AIRFIELDS AND RUSSIAN AND SOVIET AIR BASES.
  11. Not listed by Drozdov. Listed in Jane's Defence Weekly 25 September 1993 and Holm, http://www.ww2.dk/new/air%20force/regiment/shap/134apib.htm)
  12. Web site: Военная авиация Кыргызстана . 2022-05-16 . techinformpress.ru.
  13. Web site: Кузница кадров иностранного разлива . 2022-05-16 . 477768.livejournal.com.
  14. Web site: bmpd . 2017-10-22 . Бригада противовоздушной обороны Сил воздушной обороны Казахстана . 2022-05-16 . bmpd.
  15. https://www.mod.gov.kz/rus/struktura/vooruzhennye_sily_rk/sily_vozdushnoi_oborony/osnovnaya_informaciya; Web site: Kazakhstan- Air Force.
  16. Defense Industry Daily, EADS-Signs-its-Own-Titanium-Deal-with-Kazakhstan
  17. Web site: HeliHub Kazakhstan buys 45 EC145s and signs production JV with Eurocopter. 28 October 2010. 14 December 2014.
  18. Web site: HeliHub First of six EC145s delivered to Kazakhstan. 28 November 2011. 14 December 2014.
  19. Web site: Airbus Group. https://archive.today/20120730053252/http://www.eads.com/eads/int/en/news/press.20120510_ec_ec725_kazakhstan.html. dead. 30 July 2012. airbusgroup. 10 November 2019.
  20. Web site: Генерал-лейтенант авиации Нурлан Орманбетов: СВО – всегда в процессе совершенствования. 18 August 2020.
  21. Web site: Командование . mod.gov.kz . 2016-02-19.
  22. Web site: Казахстанская правда 18.09.2007. 6 April 2023.
  23. Web site: Назначен главнокомандующий Силами воздушной обороны Вооруженных Сил Республики Казахстан.
  24. Web site: Нурлан Карбенов освобожден от должности главнокомандующего СВО. 16 March 2020.
  25. News: Досье: Орманбетов Нурлан Секенович.
  26. Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2024 . February 13, 2024 . Routledge . 978-1032780047 . 1st . 187.
  27. Web site: 2024-06-11 . 2024-06-16. First A400M for Kazakhstan makes maiden flight . Jane's.
  28. Web site: Arms Transfers Database. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 23 August 2021.
  29. Web site: Что известно о новом самолете L-410, поступившим на вооружение СВО. 2023-12-05. 2024-04-19. Daniyar. Ishchanov. ru.
  30. Web site: Kazakhstan purchases two Chinese Wing-Loong UCAVs IHS Jane's 360. 2016-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20160608131122/http://www.janes.com/article/61042/kazakhstan-purchases-two-chinese-wing-loong-ucavs. 2020-02-12. 2016-06-08.
  31. Web site: 2023-05-24 . TUSAŞ hangi ülkelere kaç adet hava aracı teslim etti? . 2023-05-24 . tr.
  32. Web site: Brown . Steve . 2024-04-28 . Why Did US Buy Old Soviet Aircraft from Kazakhstan? . 2024-04-30 . Kyiv Post . en.
  33. News: 2024-04-29 . Why US is buying 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally . 2024-04-30 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  34. Web site: 2024-04-29 . US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says . 2024-04-30 . Yahoo News . en-GB.
  35. Web site: 2024-04-29 . US buys Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally in less than $20,000 per unit . 2024-04-30 . Firstpost . en-us.
  36. News: Did the US buy old aircraft from Kazakhstan? . 17 July 2024 . Censor.NET . 24 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508033135/https://censor.net/en/news/3486827/did_the_us_buy_old_aircraft_from_kazakhstan . 8 May 2024.
  37. News: Spirlet . Thibault . Rommen . Rebecca . Claims that the US bought 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from a close Russian ally are likely false, experts say . 17 July 2024 . Business Insider . 30 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430152115/https://www.businessinsider.com/claims-us-buying-soviet-era-aircraft-from-kazakhstan-likely-false-2024-4 . 30 April 2024.
  38. https://www.mod.gov.kz/rus/struktura/vooruzhennye_sily_rk/sily_vozdushnoi_oborony/struktura/ Archived copy
  39. Vad777, Brinkster.net, July 2010
  40. Web site: Orbats. scramble.nl. 10 November 2019. 14 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200814105459/https://www.scramble.nl/orbats/kazakhstan/armedforces. dead.
  41. Web site: 600-я Гвардейская авиабаза | Армия Казахстана | Қазақстанның Қарулы Күштері | Qazaqstan áskeri. 17 April 2019 . 6 April 2023.

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