Defense - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tajikistan Intends To Expand Production of Armored Vehicles and Special Equipment

Tajikistan's Sipar Group plans to significantly expand the production of armored vehicles and special equipment at its plant in the city of Tursunzade. The project is being implemented with a foreign investment of $15 million, allowing the company to produce 17 types of special vehicles. The plant is already actively developing its production capacity. The enterprise assembles military and civilian vehicles using components from the United Arab Emirates. Tajikistan's Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Sherali Kabir, said that armored vehicles in Tursunzade are manufactured using Canadian technologies; therefore, they are in no way inferior to their counterparts produced in other Central Asian countries. So far, the plant has produced a limited volume of vehicles, but given the demand, it plans to increase its production capacity significantly in the coming years. The project will also create more than a hundred new jobs, which will make an important contribution to the region's economic development. The plant's products are aimed not only at the domestic market, but also with the possibility of exporting to other Central Asian countries in mind, which would allow Tajikistan to strengthen its position in the international arena in the defense industry.

Bilateral Relations

U.S. Refurbishment of Pilatus PC-12 Aircraft for Uzbekistan

US company Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has been awarded a $64.2 million contract to refurbish six Pilatus PC-12 aircraft for Uzbekistan. The work will be performed in Uzbekistan and completed by August 2027. According to the U.S. Defense Department's website, the contract which was awarded under the U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, includes not only the restoration of the aircraft but also logistical support and on-site maintenance. The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop aircraft widely used for various missions, including surveillance and transportation. Since the aircrafts' proven reliability lends itself to civilian and military applications, their rehabilitation will have a significant impact on the expansion of Uzbekistan's aviation capabilities, including long-range monitoring and transportation missions. It is worth noting that the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft is often used in difficult conditions due to its ability to take off and land on short runways, making it indispensable for operations in Uzbekistan's remote and hard-to-reach regions.

Security Armed Forces Defense Army

Drones, Armored Vehicles, and Planes: Kazakhstan Announces Large-Scale Rearmament

The Defense Department of Kazakhstan has provided a report on its work for the first half of this year, documenting that the Kazakh army intends to update its weaponry. The geography of supplies is extensive, from Chinese quadcopters to European heavy transport aircraft. In 2024, the delivery of the armored wheeled vehicles Arlan (produced by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering) and COBRA II (Turkish Otocar) is expected. By the end of the year, the department plans to purchase complex tactical unmanned systems (SUNQAR) and mini unmanned systems (EVOMax). Experts believe that the decision to buy drones was dictated by the mass use of such systems in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. These hostilities have convincingly proved that quadcopters are an effective type of weaponry. The Defense Ministry reports that the "Armed Forces continue rearming with modern equipment models, including domestically produced ones. More than equipment was received this year, 50 units were overhauled." Five hundred units of new fighter jets and anti-aircraft missile systems formed of high-precision weapons classes are being purchased for the Air Defense Forces. According to Orda.kz, the choice was made to favor the Russian Su-30SM aircraft. Earlier, there was information about the possible purchase of French Rafale fighters. "In December last year, the Defense Ministry noted that given the high cost of French Rafale aircraft, the purchase of Russian planes is being considered. The Su-30SM is a multi-role fighter, and, logically, the Defense Ministry does not advertise that it will buy planes, and possibly SAMs, from a 'sub-sanctioned ally,'" the publication noted. In addition, the ANKA heavy-class unmanned aerial vehicle system is undergoing experimental military operations. The Turkish strike UAV entered service with four countries in 2023. This year, production of the ANKA will begin in Kazakhstan. The report indicates that the European Union is expected to deliver the first A400M heavy-lift military transport aircraft and an anti-diversion boat for the Navy. The department stated, "Shops have been launched to repair armored and automotive equipment, troop air defense, anti-tank systems, artillery, and small arms. So far, more than 1.5 thousand military equipment units have been repaired." In the annual rating of countries based on their level of military power Global Firepower-2024, Kazakhstan was placed 58th out of 145. Kazakhstan's armed forces are recognized as being the strongest in Central Asia.

Defense

Uzbekistan Launches NATO-Standard Armored Vehicle

As reported by Uzbekistan 24, the Uzbekistan Defense Industry Agency has developed a new armored military vehicle, "Arslon," which is built to NATO standards. The vehicle, which weighs over 30 tons, can accommodate eight paratroopers and a crew of three. Its front is designed to protect against 30 mm armor-piercing shells. The side armor is capable of repelling 4.5-mm-caliber bullets. “In creating this armored personnel carrier, the parameters provided by NATO standards were considered. This is a national product created in Uzbekistan in cooperation with enterprises that produce high-quality components,” said Akmal Karimov, a company representative.

Security Military Exercises Defense International Cooperation

Central Asian Countries and Azerbaijan Begin Military Exercises in Kazakhstan

On July 8, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense announced the start of joint military exercises - 'Birlestik-2024' (Association-2024) - by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in the country’s Mangystau region. Until July 17, the states’ military contingents will be modelling and practicing a joint operation to localize an armed conflict in manoeuvres at both the Oimasha training ground and a Caspian Sea site two kilometers from Cape Tokmak. Some four thousand military personnel and up to 700 pieces of military equipment will be involved in the exercise. Tactical episodes will be played out with the participation of ground and air reconnaissance groups, naval special forces, army and front-line aviation crews, warships and boats, artillery crews, assault and tank units. In recent years, there has been talk about increasing military cooperation between Turkic-speaking countries. In November 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called on leaders of Turkic states to strengthen defense cooperation and at a summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Astana, Kazakhstan, stated: "Wars and bloody conflicts break out. In this case, the main guarantor of security, first of all, becomes the defense potential. I believe that cooperation between the member states in areas such as security, defense, and the defense industry should be further increased.” Member countries of the OTS, established in 2009, include Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, while Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have observer status.

Russia Security Defense

Uzbekistan and Russia Discuss Rearmament of Republic’s Air Defense

Russia and Uzbekistan intend to sign an agreement on a program of arms modernization, including aviation, air defense, and ground forces. This was announced by the head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugaev, TASS reports. According to the speaker, the interaction between Russia and Uzbekistan within the framework of military-technical cooperation will touch upon air defense systems. “On the agenda is the conclusion of an agreement on the rearmament program. In any case, it will affect the air force air defense, and land equipment. A wide enough nomenclature - we will discuss, further develop, and help our colleagues,” the head of FSVTS said. Earlier, Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree implying the creation of a state commission to equip the Armed Forces of the republic by March 2024. About 70,000 people serve in the army of Uzbekistan. The army has 28 brigades, 340 T-62, T-64, and T-72 tanks, and 530 armored vehicles (BMPs, APCs, BRDMs, as well as Turkish and Western Cougar, Ejder Yalcin, Maxxpro+, Typhoon). Defense spending has been steadily increasing, estimated at $797 million for the current year. Uzbekistan left the CSTO in 2012, so it relies on assistance not from Russia, but from Turkey and other foreign partners.