military equipment - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 15

Drones

Kazakh Military Advances Domestic Drone Production

Kazakhstan’s Airborne Assault Forces (AAF) are establishing an independent production base for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), signaling a strategic shift toward greater self-reliance in military technology. According to the Ministry of Defense, approximately 100 drones have already been assembled and deployed across various branches of the armed forces. Unmanned units were formally established within the AAF two years ago. Since then, military personnel have gained hands-on experience in drone operations and developed in-house capabilities for maintenance, repair, and assembly. This has significantly reduced dependence on foreign supplies and accelerated the integration of unmanned systems into the military structure. A dedicated workshop for the production and servicing of drones began operations in December 2025. Within two months, the facility had launched a full production cycle from hardware assembly and software configuration to testing and delivery. “The 100th drone was recently assembled here,” the Ministry of Defense reported in a statement. The facility is staffed by contract personnel who have completed specialized technical training. All drones undergo mandatory testing before being dispatched to military units. Military experts note that the development of domestic UAV production is driven by the evolving nature of warfare. Recent armed conflicts have underscored the growing role of drones in reconnaissance, fire correction, target designation, and unit coordination. In 2026, systematic training of UAV operators will begin at the AAF’s training center. Instruction will be led by specialists with operational experience across various UAV platforms. Kazakhstan’s UAV units have already seen active deployment during the Desant-2025 military exercises, held from September 2-12, 2025, at the Koktal training ground in the Zhetysu region. More than 3,000 AAF personnel participated in the drills. The military's drone development effort mirrors a broader trend in Kazakhstan, where drones are increasingly used in civilian sectors. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a pilot project for drone-based delivery services is set to launch in Almaty in 2026. Elsewhere, researchers in East Kazakhstan are employing drones and artificial intelligence to monitor soil and crop conditions, while engineers in Karaganda have unveiled prototypes of safety-enhancing UAVs for public use.

Afghanistan

U.S. Transfers Afghan Black Hawk Helicopters From Uzbekistan to Peru

The United States has transferred UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Uzbekistan to Peru, as part of a broader strategy for managing military equipment evacuated from Afghanistan following the collapse of the former Afghan government in 2021, Diplomat.uz reported. The helicopters were initially supplied by the U.S. to the Afghan Air Force and were flown to Uzbekistan by Afghan pilots in August 2021, when the Taliban seized control of Kabul. According to Ukrainian media, the aircraft involved are UH-60A+ Black Hawks that remained outside Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover. Reports indicate that nine Black Hawks were delivered to Peru in 2024. In February 2025, an additional seven helicopters were transferred from Central Asia to the U.S., reflecting Washington’s phased approach to reallocating military assets left abroad after the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Defense experts say these transfers are part of a strategic effort to strengthen the capabilities of U.S. partner countries while resolving the status of equipment no longer operable by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The Taliban, now in control of Afghanistan, has repeatedly insisted that all aircraft flown out in 2021 remain the property of Afghanistan and must be returned. On September 10, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed Uzbekistan had agreed to return 57 helicopters, calling the move a step toward rebuilding the country’s air force and improving bilateral relations with Tashkent. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly denied the claim. On September 11, ministry spokesperson Ahror Burkhanov stated that reports of an agreement to return the helicopters “do not correspond to reality” and labeled the information as false. Uzbek officials have consistently affirmed that the helicopters are U.S. property and emphasized their role in ensuring the aircraft did not fall into Taliban hands. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, 46 Afghan military aircraft, including Mi-17 and UH-60 helicopters, as well as PC-12, C-208, AC-208, and A-29 fixed-wing planes, were flown to Uzbekistan in 2021. An additional 18 aircraft were relocated to neighboring Tajikistan. Analysts say the ongoing redistribution of former Afghan military assets illustrates unresolved legal and political questions over equipment left behind in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal. The issue continues to influence regional diplomacy and international security calculations more than four years after the fall of the Afghan government.

Afghanistan

Uzbekistan Denies Reports on Return of Afghan Military Helicopters

Speculation has resurfaced regarding the fate of Afghan military aircraft flown to Central Asia during the collapse of the previous Afghan government in August 2021. On September 10, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told The Kabul Times that Uzbekistan had agreed to return helicopters that Afghan pilots had flown across the border as Kabul fell. He claimed the transfer of 57 helicopters was imminent, describing it as a step toward rebuilding Afghanistan’s air force and strengthening ties between the two countries. According to Mujahid, the aircraft had remained in Uzbekistan under the terms of quiet negotiations between Tashkent and Kabul. The U.S. Department of Defense previously confirmed that 46 planes and helicopters were flown to Uzbekistan and another 18 to Tajikistan in 2021. The aircraft included Mi-17 and UH-60 helicopters, along with PC-12, C-208, AC-208, and A-29 fixed-wing aircraft. However, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly denied the Taliban’s claims. On September 11, ministry spokesperson Ahror Burkhanov told Gazeta.uz that reports of an agreement to return the helicopters “do not correspond to reality.” He dismissed the information as “fake news” and emphasized that Uzbekistan’s position on the issue remains unchanged. The Taliban has repeatedly demanded the return of the aircraft from both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, but neither Tashkent nor Dushanbe has responded to these requests publicly. U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick previously stated that Washington and Tashkent reached an understanding in 2021 regarding the aircraft. He added that part of the military equipment remains in Uzbekistan, and that the two governments are cooperating on the matter through a joint program. Prior to the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan’s air fleet included 164 military aircraft. Today, only 81 are believed to remain. As the government collapsed, many Afghan Air Force pilots fled with their aircraft to neighboring countries, including Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Tajik-Afghan Border

CSTO to Begin Arms Supplies to the Tajik-Afghan Border in 2026

Beginning in 2026, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will start delivering weapons and military equipment to bolster the alliance's southern borders, particularly to reinforce the Tajik-Afghan frontier. This development was announced on May 19 by CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov during a meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Bishkek. Armed Response to Regional Threats Tasmagambetov highlighted that the initiative stems from the Targeted Inter-State Program (TIP), approved in Astana in November 2024. This program reflects the CSTO's collective resolve to address security vulnerabilities along its southern periphery. “The task now is to implement it in full,” he stated. These security issues were previously discussed during an April 2025 meeting in Dushanbe with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon. Despite regional stabilization efforts, Afghanistan continues to pose serious risks, including terrorism, arms trafficking, and the narcotics trade. Tasmagambetov emphasized, “The Taliban regime is proving to be a long-term political factor.” He noted that CSTO members, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, have intensified diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan to support regional stability. The CSTO Secretariat will maintain vigilance and enhance coordination to counter emerging threats. Signs of Regional Progress In contrast to the ongoing security challenges, Tasmagambetov acknowledged promising developments in Central Asia. He pointed to the March 13 state border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as the March 31 tripoint agreement involving Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These steps are seen as crucial in easing regional tensions. Tajik-Afghan Border a Strategic Focus Through 2029 The TIP for strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border is scheduled to be implemented in three stages and will run until 2029. Its goals include reinforcing southern Tajikistan’s military infrastructure and improving the region’s capacity to respond swiftly to cross-border threats. The program outlines measures for allied coordination, arms deliveries, and enhancements to logistics, communications, and border infrastructure.

Defense

Kazakhstan to Establish Major Defense Industry Hub at Semey Tank Repair Plant

Kazakhstan is set to create a large-scale defense industry center based on Central Asia’s only tank repair plant, located in Semey. The announcement was made by Kazakhstan's Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov during a conference of the Association of Defense Industry Enterprises. According to Zhaksylykov, the facility will go beyond its current role of repairing and modernizing military equipment and will also begin producing weapons. This initiative aims to enhance Kazakhstan’s defense capabilities and reduce the country’s reliance on imported military hardware. The Semey tank repair plant, operational since 1987, specializes in servicing armored personnel carriers (APCs), self-propelled artillery units, and tanks. Transforming it into a defense industry hub will allow Kazakhstan to expand its military production and strengthen its position in the regional defense sector. "Today, 124 companies operate in Kazakhstan's defense industry, but not all are actual manufacturers. Some exist only to receive funds from state defense contracts without producing anything," Zhaksylykov stated. To address these inefficiencies, the minister proposed establishing a special commission comprising representatives from both the Defense Ministry and private sector businesses. Zhaksylykov also underscored the importance of localizing military production. He emphasized that even if advanced military technologies are sourced from abroad, their adaptation and manufacturing should take place within Kazakhstan to ensure technological independence and sustainability.

United Nations

UN Pays Kazakhstan $2.6 Million Annually for Military Equipment in Golan Heights

The United Nations pays Kazakhstan $2.6 million per year for the lease of military equipment and weapons used in its peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights, Kazakhstan's Deputy Defense Minister Shaykh-Khasan Zhazykbayev announced at a Mazhilis meeting. On February 12, Mazhilis deputies ratified a memorandum with the UN outlining the terms of Kazakhstan’s contribution to the mission. Since March 2024, 139 Kazakhstani servicemen have been deployed to the region, supported by 26 units of military equipment. Under the agreement, UN payments are divided into two categories: approximately $2.4 million per year is allocated for personnel maintenance, while $2.6 million covers the lease of military equipment, weapons, and other resources. Each Kazakhstani peacekeeper receives a monthly salary of $1,448, along with additional payments for leave and out-of-pocket expenses. A separate agreement between Kazakhstan and the UN regulates financial transactions. Under this arrangement, payments for military personnel go directly to the soldiers, while funds for leased equipment and property are transferred to the state budget. During 11 months of operations in the Golan Heights, Kazakhstani peacekeepers have neutralized approximately 200 unexploded ordnance and conducted the evacuation of a UN employee. The Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan reported that in December 2024, the contingent demonstrated a high level of professionalism, efficiency, and coordination. Meanwhile, tensions in the conflict zone remain high. The Kazakh contingent operates in a region where hostilities between Israel and Syria persist. Israel continues to expand military infrastructure in the Golan Heights, which it has controlled since 1967. However, many countries recognize the area as Syrian territory and consider it occupied. Previously, the UN discussed the possibility of evacuating Kazakhstani peacekeepers if the security situation deteriorates.