Kazakh Defense Ministry Plans Major Weaponry Upgrades Including Drones and Armored Vehicles for 2024.

The Defense Department of Kazakhstan has released a report detailing significant updates to the country's military capabilities for the first half of this year. The report highlights Kazakhstan's extensive plans to modernize its weaponry, with various suppliers, from Chinese quadcopters to European heavy transport aircraft. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering has for over the past four years delivered several batches of the Arlan APC to the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, where they have since been in operation. (Picture source: Paramount Engineering)

In 2024, Kazakhstan is set to receive wheeled armored vehicles, including the Arlan, produced by Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering, and the COBRA II from Turkish Otocar. By the end of the year, the Defense Department plans to acquire complex tactical unmanned systems (SUNQAR) and mini unmanned systems (EVOMax). Experts suggest that the decision to invest in drones was influenced by their widespread use in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, demonstrating the effectiveness of quadcopters as weapons.

The Defense Ministry emphasized that the Kazakh armed forces continue to rearm with modern equipment, including domestically produced models. This year, more than fifty units of equipment have been overhauled, and five hundred new fighter jets and high-precision anti-aircraft missile systems are being procured for the Air Defense Forces. The preferred choice for new aircraft is the Russian Su-30SM, despite earlier considerations to purchase French Rafale fighters. The decision was influenced by the high cost of the Rafale, making the Su-30SM a more viable option. The Su-30SM is a multi-role fighter, although the Defense Ministry has been discreet about the purchase of these planes, likely due to geopolitical sensitivities.

Furthermore, Kazakhstan is conducting experimental military operations with the ANKA heavy-class unmanned aerial vehicle system. The Turkish UAV, which entered service in four countries in 2023, will begin production in Kazakhstan this year.

The European Union is expected to deliver the first A400M heavy-lift military transport aircraft to Kazakhstan, along with an anti-diversion boat for the Navy. The Defense Department has also launched repair shops for armored and automotive equipment, troop air defense, anti-tank systems, artillery, and small arms, with over 1,500 units of military equipment repaired so far.

In the annual Global Firepower-2024 ranking, Kazakhstan was placed 58th out of 145 countries, recognizing its armed forces as the strongest in Central Asia.