Armed Forces of Kazakhstan

Main article: Kazakhstan

2025

Agreement with South Korean Preneu on UAV production in Pavlodar

A joint venture for the production of drones is being prepared for launch in Pavlodar. United Machinery Resources and South Korea's Preneu signed an agreement by November 2025.

The new plant will be one of the first in the country to establish a full cycle of assembly and maintenance of drones for various purposes. The launch is scheduled for January 2026.

In addition, an agreement on joint training of personnel in the field of UAV was concluded between South Korean JEI University and Pavlodar College of Information Technology.

What drones will produce?

• MT400 is a vertical take-off and landing drone with a radius of up to 50 km and autonomy of 3 hours, designed for "pipeline monitoring, border protection and rescue operations"

• MT240 is a similar model with less performance.

• H1300 - hexacopter for transportation of goods weighing up to 5 kg

• PQ650 - quadcopter for reconnaissance and surveillance.

Drones want to use "not only in the defense sphere," but also in power, ecology, monitoring forests and infrastructure.

In the first phase, the company will focus on producing 50 drones a year, including 20 reconnaissance models of vertical takeoff. After reaching full capacity, the plant will be able to produce up to 200-300 drones annually.

The Preneu drones are already being used by South Korean military personnel and are being exported to countries in Southeast Asia and Africa. Given the new realities, the UAV is one of the key directions for the development of the world's armies.

The Minister of Defense was replaced for a pro-Russian position. New Minister - Dauren Kosanov

On June 8, 2025, it became known about the removal from the post of Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan Ruslan Zhaksylykov. His place was taken by Dauren Kosanov, who previously served as commander-in-chief of the air defense forces of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan. Like most of the generals in Kazakhstan, he studied in Russia.

In the official text of the decree, the reasons for which Zhaksylykov was removed are not indicated. But some media outlets recall scandals related to the deaths of conscripts, the detention of conscripts on the streets and in bars, which was compared to Ukrainian "busification," as well as corruption as part of deals with Turkish Otokar to buy APCs. He was also criticized for sending peacekeepers to the Golan Heights.

Zhaksylykov also got it from the so-called national patriots of Kazakhstan, who were outraged by his speech at a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Victory, Zhaksylykov said that Kazakh and Russian servicemen "are not guests, but friends, comrades-in-arms and brothers in arms." At the same time, he explained that the May 7 Parade in Astana was dedicated "not to the day of the defender of the Fatherland, but to the Great Victory."

Apparently, Zhaksylykov became a hostage to Kazakhstan's new political course to strengthen interaction with, "" NATO suggested.Fisherman

Plan for military cooperation with Britain

In June 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan announced the signing of a military cooperation plan with Britain. The agreement focuses on peacekeeping training, learning English and training Kazakh military personnel in British military universities.

This is a continuation of London's long-established strategy in the region. Formally, we are talking about "soft" formats of work - internships and training. However, it is in these ways that Britain traditionally consolidates its influence: through control over personnel training and building long-term ties.

Kazakhstan is already involved in NATO caliber ammunition production projects and is actively developing ties with the West in the defense industry. And through formats such as "peacekeeping training," an excuse is created for even closer interaction with NATO structures.

Against USA the background of leaving Afghanistan the British are looking to consolidate their position in the Middle. And Asia Kazakhstan is integrating deeper into this system, remaining in the status of a donor of resources for the West.

2024

An electronic public service was launched in Kazakhstan, allowing men to find out if they are subject to military service

The Ministry of Digital Development of Kazakhstan on November 15, 2024 announced the launch of a new service in the eGov Mobile mobile application. We are talking about providing citizens of the country with access to information about their military duty and conscription status of a citizen. Read more here.

US experts investigate former Soviet Semipalatinsk nuclear test site

Specialists from the United States are investigating the former Soviet Semipalatinsk nuclear test site with great attention since the 1990s, and not at all out of concern for the environment.

The Semipalatinsk test site is of interest as a way to study nuclear weapons from the times of the USSR. Each adit and cavern can tell its own story: what power was the ammunition, according to what scheme it was made, what ammunition continued to be improved and tested, and which were considered "dead-end branches" and abandoned. At the same time, this activity of Americans in 2024 interferes with the reclamation of the landfill.

Turkey intercepts control of military shipbuilding of Kazakhstan

Since Kazakhstan gained independence, Russia, in cooperation with the Zenit Ural Shipbuilding Plant (a leader in the shipbuilding of Kazakhstan), has been the main developer and supplier of warships and boats for the Kazakh Navy.

In 2024, the authorities in Astana actively involve the Turks in the development of their Navy.

In 2023, Astana agreed with the Turkish manufacturer of submarines, frigates and patrol vessels Dearsan Shipyard to build a shipyard for large-tonnage vessels in Kazakhstan.

In the same year, it became known that the Zenit plant concluded an agreement with the administration of military factories and shipyards (ASFAT) of Turkey on the construction of warships for the Kazakh Navy.

At the same time, the Turkish construction company YDA Group offered the Government of Kazakhstan to sell it 85% of the shares of the Zenit plant. This news caused protests from the workers of the plant, who were forced to appeal to the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev with a request not to sell the enterprise. Then this step suspended the sale procedure.

However, on June 25, 2024, the Government of Kazakhstan, as part of the course of economic liberalization, published a decree on the privatization of the Zenit plant, which indicates the actual decision to transfer the enterprise to the hands of a Turkish company.

This decision once again demonstrated how Turkey, a NATO member country, under the supervision of Western allies (primarily Britain) continues to expand the naval influence of the alliance in the Caspian region.

IT system launched in Kazakhstan to determine the suitability of conscripts for military service

In early April 2024, it became known that a specialized IT system was launched in Kazakhstan to determine the suitability of conscripts for military service. We are talking about an electronic database that is integrated with government departments. The project was called the "Digital Military Registration and Enlistment Office." Read more here.

2023

Mereke Kuchekbaev appointed chief of the General Staff

In November 2023, changes in the highest military positions took place in the Kazakh armed forces.

• Mereke Kuchekbaev became the chief of the General Staff
• Yerzhan Irbaev - commander of the regional command "Astana"
• Zhenis Maralov - commander of the regional command "Vostok"
• Kuanyshbek Ushtaev - commander of the regional command "South"

They are all united by the fact that in different years they all underwent training at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Ministry of Defense. At the same time, the commander of the "Western" command, Daulet Ospanov, is a graduate of the Ryazan Higher Command School.

Agreement on the construction of a shipyard in Kazakhstan by the Turkish Dearsan Shipyard

In February 2024, it became known that Dearsan Shipyard is building a shipyard in Kazakhstan. Read more here.

2021: Defence costs - 0.87% of GDP

Data for 2021

2018: Military spending - $1.61 billion

As of 2018

Notes