Kazakhstan increases defense spending reaching $5.5 billion for 2026 or equivalent of 3% GDP. Although official Astana declares friendly relations with russia, Kazakhstan leadership is effectively preparing for possible war against Kremlin, which still poses threat.
One work direction is mastering drone war experience Ukraine's battlefield demonstrated. However against this backdrop question arises about who Kazakhstan will seek support from in this direction, having Turkish ANKA and Chinese Wing Loong UAVs in its arsenal.
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As American analytical institution Jamestown Foundation further writes in its publication, besides betting on unmanned component development, Kazakhstan wants to overall increase armed forces numbers to 110,000 personnel.
Kazakh leadership overall sees russian threat level, specifically on example of russian January 2022 intervention example, and overall on example of russians' full-scale Ukraine invasion. Besides that, russian minority problem in northern Kazakhstan remains unresolved.
However there is nuance that Kazakhstan's army, although having status of strongest in Central Asia region, significantly lags behind russian armed forces capabilities. Not to mention that russia-Kazakhstan land border is world's longest, accordingly one must seek asymmetric countermeasure instruments.
As Jamestown Foundation publication further states, likely technical assistance suppliers for Kazakhstan for mastering modern drone war may be russia and China as direct neighbors maintaining demonstratively friendly relations. However Turkiye and Azerbaijan may quite possibly be in such assistance suppliers list, according to Azerbaijan's multi-vector policy.
Defense Express adds that for example back in November 2023 there was story about Kazakhstan changing its mind about taking Rafale but awaiting 10 Su-30SM from russia by end of 2024.
Explanation there was simple, Kazakhstan military leadership decided to bring old Su-30SM russian contract to logical end and not purchase new combat aircraft, instead focusing on UAVs.
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