In 2024, units and military formations of the Kazakh army established divisions for unmanned aerial systems. According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, the army currently has in its arsenal the reconnaissance-strike drone Wing Loong and the reconnaissance drone Skylark, as well as the modern Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle Anka.
As part of bilateral military cooperation, the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan, General-Colonel Ruslan Jaksylikov, attended the SAHA EXPO 2024 international exhibition in Turkey, where he held talks with Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of Baykar Defence. The ministry reports that the parties agreed to develop a roadmap regarding the localization of the production of tactical unmanned aerial systems and operational-level loitering munitions on the territory of Kazakhstan.
During the visit to Istanbul and Ankara, the Kazakh military delegation toured the factories, production workshops, and design bureaus of Baykar, Havelsan, Aselsan, and Transvaro, gaining detailed insights into their products.
At the Corlu and Kesan test training grounds, Turkish specialists conducted practical demonstrations of the Bayraktar AKICI, Bayraktar TB3, Bayraktar TB2, Bayraktar Kalkan unmanned aerial systems, and the Mosquito-X loitering munitions.
"As a result of the negotiations, a protocol was signed following the working meeting of the delegation from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Baykar, confirming the Turkish side's intention to provide the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan with Bayraktar Kalkan, Bayraktar Mini unmanned aerial systems, and the operational loitering munition Mosquito-X for military testing on a gratuitous basis," the ministry stated.
It is also reported that measures to counter UAVs are currently under development and study. Specialists from the Military Engineering Institute of Radio Electronics and Communication in Almaty have developed and assembled a pilot batch of anti-drone rifles, which are currently undergoing operational testing. These devices, as clarified by the ministry, are intended for combating unmanned aerial vehicles, which is a crucial component of the country's defense against the growing threat posed by drones.
"As part of the diversification of equipment supplies, Kazakhstan is also working with Western companies. Upcoming plans include the procurement of jamming stations and anti-drone rifles, which will expand capabilities for protecting airspace and countering drone threats," the Ministry of Defense reported.