| Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic | |
|---|---|
| Кыргыз Республикасынын Куралдуу Күчтөрү Вооружённые силы Кыргызской Республики | |
 Seal of the Kyrgyz Armed Forces | |
.svg) Ensign of Kyrgyz Armed Forces | |
| Motto | Милдет, Намыс, Ата-Мекен Mildet, Namys, Ata-Meken (Duty, Honor, and Fatherland) |
| Founded | 29 May 1992[1] |
| Service branches | Service branches ∟  Ground Forces∟  Air Force∟  National GuardIndependent formations ∟  Frontier Force∟ Internal Troops |
| Headquarters | Ministry of Defence,Bishkek |
| Website | mil |
| Leadership | |
| Commander in Chief |  Sadyr Japarov |
| Minister of Defense |  Major GeneralBaktybek Bekbolotov |
| Chief of the General Staff |  Major GeneralRuslan Mukambetov |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Conscription | 12 months (high school graduates) 9 months (university graduates) |
| Available for military service | 3,351,670 (2020 est.), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service | 3,471,900 (2020 est.), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually | 900,000 (2022 est.) |
| Active personnel | 23,000 (2022 est.) |
| Reserve personnel | 300,000 (2022 est.) |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | $600,000,000 (2022 est)[2] |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |  Russia[3] China Kazakhstan Uzbekistan United States Pakistan India United Kingdom Turkey |
| Related articles | |
| History |
 Kyrgyz peacekeeping forces participated: |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Kyrgyzstan |
TheArmed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic[a] is the national military ofKyrgyzstan. It was originally formed from the former Soviet forces of theTurkestan Military District stationed in newly independentKyrgyzstan. It consists of theGround Forces, theAir Force and theNational Guard. Affiliated security forces to the armed forces included theInternal Troops, theState Committee for National Security and theBorder Troops.
The Armed Forces were formed on 29 May 1992 when President of theKyrgyz SSRAskar Akayev signed a decree which effectively consolidated all the formations and units of theSoviet Army deployed in the territory of the new republic under the jurisdiction ofBishkek and notMoscow.[4] Until 1988, these troops were part of theCentral Asian Military District. 29 May is today celebrated as theDay of the Armed Forces.[5] In 1993, the State Defense Committee was renamed to the Ministry of Defense on the basis of the headquarters of the17th Army Corps. In 1998, the 1st Koy Tash, 2nd Osh, and 3rd Balykchinsk Infantry Brigades were created on the basis of the8th Guards Motor Rifle Division. In August 1999, theBatken Conflict occurred in southwestern Kyrgyzstan, during which militants of theIslamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) made incursions of into Uzbek and Kyrgyz territory from their camps inTajikistan.
In 2006, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces were combined to form theKyrgyz Air Force. The same year, the term of service was reduced from 18 to 12 months (1 year). In February 2014, the Armed Forces General Staff was expanded to have complete control over the military apparatus, with the ministry of defense becoming a state defense committee which plays a smaller and more administrative role.[6] Despite this arrangement, many former military/security officials such asTaalaibek Omuraliev and Adyl Kurbanov were in favor of returning the military to its former organization.[7]
Following the inauguration of PresidentSadyr Japarov in early February 2021, the Ministry of Defense was reestablished following a 7-year hiatus.[8] After signing the newConstitution of Kyrgyzstan in May 2021, President Japarov called for reform in the military, particularly the need to "organize the army according to the principle of special units, fully trained and technologically equipped to conduct military operations in mountainous conditions." He also at the same time called for the creation of "people’s guards", which according to him, will provide mobilization readiness amongst the population living in border areas.[9]
National Guardee of Kyrgyz Republic/NGKR
Кыргыз Республикасынын Улуттук Уланы/КРУУ
For much of the Soviet period, since 1967, the8th Guards 'Panfilov' Motor Rifle Division was the main military force in the country. In 1967 the division had been moved toBishkek from theBaltic Military District, where it had previously been based. It was only disbanded in January 2003.[10] However, in 2011 reports said the division had been reformed with its headquarters inTokmak.The Army ofKyrgyzstan includes the 1st Motor Rifle Brigade (Mountain) atOsh,a brigade atKoy-Tash, in theBishkek area, the 25th Special Forces Brigade, independent battalions atKarakol andNaryn, a brigade at Balykchi, and other units.Two Groups of Forces, the Southern, and more recently the Northern, have been active during Kyrgyzstan's history. In 2004, the Northern Group of Forces was reported as consisting of the Balykchynsky brigade, the brigade deployed in suburb of Bishkek, separate battalions in Karakol and Naryn, and other army units.[11]
The Army controls the Combat Training Center and Training Center "Ala-Too".
Kyrgyzstan's air arm was inherited from the central Soviet air force training school. This presented the nation a fleet of nearly 70 L-39s, dismantled MiG-21's and several Mi-8's and Mi-24's. However, only a few L-39s and the helicopters are capable of flight. All Kyrgyz military aircraft are reportedly based atKant, alongside the Russian999th Air Base.[12]Because of expense and military doctrine, Kyrgyzstan has not developed its air capability; a large number of the MiG-21 interceptors that it borrowed from Russia were returned in 1993, although a number of former Soviet air bases remain available. In 1996 about 100 decommissioned MiG-21s remained in Kyrgyzstan, as of 2017 only 29 MiG-21s are in working order, in service along with ninety-six L-39 trainers and sixty-five helicopters. The air defense forces have received aid from Russia, which has sent military advisory units to establish a defense system. The Russians also help patrol Kyrgyz airspace as part of theJoint CIS Air Defence System. Presently Kyrgyzstan has twenty-six SA-2 and SA-3 surface-to-air missiles in its air defense arsenal. In 2002 the Kyrgyzstan government allowed the United States to useManas air base for support operations in theWar on terror. This agreement lasted until June 2014.[13][14]
TheNational Guard of Kyrgyzstan was founded on December 6, 1991, and took their first oath July 20 the following year.[15][16] In 2014, theInternal Troops were absorbed into the National Guard as a result of the ongoing military reforms. This would remain this way until September 2018 when they were separated once again.[17]
| Name | Image | Origin | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanks | ||||
| T-72 "Ural" Early |  |  Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| T-72 "Ural" Late |  | N/A | [18] | |
| T-72A |  | N/A | [18] | |
| Armoured fighting vehicles | ||||
| BRDM-2 | _owned_by_James_Stewart_pic6.JPG) | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| BRDM-2MS |  | Russia | N/A | [18] |
| MT-LB |  | Soviet Union Kyrgyzstan | N/A | (Some withZU-23 AA Guns).[18] |
| Infantry fighting vehicles | ||||
| BMP-1 |  | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| BMP-1(P) |  | N/A | [18] | |
| BMP-1D | N/A | [18] | ||
| BMP-2 Obr. 1984 |  | N/A | [18] | |
| BMP-2D |  | N/A | [18] | |
| BMD-1 |  | N/A | [18] | |
| Armoured personnel carriers | ||||
| BTR-70 |  | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| BTR-70M |  | Russia | N/A | [18] |
| BTR-80 |  | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| Infantry mobility vehicles | ||||
| GAZ Tigr-M |  | Russia | N/A | [18] |
| CS/VN3 Dajiang |  | China | N/A | [18] |
| Tiger | N/A | [18] | ||
| EQ2050F |  | N/A | [18] | |
| Technicals | ||||
| Toyota Land Cruiser |  |  United Arab Emirates | N/A | [18] |
| Ford Ranger |  |  United States | N/A | [18] |
| Towed artillery | ||||
| 100mmBS-3 |  | Soviet Union | N/A | (Used for avalanche control).[18] |
| 100mmKS-19 | | N/A | (Used for avalanche control).[18] | |
| 122mmD-30 | | N/A | [18] | |
| 152mm2A65 Msta-B | | N/A | [18] | |
| Self-propelled artillery | ||||
| 120mm2S9 Nona | | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| 122mm2S1 Gvozdika | | N/A | [18] | |
| Multiple rocket launchers | ||||
| 122mmBM-21 Grad | | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| 122mm9P138 Grad-1 | | N/A | [18] | |
| Towed anti-aircraft guns | ||||
| 23mmZU-23 | | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns | ||||
| ZSU-23-4 'Shilka' | | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| Static surface-to-air missile systems | ||||
| S-75 | | Soviet Union | N/A | (One site protecting the capitalBishkek).[18] |
| S-125 | | N/A | (Two sites protecting the capital Bishkek).[18] | |
| Self-propelled surface-to-air missile systems | ||||
| 9K35 Strela-10 | | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| Radars | ||||
| P-15 'Flat Face A' | | Soviet Union | N/A | [18] |
| P-18 'Spoon Rest D' | | N/A | [18] | |
| Smart Hunter | | China | N/A | (For use in conjunction with MANPADS).[18] |
| SNR-75 'Fan Song' | | Soviet Union | N/A | (For S-75).[18] |
| SNR-125 'Low Blow' | | N/A | (For S-125).[18] | |
| Reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||
| Orlan-10E | | Russia | N/A | (Not yet seen).[18] |
| WJ-100 | | China | N/A | [18] |
| Unmanned combat aerial vehicles | ||||
| Bayraktar Akıncı |  | Turkey | N/A | [19] |
| Bayraktar TB2 |  | N/A | (Armed with four MAM-C or MAM-L PGMs).[18] | |
| TAI Aksungur | .jpg) | 2 | [20] | |
| Saara-02 | | Kyrgyzstan | N/A | (Armed with two Bask-80 PGMs).[18] |
In terms of foreign presence, the U.S.-ledOperation Enduring Freedom coalition used theManas Air Base (Bishkek's international airport) until June 2014. In response, Russia set up the999th Air Base at Kant to counter the American military presence in theformer Soviet state. Moscow is believed to have promised Bishkek $1.1 billion for modernizing its army. Agreements to this effect were reached during the visits to Bishkek by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov in August and President Vladimir Putin in September 2012.[21] As of fall 2023, Russia supplies various military equipment and also begins to form a joint air defense system.[22][23][24] Since May 1992, Kyrgyzstan has been a member of theCollective Security Treaty Organization. In addition, its leaders work within the framework of theCouncil of Ministers of Defense of the CIS. Kyrgyzstan hosted the Second CIS Military Sports Games in 2017 inBalykchy. The games included various competition in shooting, fighting, etc.[25] On 16 July 2018, the opening of the Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Training Center took place inBalykchy at the Edelweiss Training Center, built with funds allocated by theGovernment of India.[26][27]
The personnel of the armed forces also take part in UN peacekeeping missions. Currently, Kyrgyz forces are serving inSierra Leone,Liberia,Sudan,East Timor,Ethiopia andKosovo.[28]
The main military educational institutions include:
Kyrgyzstan has an agreement with the Russian Federation, according to which Kyrgyz soldiers are trained in military academies in Russia. The training of officers is carried out in the military educational institutions of theRepublic of Kazakhstan, theRepublic of Azerbaijan, theRepublic of Turkey and thePeople's Republic of China.
The Center for Advanced Training of Officers and NCOs of the Defense Ministry was opened in early 2007. It was designed to offer one-month professional training courses. In 2005, the NCO Training School of the Combined Arms Training Center of the Armed Forces was opened at the base of the 2nd Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade.[29] In 2013, the border guard opened classes at more than 100 secondary schools.[30] The Edelweiss Training Center operates in theIssyk-Kul Region.
TheKyrgyz State National Military Lyceum and MVD High School are secondary schools that trains middle-tier commanders in the armed forces.
The Military Faculty ofKyrgyz State Medical Academy was created in the beginning of the Second World War, specifically in October 1941 when there was a shortage of medical personnel in the medical service. Originally it was the Sanitary Department of Defence, and in 1942 it was renamed to the Department of Military and Health Training, and has since 1944 been known as the Department of Military Medical Training. It currently engages in the military training of students of medical, pediatric, dental, sanitary and pharmaceutical departments of the armed forces.[31]
Kyrgyz Armed Forces have inherited conscription from the Armed Forces of USSR. The length of conscription was reduced to 12 months from initial 18 in 2006. Today, Kyrgyz Armed Forces employ a policy of reducing the service period for university graduates to 9 months.[32] Alternative service exists, however, it is only offered to conscripts who belong to certain religious groups.[33]
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