Kazakh Ground Forces
The Kazakh Ground Forces is the army service branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Kazakh Ground Forces | |
---|---|
Қазақстан Республикасы Қарулы Күштерінің Құрлық Qazaqstan Respýblıkasy Qarýly Kúshteriniń Qurlyq Сухопутных войск Республики Казахстан | |
Shoulder Patch of the Kazakh Ground Forces | |
Founded | 9 April 1993 |
Country | |
Branch | |
Type | Ground Force |
Size | 20,000 |
Part of | |
Directorate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces | 44 Victory Avenue, Nur-Sultan |
Nickname(s) | Kazakh Army |
Anniversaries | 7 May |
Engagements | Tajikistani Civil War Iraq War |
Commanders | |
Supreme Commander-in-chief | Kassym-Jomart Tokayev |
Chief of the General Staff | Major General Murat Bektanov |
Commander of the Ground Forces | Marat Khusainov[1] |
History
The Kazakh Army was founded on April 9, 1993 by the order of Defense Minister Sagadat Nurmagambetov. It followed the enacting of the law, "On Defense and Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan", which is the legal basis for the Kazakh military structures.[2] The Kazakh Army was made up of the Soviet 32nd Army, which had been serving in the KSSR (Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic) for many years before it came under Kazakh government control in May 1992.[3]
Tasks
The main tasks of the Ground Forces include:[4]
- Maintaining the readiness of troops to repel aggression.
- Armed defense of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Protection and defense of state and military facilities.
- Defense of the state border by land and air.
- Peacekeeping missions.
Structure
Regional Commands
Currently, the ground forces include four regional commands:[5]
- Regional Command "Astana" (HQ Karaganda)
- Regional Command "East" (HQ Semey)
- Regional Command "West" (HQ Atyrau)
- Regional Command "South" (HQ Taraz)
Each of the commands have the following general composition:[6]
- One mechanized division (comprising three tank regiments and one artillery regiment)
- One motor rifle division (comprising one tank brigade, two motor rifle regiments, and one artillery regiment)
- One training center with two motor rifle regiments
- One motor rifle training regiment
- One tank training regiment
- One artillery regiment
- Three independent motor rifle brigades
- Two artillery brigades
- One engineer brigade
These commands were all established in 2003.[7]
Training
Military Institute
The Military Institute of the Kazakh Ground Forces (Kazakh: Qurlyq áskerleriniń áskerı ınstıtýty / Құрлық әскерлерінің әскери институты) is the main educational institute of the Ground Forces, and one of the leading Kazakh military academies. It has many notable alumni, including Lieutenant General Murat Maikeyev, Colonel General Saken Zhasuzakov and Major General Abibilla Kudayberdiev.[8]
Junior Specialist Training
The training of junior specialists of rank and file in military accounting specialties for the Ground Forces is carried out in the following training centers:
- Training Center for Junior Specialists of the Kazakh Ground Forces named for Karasai Batyr – Jambyl Region[9]
- Training Center for Combat Training of Junior Specialists and the Reserve of the Ground Forces – Spassk, Karaganda[10]
- Training Center of the Missile Forces and Artillery – Priozersk, Karaganda
Equipment
Name | Origin | Type | In service | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armored fighting vehicle | ||||||
T-72KZ Shigiz | Main battle tank | 650[11] | ||||
GAZ Tigr | Infantry mobility vehicle | 21[12] | ||||
BMPT-72 Terminator | Tank Destroyer | 10[12] | ||||
BTR-80 | Amphibious APC | 110[12] | 44 are the 82A variant | |||
BTR-3 | APC | 2[13] | ||||
BPM-97 | APC, MRAP | 18[12] | ||||
Otokar Cobra | Infantry mobility vehicle | 17+[12] | Manufactured locally with license[14] | |||
Arlan | APC, MRAP | 90[12] | Ordered by the Kazakh military in 2013 as a result of an agreement between Kazakhstan Engineering and Paramount Group[15] | |||
Humvee | Armored car | 40[12] |
References
- Токаев назначил главнокомандующего сухопутными войсками - новости Казахстана
- "Shield of the State · Publications · "Kazakhstan History" portal". e-history.kz.
- ir.kz. "Сухопутные войска". www.mod.gov.kz.
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centralasia/kazak-army.htm
- Most specific unit information, including military unit numbers, locations, etc. is sourced from Vad777, Kazakh Ground Forces Archived March 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 2010
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/centralasia/kazak-regional.htm
- "Вооруженные силы РК - Структура - Министерство обороны Республики Казахстан (МО РК)". www.mod.gov.kz.
- "Легендарная стрелковая дивизия отметила 75-летний юбилей". www.sarbaz.kz. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
- "В Спасске Карагандинской области открыт учебный центр боевой подготовки младших специалистов и резерва Вооруженных сил РК". www.inform.kz. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (9 February 2016). "Modernising military capabilities; familiar security challenges". Military Balance. Routledge. 116: 185–186. doi:10.1080/04597222.2016.1127558.
- Trade Registers. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 2017-12-18.
- Kazakhstan Signs Contract With Turkish Company Otokar To Produce Locally Cobra
- "Paramount opens vehicle factory in Kazakhstan". defenceWeb. 1 December 2015.