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In 2024, Kazakhstan plans to receive wheeled armored vehicles, including Arlan produced by Kazakhstan's Paramount Engineering and COBRA II by Turkish Otocar. By the end of the year, the Ministry of Defense plans to acquire complex tactical unmanned systems (SUNQAR) and mini-unmanned systems (EVOMax). Experts suggest that the decision to invest in drones was influenced by their widespread use in the Russian-Ukrainian war, demonstrating the effectiveness of quadcopters as a weapon.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan continue rearming with modern equipment, including samples of domestic production. This year, more than fifty units of equipment were overhauled, five hundred new fighters and high-precision anti-aircraft missile systems were purchased for air defense troops. The Russian Su-30SM was chosen for the new aircraft, despite previous considerations regarding the purchase of French Rafale fighters. This decision was influenced by the high cost of the Rafale. The Su-30SM is a multirole fighter, although the Ministry of Defense has been reticent about purchasing these aircraft, likely due to "geopolitical sensitivities".
In addition, Kazakhstan conducts experimental military operations with the ANKA heavy-class unmanned aerial vehicle. The Turkish UAV entered service in four countries in 2023, and its production will begin in Kazakhstan this year.
The European Union is expected to deliver the first A400M heavy military transport aircraft to Kazakhstan, as well as an anti-sabotage boat for the Navy. The Ministry of Defense also launched workshops for the repair of armored vehicles and automobiles, anti-aircraft defense of troops, anti-tank missiles, artillery and small arms, where more than 1,5 units of military equipment have been repaired so far.
In the annual ranking of Global Firepower-2024, Kazakhstan took 58th place out of 145 countries, recognizing its armed forces as the strongest in Central Asia.
