Kazakh Air Defense Forces

In the first formation of the Central Asian Military District, it operated a Soviet Air Force district branch led by Major General M.P. Kharitonov. It operated in the early to mid-40s during the Second World War, and consisted of air brigades based on the territory of the Kazakh SSR.[5] The 73rd Air Army provided all air support for the district,[6] being known as the Air Forces of the Central Asian Military District from 1980 to 1988. Air defence was also provided the 12th and 14th Air Defence Armies. The 57th Separate Airborne Brigade based in Aktogay.[7] was the only unit of the Soviet airborne based in Kazakhstan.

At the time of the declaration of the independence of Kazakhstan and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the 24th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Division, as well as three other separate air regiments, were stationed in the country.[8] By late 1993 the small Kazakh Air Force consisted of a six regiments as well as an air defence fighter regiment.

It included the following units:

• 11th Division
  • 129th Fighter-Bomber Regiment (Taldy Kurgan)
  • 134th Fighter-Bomber Regiment (Zhangiztobe)
  • 149th Bomber Regiment (Zhetigen/Nikolayevka)
• 715th Fighter Regiment (Lugovaya)
• 39th Reconnaissance Regiment (Balkhash Airport)
• 486th Helicopter Regiment (Ucharal)
• 356th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Semipalatinsk), led notably by Major General Aliy Petrovich Volkov

On 17 November 1997, President Nursultan Nazarbayev issued a decree titled "On Further Measures for Reforming the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan". As instructed by this, on 1 April 1998, Minister of Defense Sagadat Nurmagambetov, announced the creation of the Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces, with the first day of operation being 1 June 1998. On 17 April 2008, the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defense Forces announced August 18 would be celebrated as 'Aviation Day.'[9][10]

In November 2007, Kazakhstan signed an agreement with Belarus, under which 10 Russian-made Su-27 fighters were modernised at an aircraft repair plant in Baranavichy, designated for the Kazakh Air Defence Forces. In 2008, EADS agreed titanium sourcing agreements with Kazakh suppliers.[11] On 28 October 2010, Eurocopter created a 50/50 joint venture with Kazakhstan Engineering, under which 45 Eurocopter EC145s would be assembled locally for government use.[12] The first of six EC145s ordered by the Kazakh Ministries of Defence and Emergencies was delivered in November 2011.[13]

In early January 2012, Airbus Military and the state-owned Kazspecexport defence company, signed a contract to deliver two EADS CASA C-295 military transport aircraft, and a Memorandum of Understanding for another six aircraft, which were to be delivered over the course of the following year. In May 2012, Kazakhstan announced its intent to acquire 20 Eurocopter EC725 helicopters that were to be assembled in Astana by officials from Kazakhstan Engineering and fitted by the Turkish firm Aselsan.[14]