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By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans
In
late October 2021 it was announced that the mountainous country of
Kyrgyzstan had placed an order
for three Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs
from Baykar Tech. [1] The news of the deal came as a surprise not only
because Kyrgyzstan was previously not believed to have a requirement for
UCAVs, but also because Kyrgyzstan possesses little in the way of an
air force in the first place. In fact, the Kyrgyz Air Force first began
to operationally deploy fixed-wing aircraft in 2018, and that only
because it received two An-26 transport aircraft from Russia free of
charge. [2] On the 18th of December 2021 the much-anticipated TB2s
entered service with the Kyrgyz State Border Guard Service. [3] The TB2s
are the first aerial assets known to have entered service with the
State Border Guard. In October 2022 it was further revealed that
Kyrgyzstan is eyeing the acquisition of several Bayraktar Akıncıs. [4]
Kyrgyzstan used its newly-acquired
Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) in action already
in September 2022 during a series of border skirmishes over an old
water dispute between
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. [5] Tajik forces used tanks and artillery to
advance into one Kyrgyz village and shell the town of Batken. Possessing
no
surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems in the area capable of shooting
down the TB2, Tajikistan lost at least two T-72 tanks, one Grad-1
multiple rocket launcher (MRL) and an ammunition truck to the invisible
scourge flying above. [5]
 |
A Tajik 122mm 9P138 'Grad-1' MRL that was struck by a Kyrgyz TB2 during the latest round of border skirmishes between both countries in September 2022. |
The Kyrgyz Air Force was established in July 1992, taking over the
assets of the former Soviet Air Force stationed on its territory.
Kyrgyzstan was home to the Frunze Military Aviation School, which
trained mostly foreign pilots on the L-39 and MiG-21. [6] Large numbers
of MiG-21s
were left at Kant air base
in 1992, along with a number of An-2, An-12 and An-26 transports and
Mi-8
and Mi-24 helicopters. The newly-established Kyrgyz Republic lacked the
funds, pilots and above all, need, to operate such a massive fleet, and
operations of all but the An-2s, Mi-8/24s were quickly abandoned.
In
the decades that followed, the Kyrgyz Air Force would continue to make
use of several Mi-8s and Mi-24s operated out of Prigorodny heliport in
the capital Bishkek, and one S-75 and two S-125 SAM sites positioned
around the capital. Kant air base continued to see use as a storage
depot for some fifty MiG-21s and several transport aircraft until most
of these had been scrapped by 2015. Until
June 2014, Manas International Airport (IAP) was used by the United
States to support the War in Afghanistan.
Just 35 kilometres away from Manas, Russia established its own air base
at Kant which it is able to use until at least 2027 when the current
lease will run out. [7]
The
arrival of a Russian Air Force contingent equipped with Su-25s and
Mi-8s to Kant in 2003 was accompanied by the donation of four L-39s to
Kyrgyzstan. Nonetheless, its air force appears to have made no effort to
actually operate the aircraft, presumably because these offered little
new capabilities over the armed Mi-8s and Mi-24s already in use. The
acquisition of Bayraktar TB2s by Kyrgyzstan is thus all the more notable
because in the TB2 the Kyrgyz military finally appears to have found a
military asset that offers required capabilities at a price that is
actually
attainable.
 |
One
of Kyrgyzstan's two An-26s donated by Russia in 2018. These are the
only fixed-wing aircraft of the Kyrgyz Air Force that are currently
operational (yet rarely flown). |
 |
Kyrgyzstan's four L-39 jet trainers that it received from Russia in the early 2000s. It seems unlikely that these aircraft will ever fly again. Each aircraft features just one hardpoint under each wing for a maximum of two light bombs or rocket pods. |
The
Kyrgyz Armed Forces has for the most part relied on Russian generosity
for the acquisition of new equipment ever since its establishment in
1992. In 2018 and 2019 Kyrgyzstan received four Mi-8 helicopters and two
P-18 radars free of charge. [8] [9] Also supplied by Russia over the
last decade were four L-39s jet trainers, two An-26 transport aircraft,
several dozen BTR-70M and BRDM-2M armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and
small arms and ammunition. In 2020 it was announced that the transfer of
Buk-M1 SAM systems to Kyrgyzstan was being discussed with Russia. [10]
Other
sources of arms and equipment include China, which has delivered a
range of small arms and armoured vehicles starting in the late 2010s and
the United States, which donated 45 Ford Ranger pickups, 44 Polaris
ATVs and an unknown number of Navistar International 7000 trucks. [11]
Türkiye's military support has so far encompassed the construction of a
new building for the Military Institute (formerly the Frunze Military
Aviation School), the donation of miscellaneous equipment and training
Kyrgyz military personnel in Turkish defence institutions. [12] [13]
[14]
 |
Russian-donated BRDM-2M and BTR-70Ms are flanked by a Chinese Dongfeng EQ2050 and a Smart Hunter air defence radar. |
The Kyrgyz Air Force
Over
the years, the Mi-8 has become the workhorse of the Kyrgyz Air Force.
Some five examples still remain active with the Kyrgyz Air Force after
one example crashed during a mission to rescue a Japanese climber in
2018. [15] Two Mi-24V
attack helicopters also nominally remain on strength with the Kyrgyz
Air Force, although these appear to be seldomly flown. Instead, the
Kyrgyz Air Force deploys its Mi-8MT(V) in a gunship configuration. These rotorcraft
can be armed with up to six rocket or gun pods and some examples
additionally carry a 7.62mm PK LMG in their nose. Kyrgyzstan has also
deployed its Mi-8s as makeshift bombers armed with up to six bombs each.
 |
The
Mi-8s are usually equipped with 57mm UB-16 and UB-32 or 80mm B-8 rocket
pods. This example also carries a 7.62mm light machine gun (LMG) in the
nose. |
 |
Kyrgyzstan's Mi-8s have also been spotted deploying P-50T practise bombs. The fact that the Kyrgyz Air Force is now able able to deploy precision-guided MAM-series of munitions will likely be highly appreciated. |
 |
The past and the future symbolised in two images. |
 |
Kyrgyz
President Sadyr Japarov inspects one of the Bayraktar TB2s. Note the
two cameras fitted to the tail. The lower one is used during night
operations. |
Infrastructure
The Bayraktar TB2s are based at a newly-constructed facility at Jalal-Abad airport
in the west of the country. [16] This facility was constructed in
November 2021 shortly before the delivery of the TB2s. Due to the
mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan and the lack of major population
centers, few airports are located throughout the country.
Nonetheless, the TB2s have sufficient range to cover almost the entirety
of the country when operating out of Jalal-Abad.
 |
Jalal-Abad Airport, the home of Kyrgyzstan's three TB2s. |
Other UAVs in Kyrgyz service
The
Bayraktar TB2 is not the first type of UAV to be acquired by
Kyrgyzstan. In late August 2021 it was revealed that Kyrgyzstan had
procured WJ-100 reconnaissance UAVs from China. [17] [18] The WJ-100
is equipped with a FLIR turret but unlike the Bayraktar TB2 is
unarmed and has an endurance of just three hours (compared to some 27
hours for the TB2). [18] The Kyrgyz Armed Forces are to be further
strengthened through the acquisition of six Russian Orlan-10 UAVs, which
have also entered
service with the Russian Armed Forces stationed at Kant air base. [19]
[20] The country has also developed a smaller UCAV type known as the Saara-02, which is currently undergoing testing. [21]
 |
Two WJ-100s on display during Kyrgyzstan's 30th anniversary of independence parade in August 2021. |
At
first glance, the acquisition of three Bayraktar TB2s by Kyrgyzstan
might seem less spectacular than the purchase of TB2s by countries like
Ukraine and Morocco. Nonetheless, there is perhaps no sale that
demonstrates the benefits of the TB2 so much as the one by Kyrgyzstan.
Having for decades operated no armed fixed-wing aircraft due to a lack of
funds and expertise, the TB2 (and in the future: the Akıncı) presents itself as the first asset
that combines effective results with reliability and low acquisition
and operating costs. With three out of five Central Asian countries now
operating Turkish drones, all eyes are on Uzbekistan and Tajikistan as
Turkish drones are rapidly conquering the regional UCAV market.
 |
The
Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz
Republic, Akylbek Japarov and Kamchybek Tashiev, hold an Akıncı model
together with Baykar Tech CEO Haluk Bayraktar. |
[1] Kyrgyzstan set to receive Turkish armed drones https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/kyrgyzstan-set-to-receive-turkish-armed-drones/2399480
[2] Two two military aircraft handed over to Kyrgyzstan by Russia https://akipress.com/view:704:Two_two_military_aircraft_handed_over_to_Kyrgyzstan_by_Russia/
[3] Беспилотники «Байрактар» поступили на вооружение Пограничной службы ГКНБ https://kg.akipress.org/news:1751371
[5] Documenting Losses During The September 2022 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan Border Clash https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/10/documenting-losses-during-september.html
[6] Soviet 5th Training Center in Frunze Between 1956 and 1992 http://www.easternorbat.com/html/5th_training_center_eng.html
[7] In controversial move, Russia set to own runway at military base in Kyrgyzstan https://central.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_ca/features/2020/06/18/feature-01
[8] Russia donates two helicopters to Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan https://24.kg/english/136240_Russia_donates_two_helicopters_to_Armed_Forces_of_Kyrgyzstan/
[9] Sergei Shoigu: Kyrgyzstan can always count on support of Russia https://24.kg/english/116337_Sergei_Shoigu_Kyrgyzstan_can_always_count_on_support_of_Russia/
[10] Russia and Kyrgyzstan discuss delivery of air defense systems, helicopters https://24.kg/english/153139_Russia_and_Kyrgyzstan_discuss_delivery_of_air_defense_systems_helicopters/
[11] A Vehicles Handover Ceremony with U.S. Ambassador T.Gfoeller to Kyrgyzstan http://bishkek.usembassy.gov/2010_0825_vehicle_handover.html
[12] Turkey to build military institute in Kyrgyzstan https://www.for.kg/news-582254-en.html
[13] Turkey donates military equipment to Kyrgyzstan https://24.kg/english/172035_Turkey_donates_military_equipment_to_Kyrgyzstan/
[14] From Turkey With Love: Tracking Turkish Military Donations https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/12/from-turkey-with-love-tracking-turkish.html
[15] ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 213092 https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/213092
[17] Kyrgyzstan Independence Day Parade & Celebration August 31, 2021 https://youtu.be/XHUxnq3XVXw?t=2905
[18] China-made WJ-100 Blade UAV makes debut in Kyrgyzstan https://www.china-arms.com/2021/09/china-wj-100-blade-uav-debut-kyrgyzstan/
[19] Kyrgyzstan Orders Byratkar Drones from Turkey, Orlan-10E UAVs from Russia https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30647/Kyrgyzstan_Orders_Byratkar_Drones_from_Turkey__Orlan_10E_UAVs_from_Russia
[20] Russia’s military base in Kyrgyzstan to procure Orlan-10 UAVs https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2020/june/6358-russia-s-military-base-in-kyrgyzstan-to-procure-orlan-10-uavs.html
[21] В Кыргызстане впервые выпустили беспилотник https://youtu.be/92QgvrwEcaw
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