report by: Thierry Letellier
The IV International exhibition of weapons systems and military equipment KADEX was held within the period from June 2 to June 5, 2016 in Astana city. Kazakhstan is the largest of the Central Asian states of the former Soviet Union. It is surrounded with Russia, China, and the Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan became independent from the former Soviet Union on 16 December 1991. The capital left Almaty in the south east to take place in Astana in the Nothern region of Kazakstan in 1998. Kazakstan is one of the richest country with huge reserves of natural resources and fossils fuels. A so large and rich country does have to build a strong military power to moderate the covetousness of the neighbours. Kazakhstan has ambitions to not only buy weapons, but to sell them as well. Kazakhstan also wants to diversify its economy, so that it’s not too dependent on oil and gas. And the armaments industry is one of the sectors it has chosen to promote.
The Kazakh Armed Forces (Қазақстанның Қарулы күштері / Qazaqstannyñ Qarūly küshteri) are divided into Land Forces , Airforce ; Naval force and republican guards . It was established in 1992, just after the collaps of USSR . Headquaters take place in Astana. The Defence rules are based on the constitution of the country. Their goals are to protect the independance ; the sovereignty and the territorial integrity.
Kadex 2016 held every 2 years in Astana, is for Kazakstan ; a superb opportunity to stage his forces and make business. A very large part of the static is reserved to show the land forces material. The aviation part is a little bit smaller, but far not less interresting . The most important part of the aerial force is equiped with planes from former Soviet VVS. Were present in Kadex 2016, Su-27BM2/Su-27UBM2 and SU-30. The lack of Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound was justified ( comming from a non official source and needs confirmation ) by their actual refurbishment in Russia. Only a restricted amount of planes would be considered. If that is confirmed in the future, they would return to the610th Air Base, Sary-Arka Airport, Karaganda. Another question came with the lack of Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum. Will they be replaced by the SU-30 ? In the same register ; it seems to be confirmed that a certain amount of Sukhoi Su-25 << Frogfoot>> is in the way to be modernised in the 558e (558.ARZ) de Baranovicsi in Belarus in cooperation with Kazakhstan Aviation Industry (KAI) LLP at Astana. The major improvement seems to concern avionics systems with a new HUD ; an new weapon info display system . A new targeting system will permeet to the new SU-25 to load some new A2A missiles R-73, the Air to ground Kh-29T and the KAB-500R guided bomb. To complete the system ; Sistema Radiosvyazi-25 (SR-25) and Radio Prima-DMV will become the new radio equipment. The first delivery of the << new>> Su-25 is expected by Kazakstan Air Force in min 2017.
About the futur of the fighters training, the Yak-130 was the only present candidate to take the place of former L-39 in the invetory. Only Eurocopter and Airbus were there with EC145 and CASA C-295. On 28 Oct 2010, two strategic agreements signed today establish the framework for Eurocopter’s creation of a 50/50 joint venture with Kazakhstan Engineering Kazakhstan to assemble EC145 helicopters, along with the sale of 45 of these locally-assembled aircraft for government missions in the country. On 28 November 2011, Eurocopter delivered the first of six EC145s ordered to date by the Kazakh Ministries of Defense and Emergencies.
On 3 January 2012, Airbus Military signed a firm contract with Kazspetsexport, a state company belonging to the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan, to supply two EADS CASA C-295 military transport aircraft plus the related service support package for spare parts and ground support equipment. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed for a further six C295 aircraft, for which separate firm contracts will be signed progressively over the next few years. The first two aircraft will be delivered by April 2013 and for the remaining six aircraft a delivery schedule will be defined over the following years. This purchase likely represents a quid pro quo. In 2008, EADS made titanium sourcing agreements with Kazakh suppliers.
Globalairpower would like to send its most sincere thanks to all the staff of Kadex 2016. They realised a great event and we will certainly be there in 2018, if Kadex is held at this time. then also a huge thanks to my friend Jacques Vincent, for his infos about the « Frogfoot ».