Military of Kyrgyzstan

The armed forces of Kyrgyzstan, originally formed from former Soviet forces of the Turkestan Military District stationed in the newly independent state, includes the Army/Land Forces, the Air and Air Defence Forces, the Northern and Southern Groups of Forces, Interior Troops, and Border Troops.

For much of the Soviet period, since 1967, the 8th Guards 'Panfilov' Motor Rifle Division was the main military force in the country, and the Division was only disbanded in January 2003. In 1967 the Division had been moved to Bishkek from the Baltic Military District, where it had previously been based.

In terms of foreign presence, the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom coalition use the Manas Air Base (Bishkek's international airport) while Russia has the 999th Air Base at Kant which was set up by Moscow to counter the American military presence in the Former Soviet state.

Army
The Army of Kyrgyzstan includes the 1st Motor Rifle Brigade (Mountain) at Osh, a brigade at Koi-tash, in the Bishkek area, the 25th Special Forces Brigade, independent battalions at Karakol and Naryn, and other units.

Two Groups of Forces, the Southern, and more recently the Northern, have been active during Kyrgyzstan's history. In 2004, the Northern Group of Forces was reported as consisting of the Balykchynsky brigade, the brigade deployed in suburb of Bishkek, separate battalions in Karakol and Naryn,and other army units.

Equipment
Armoured vehicle numbers are from the relevant Wikipedia articles.

Tanks

 * T-72 MBTs - 215

AIFV / APC

 * BTR-60 - 53
 * BTR-70 - 10
 * BTR-80 - 8
 * BMP-1 - 274
 * BRM - 113
 * BMP-2 - 101
 * BRDM-2 - 30

Artillery
Towed
 * BS-3 - 18
 * D-30 - 72
 * M-30 - 35
 * D-1 - 16

Self-Propelled
 * 2S9 Anona - 12
 * 2S1 - 18

Heavy Mortars
 * 2S12 - 6
 * M-120 - 48

MRLs
 * BM-21 - 21

Light equipment

 * Makarov PM Pistol
 * TT-33 Pistol
 * AK-74 Assault Rifle
 * AKM Assault Rifle
 * AK-47 Assault Rifle
 * AKS-74U Carbine
 * SKS Carbine
 * RPK Light Machine Gun
 * PKM General Purpose Machine Gun
 * NSV Heavy Machine Gun
 * DShK Heavy Machine Gun
 * Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle
 * RPG-7 Rocket Launcher
 * GP-25 Grenade Launcher
 * AGS-17 Automatic Grenade Launcher
 * SPG-9 Recoilless Gun
 * PP-2000 Fully Automatic Handgun(SMG)
 * AK-101 Assault Rifle

Air Force
The Air and Air Defense Force includes a regiment of MiG-21s and L-39s, four Antonov transports, and a helicopter regiment (apx 23 Mi-8, 9 Mi-24). Estimates for the numbers of MiG-21s range from 48 to 60-odd. However, only a few L-39s and the helicopters are capable of flight. All Kyrgyz military aircraft are reportedly based at Kant, alongside the Russian 999th Air Base.

Because of expense and military doctrine, Kyrgyzstan has not developed its air capability; a large number of the MiG-21 interceptors that it borrowed from Russia were returned in 1993, although a number of former Soviet air bases remain available. In 1996 about 100 decommissioned MiG-21s remained in Kyrgyzstan, along with ninety-six L-39 trainers and sixty-five helicopters. The air defense forces have received aid from Russia, which has sent military advisory units to establish a defense system. The Russians also help patrol Kyrgyz airspace as part of the CIS Joint Air Defence System. Presently Kyrgyzstan has twenty-six SA-2 and SA-3 surface-to-air missiles in its air defense arsenal.

Aircraft Inventory


! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport and Liaison Aircraft ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Attack Helicopters ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport and Utility Helicopters
 * Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed || || fighter || MiG-21 || 0 flyable || 100 acquired from ex-USSR.
 * Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed || || fighter || MiG-21 || 0 flyable || 100 acquired from ex-USSR.
 * Antonov An-12 Cub || || transport || An-12 || 2 ||
 * Antonov An-26 Curl || || transport || An-26 || 2 ||
 * Antonov An-26 Curl || || transport || An-26 || 2 ||
 * Antonov An-26 Curl || || transport || An-26 || 2 ||
 * Aero L-39 Albatros || || light attack/trainer || L-39 || 4 || 96 acquired from ex-USSR.
 * Aero L-39 Albatros || || light attack/trainer || L-39 || 4 || 96 acquired from ex-USSR.
 * Mil Mi-24 Hind || || attack || Mi-24 || 9 || 31 in storage
 * Mil Mi-24 Hind || || attack || Mi-24 || 9 || 31 in storage
 * Mil Mi-8 HipMil Mi-17 Hip-H || || transport/attack || Mi-8Mi-17 || 23 || 2 in storage
 * Mil Mi-8 HipMil Mi-17 Hip-H || || transport/attack || Mi-8Mi-17 || 23 || 2 in storage

Air Defense

 * SA-2, SA-3 - 20
 * SA-4 - 12
 * SA-7 - ???
 * ZSU-23-4SP - 24
 * S-60 - 24

References and links

 * CIA World Factbook, 2003 edition.
 * IISS Military Balance, 2007 edition