Kyrgyzstan has received the Bayraktar Akıncı and TAI Aksungur unmanned aerial vehicles that it earlier ordered from Turkey’s leading aviation companies, Baykar and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Chairman of the National Security State Committee Kamchibek Tashiev and BAYKAR Technology General Manager (CEO) Haluk Bayraktar attended the delivery ceremony, which took place at a drone base belonging to the Kyrgyz Border Security Agency.
TAI Aksungur unmanned aerial vehicle delivered to the Kyrgyzstan Border Security Agency / From the Presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic
At the ceremony, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov stated that the new unmanned aerial vehicles purchased from Turkey will be utilized to ensure the country’s border security. Japarov stated that the procurement of these vehicles was financed by the state budget and that modern and high-tech unmanned aerial vehicles will make a significant contribution to maintaining the country’s security. Following his speech, the President presented the Order of Glory, Kyrgyzstan’s State Award, to Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar.
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov presents the Order of Glory, the State Award of the Kyrgyz Republic, to Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar / From Haluk Bayraktar’s X account
Two days after receiving these Bayraktar Akıncı and TAI Aksungur drones, Kyrgyzstan utilized them in an exercise at the Edelweiss training ground in the country’s Issyk-Kul region. The tactical and technical features of the new unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with ROKETSAN-produced MAM-L and MAM-T laser-guided Mini Smart Munitions, as well as their firepower, were demonstrated in the exercise attended by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar. In addition to the Bayraktar Akıncı and TAI Aksungur drones, electronic warfare equipment, armored vehicles, and helicopters from the Kyrgyz Border Security Agency also took part in the exercise.
The Kyrgyz president stated in his speech during the exercise that they would continue to strengthen the country’s armed forces and improve the social standards of military personnel, and that such exercises will be carried out on a regular basis to ensure the successful implementation of new modern technologies.
A Bayraktar TB2 in the service of the Kyrgyz Border Security Agency / From the Presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic
In addition to Bayraktar Akıncı and TAI Aksungur drones, Kyrgyzstan has ordered Bayraktar TB2s from Turkey in October 2021. The State National Security Committee of Kyrgyzstan later built a new unmanned aerial vehicle base for these TB2s. Daiyrbek Orunbekov, head of the Presidential Administration’s Information Policy Service, also revealed at the start of this year that Kyrgyzstan had ordered Anka unmanned aerial vehicles from Turkish Aerospace Industries. Anka unmanned aerial vehicles are planned to arrive in Kyrgyzstan in the first quarter of 2024. With the delivery of Anka, Kyrgyzstan will be the first country other than Turkey to use all drones produced by TAI and Baykar.
Kyrgyzstan, which frequently clashes with its neighbor Tajikistan over border disputes, maintains close ties with Russia, Belarus, and Turkey in order to strengthen its military capabilities. In this regard, Kyrgyzstan has recently received Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles, Mi-17V-5 helicopters, and several armored vehicles from Russia.
During this time, the Biškek government also procured the Pechora-2BM air defense missile system, communication equipment, various weapons, anti-tank and helicopter munitions, engineering equipment, sniper rifles, pistols, grenades, and rockets from Belarus. Kyrgyzstan, which has spent over a billion dollars on all of the above-mentioned arms purchases, has stated repeatedly that these purchases will continue in the future.
Kyrgyzstan defines these efforts as a measure to strengthen the country’s national security in light of global developments.
Source: Overt Defense