that mean so much. Kazakhstan has taken another step towards NATO.
Astana has decided to abandon its long-term reliance upon dated Soviet munitions and Russian replacements. Instead, it will now prioritize the manufacture of NATO-standard ammunition for its armed forces, as well as seeking to modernize other aspects of its military infrastructure, bringing nearer the prospect of a deeper, more productive relationship with the Alliance.
The general who confirmed the news said that half of Kazakhstan’s munitions are only of scrap value.
The decision will not only allow Kazakh forces to play a larger role alongside NATO troops around the world (they continue to play a support role in Iraq), but it will also allow Kazakhstan to enter the world arms market.
Kazakhstan is also opening a training simulator for pilots to cut costs while keeping flight hours up. Training simulators for infantry are in the works as well.
Kazakh military news is something of a theme today.
This post was written by...
Nathan Hamm – author of 2040 posts on Registan.net.
Nathan founded Registan.net in 2003. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan 2000-2001 and received his MA in Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Since 2007, he has worked full-time as an analyst, consulting with clients on Central Asian affairs, specializing in how socio-cultural factors shape risks and opportunities. Follow him on Twitter or drop him a line.