Kazakhstan
In Soviet times, the Kazakh SSR occupied a special place in ensuring the defense capability of the Soviet Union. Several of the largest polygons and test centers were located on the territory of the republic. In addition to the well-known Semipalatinsk nuclear test site and the Baikonur cosmodrome, the Sary-Shagan test site played an important role. It was the first and only proving ground in Eurasia for the development and testing of anti-missile weapons. In the era of the USSR, the official name of the training ground was State Research and Testing Ground No. 10 of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The landfill covered an area of 81,200 km², which was about 20% of the territory of the republic. In addition to anti-missile weapons, active tests of air defense systems were carried out here. A total of 12 SAM systems, 12 types of SAM systems, 18 radar systems were tested at the Sary-Shagan test site.
At Cape Gulshat, on the shores of Lake Balkhash, several radar stations of the missile attack warning system were built. The first Dnepr station, commissioned in May 1974 (OS-2 node), until recently was on alert as part of the Russian Space Forces, providing control over missile-hazard areas from Pakistan, the western and central parts of the PRC, covers India and part of the Indian Ocean. However, despite repeated modernization, this radar is worn out, outdated and very costly to operate. The developer of the Dnepr stations is the Academician A. L. Mintsa (RTI), who was also involved in modernization and technical support throughout the entire life cycle, said that these over-the-horizon early warning radars of this type for more than 40 years of service are hopelessly outdated and fully depleted. Investing in their repair and modernization is an absolutely hopeless occupation, and it would be much more rational to build a new modern station on this site with better characteristics and lower operating costs.
In 1984, construction of a radar station under the Daryal-U project began in this area. By 1991, the station was brought to the stage of factory testing. But in 1992, all work was frozen due to lack of funding. In 1994, the radar station was mothballed, and in January 2003 it was transferred to independent Kazakhstan. The object was guarded by the forces of the newly created Republican Guard, while the "protection" was accompanied by a total theft of equipment. On September 17, 2004, as a result of the deliberate arson of the receiving position, a fire broke out that destroyed the entire hardware part of the station. In 2010, the building collapsed during an unauthorized dismantling.
In 2016, the modernization of the 5N16E Neman-P radar complex should be completed at the Sary-Shagan training ground. The modernization is aimed at expanding information capabilities and increasing the boundaries of the station's operation, extending the life of the plant and increasing its operational reliability.
RLK 5N16E "Neman - P"
This radar was tested in 1980 and from 1981 to 1991 the radar was used in measurements in more than 300 launches of ballistic missiles during testing of domestic warheads and complexes of means of overcoming missile defense. A powerful transmitting active phased antenna array (AFAR) is used in the "Neman-P" radar. It provides a wide band of frequencies of the emitted signals, which is fundamentally important for signal measurements and implementation of the radio imaging mode. The time of switching the beam to any angular direction within the field of view is a few microseconds, which ensures the simultaneous detection and tracking of a large number of targets. Radar "Neman-P" by its technical, design and technological solutions is still a unique radar facility with information capabilities. It provides obtaining the entire spectrum of characteristics of the observed objects, which are necessary both for assessing the effectiveness of promising means of overcoming missile defense, and for working out methods and algorithms for selecting warheads of ballistic missiles at different parts of their flight path.
Taking into account the military equipment stored in the steppe expanses, Kazakhstan received a huge amount of various weapons, spare parts and ammunition. The military legacy of the Soviet Army turned out to be very impressive, and nominally Kazakhstan became the third military power in the post-Soviet space after Russia and Ukraine. Only one fighter capable of performing air defense missions got about 200 units. Of course, the relatively small national army of Kazakhstan was not able to master all this wealth, a significant part of the equipment and weapons was sold for a pittance or fell into disrepair.
The layout of the liquidated positions of the air defense missile system on the territory of the Kazakh SSR
However, the Kazakh authorities reacted more zealously to a part of the Soviet legacy. During Soviet times, air defense in this direction was provided by the 37th Air Defense Corps (from the 12th Separate Air Defense Army) and the 56th Air Defense Corps (from the 14th Separate Air Defense Army) from the 37th Air Defense Corps in Kazakhstan stationed: control of the 33rd Air Defense Division, 87th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (Alma-Ata), 145th Guards Orsha Red Banner, Order of Suvorov Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, 132nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, 60th and 133rd I radio engineering brigades, 41st radio engineering regiment. From the 56th Air Defense Corps: 374th anti-aircraft missile regiment, 420th anti-aircraft missile regiment, 769th anti-aircraft missile regiment, 770th anti-aircraft missile regiment.
In addition to anti-aircraft missile and radio-technical units, air defense fighter regiments were stationed in Kazakhstan: the 715th IAP in Lugovoy (MiG-23ML) and the 356 IAP in Janeismey (MiG-31). In addition to the air defense forces of the USSR, the armed forces of the republic got parts of the 73rd air army. Including: 905th Fighter Aviation Regiment - on MiG-23MLD in Taldy-Kurgan, 27th Guards Vyborg Red Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment - on MiG-21 and MiG-23 in Ucharal, 715th Training Aviation Regiment - on MiG -29 in Lugovaya. As compensation for the heavy strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS of the 79th Heavy Bomber Aviation Division that left the airbase in Dolon, Kazakhstan received MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters from Russia. From the Russian Air Force, 21 MiG-29s were received in 1995-1996, 14 Su-27S were received in 1999-2001.
MiG-29 of the Air Defense Forces of Kazakhstan
On June 1, 1998, the Air Defense Forces (SVO) were formed in Kazakhstan, uniting the Air Force and Air Defense Forces. The basis of the SVO fighter fleet is made up of aircraft built in the USSR. According to Military Balance 2016, there are more than 70 fighters in Kazakhstan capable of intercepting air targets. Including slightly more than 20 MiG-29 (including MiG-29UB), about 40 Su-27 of various modifications, 4 Su-30SM, more than 25 MiG-31 interceptors. The fighters are based at seven air bases scattered throughout the republic, some of them are "in storage". It is not known for certain how many aircraft are in flight condition, but in the past, Kazakhstani fighters were repaired and modernized in other CIS countries.
Su-27UBM2 SVO Kazakhstan
So, in 2007, a contract was signed with Belarus for the repair and partial modernization of the Su-27 and Su-27UB to the version of the Su-27M2 and Su-27UBM2. The refurbishment and modernization of fighters was carried out at the Belarusian aircraft repair plant in the city of Baranovichi. According to the terms of the contract, the Belarusian side had to repair ten cars. The first modernized fighters were transferred to Kazakhstan in December 2009, after which they became part of the Barsa Zhetisu squadron of the 604th airbase in Taldy-Kurgan. During the modernization, the fighters were equipped with a Belarusian jamming complex, as well as a Lightning-3 container targeting system manufactured by the Israeli company Rafael.
In addition, the modernized fighters received new communication equipment with the ability to transmit information about ground and air targets to other aircraft of the group, as well as ground stations and control centers. The range of guided weapons has expanded, now it is possible to use air-to-surface aviation ammunition: Kh-25ML, Kh-29T, Kh-29L, Kh-31A and Kh-31R missiles. The Su-27UBM2 can also carry the KAB-500L and KAB-1500L laser-guided aerial bombs. In early February 2015, it became known about the contract for the supply of 4 Su-30SM. It is believed that the Su-30SM will become the "first swallows" in the process of renewing the fighter fleet of Kazakhstan. It is believed that in total, Kazakhstan needs more than 40 heavy fighters.
It is planned to carry out a phased overhaul and modernization of heavy interceptors MiG-31 SVO of Kazakhstan. Some of the aircraft were overhauled and modernized in Russia at the 514th aircraft repair plant in Rzhev. Interceptors MiG-31B, MiG-31BSM and MiG-31DZ are deployed at the 610th airbase near Karaganda. About 20 aircraft are in flight condition.
Satellite image of Google Earth: MiG-31 and MiG-29 fighters of the 610th air base near Karaganda
To date, the MiG-31 is in service only in Russia and Kazakhstan. In the late 80s, the MiG-31D was developed in the USSR. This aircraft was intended to destroy enemy orbital stations and satellites. In 1990, after the completion of the stage of flight design tests, two aircraft were relocated for further tests at the Sary-Shagan test site on the western shore of Lake Balkhash, where all new Soviet air defense and missile defense systems were traditionally tested. At the end of 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, and both MiG-31Ds remained on the territory of the now sovereign Republic of Kazakhstan. But Kazakhstan did not need cars of this class, soon the MiG-31D were chained to the ground. In the early 90s, MiG-31Ds were mothballed in one of the hangars of the Sary-Shagan airfield near the town of Priozersk.
In 2003, after a visit to the test site by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Danial Akhmetov, information appeared about the intention to convert the mothballed MiG-31D into carriers of small spacecraft. The project of the promising Ishim aircraft missile system, designed for the prompt launch of small artificial satellites into orbit using a carrier rocket launched from a MiG-31 aircraft, was developed by the Kazakh company Kazkosmos. However, these plans were not destined to come true. In independent Kazakhstan, no funds were found for the implementation of the project, despite the fact that RAC "MiG" and the Moscow Institute of Heat Engineering were ready to undertake scientific and design work.
In general, the level of training of pilots of the Air Defense Forces of Kazakhstan is at a fairly high level. According to the results of the joint exercises, it is believed that Kazakhstani pilots are among the best among the CIS countries. The average flight time per fighter pilot in Kazakhstan is 100-150 hours. This is partly due to the small number of combat aircraft. For a state with an area of 2,724,902 km², which ranks ninth in the world in terms of territory, this number of fighters is clearly not enough. It should also be borne in mind that most of the Kazakh combat aircraft were built in the USSR, and their life cycle is nearing completion.
The only real supplier of modern fighters for the Kazakh Air Force was and remains Russia. But the financial capabilities of the republic do not allow large-scale purchases of aviation equipment "for real money", so the leadership of Kazakhstan will have to continue to negotiate supplies on preferential terms. Thus, once again, the Russian taxpayer will have to pay for the inviolability of Kazakhstan's air borders. But in this case, Russia, by supplying weapons on credit or even free of charge, wins in geopolitical interests, leaving the largest country in Central Asia in the zone of influence and among its allies. Otherwise, China and the United States will inevitably take Russia's place. Already, Kazakhstan is conducting active military-technical cooperation with the Republic of Korea, Turkey, Israel, France and the United States.
The control of the republic's airspace, the guidance of interceptors and the issuance of target designation of the air defense missile system is carried out by three dozen radar posts, where Soviet stations are mainly operated: P-18, 5N84, P-37, 5N59. At the time of the collapse of the USSR, in the mountainous regions and at the Sary-Shagan training ground, there were the most modern stations at that time, including 5U75 Periscope-V 35D6 (ST-68UM) and 22Zh6M Desna-M. However, having remained in Kazakhstan, the newest radars soon became inoperative.
Physical deterioration and inconsistency with modern requirements for reliability and noise immunity criteria and the lack of spare parts forced Kazakhstan to begin work on the modernization of Soviet standby radars 5N84 and P-18. The necessary technical and personnel base in the republic was available. Back in 1976, by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the production and technical enterprise "Granit" of the Ministry of Radio Industry of the USSR was established in Alma-Ata. In the period from 1976 to 1992, ATPP "Granit", as the head installation organization, provided work on installation, adjustment, docking, state testing and maintenance of prototypes and range models of electronic missile defense systems and missile attack warning systems at the Sary-Shagan training ground ". And also participated in state tests and subsequent upgrades of the S-300PT / PS / PM long-range air defense systems. On the basis of the P-18 meter range radar, specialists from the special design and technological bureau "Granit" have developed a version of the P-18 radar modernization with improved tactical and technical characteristics and an extended service life. In 2007, the enterprise successfully modernized the first two sets of P-18M radar stations with the transfer of radio equipment to a new element base. In 2007 - 2013, 27 P-18M radars were modernized on the basis of sets of radio-electronic equipment developed and produced by SKTB "Granit". As a result of the modernization, the following has been achieved: an increase in the detection range by 10%; the electrovacuum element base was transferred to a solid-state one, the MTBF was increased many times, the power units were replaced; ease of operation with automated diagnostics was ensured, and the service life of the radars was extended by 12 years. In addition, SKTB Granit is working on creating its own automation systems and equipping air defense command posts with them.
In addition to modernizing old Soviet stations, the Granit team was tasked with developing a modern 3-coordinate centimeter-range radar based on a foreign station. Radars manufactured in France, Israel and Spain were considered as prototypes. As a result, it was decided to stop at the Ground Master 400 (GM400) radar produced by ThalesRaytheonSystems, a joint venture between the French Thales group and the American Raytheon corporation. On May 22, 2014, at the KADEX-2014 defense exhibition in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with representatives of Thales Raytheon Systems providing for the supply of 20 TRS GM400 radars for the NWO of Kazakhstan. To establish a licensed assembly of TRS GM400 in July 2012, the Granit - Thales Electronics JV was created, and in September 2012, a technology transfer agreement was signed from Thales to the Granit - Thales Electronics JV. In Kazakhstan, the TRS GM400 station installed on the chassis of a KamAZ vehicle received the designation “NUR”. However, it is unclear how Western-made stations will be integrated into the United Air Defense System of the CIS member states.
Radar "NUR" in the exposition of the exhibition KADEX-2014
The ground component of the air defense forces of Kazakhstan is a very interesting structure in terms of equipment and weapons. Kazakhstan is one of the few post-Soviet republics where anti-aircraft missile systems of the first generation with liquid-propellant missiles are still in service. However, the preservation in the ranks of the air defense system, whose age is 30-40 years, is a purely forced measure. In Kazakhstan, which has a large territory unlike Russia, there is no opportunity to independently develop and build modern anti-aircraft systems, and there is no money to purchase new ones.
The layout of the air defense missile system and radar station on the territory of Kazakhstan as of 2013. Blue figures - radar posts of standby radar, colored triangles - positions of air defense systems, squares - garrisons and storage places of air defense systems
It is known that the massive write-off of the S-75 and S-200 air defense systems in the air defense forces of the former Soviet republics was primarily due to the high cost of operation and the need for time-consuming and dangerous refueling of the air defense missile system with toxic liquid fuel and an aggressive volatile oxidizer. At the same time, the resource of most of the decommissioned complexes was still very significant, and the combat characteristics were at a fairly high level. And now, in terms of range and height of destruction of air targets, the S-200V / D air defense systems have no equal in the CIS. During the Soviet era, a very significant number of anti-aircraft missiles and spare parts remained in the warehouses and air defense range in Kazakhstan, without which it would be absolutely unrealistic to keep the S-75M3 and S-200VM on alert. In addition, unlike other Central Asian republics, the leadership of Kazakhstan did not pursue an explicit nationalist policy of squeezing out Russian-speaking personnel from the ranks of the national armed forces, which undoubtedly had a positive effect on the level of combat readiness of the armed forces.
Until 2014, in the vicinity of the city of Ayagoz, the battery of the Krug military air defense missile system was on alert. Kazakhstan got at least one regimental set of this complex. Now the Krug air defense missile system is apparently incapable of combat, in any case, there are no launchers, guidance stations and P-40 radar in the positions. In addition to mobile air defense systems "Krug" inherited from the air defense of the Land Forces of the Soviet Army, a number of air defense systems "Cube" were inherited. Although the reference books indicate that they are still in service in Kazakhstan, their write-off is a matter of the near future. In addition to the medium-range complexes "Cube" and "Circle", the armed forces of Kazakhstan have about 50 SAM "Osa-AK / AKM", "Strela-10", 70 ZSU-23-4 "Shilka", as well as several hundred anti-aircraft guns: 100 mm KS-19, 57 mm S-60, twin 23 mm ZU-23 and more than 300 MANPADS. A significant part of the mobile air defense systems of the near zone and the ZSU are faulty and need factory refurbishment, and the 100 and 57-mm anti-aircraft guns are "in storage".
So far, the S-75M3 air defense system has been deployed in Kazakhstan. In 2015, it was known about three combat-ready anti-aircraft missile divisions armed with S-75M3. The position of one zrdn is located west of Karaganda, the second - southeast of Serebryansk, the third - in the vicinity of Alma-Ata. Several more "seventy-fifths" complexes are in storage.
Satellite image of Google Earth: the position of the C-75M3 air defense missile system southeast of Serebryansk
As of 2016, four S-200VM air defense systems are in a relatively combat-ready state. As in the case of the S-75M3, maintaining the S-200VM in operation requires heroic efforts from the calculations. The hardware components of the first generation Soviet air defense systems were mainly based on electric vacuum devices. Specialists with high qualifications and experience are required to configure and maintain the radio-electronic equipment of the SNR and the ROC. In contrast to the seventy-fives, the dvuhsotok launchers have a minimum of missiles. Of the 6 launchers, usually no more than 2-3 are charged, which is associated with a shortage of serviceable missiles.
Satellite image of Google Earth: S-200VM air defense missile system at a position west of Aktau
In addition to medium and long-range air defense systems with liquid-propellant missiles, Kazakhstan has about 30 C-125 air defense systems of various modifications (some in storage). 18 low-altitude air defense systems were modernized in Belarus to the level of C-125 "PECHORA-2TM". According to the representatives of the developer NPO Tetraedr, the efficiency and reliability of the modernized complex has increased significantly. It is capable of combating modern and promising air attack weapons in a difficult jamming environment. SAM S-125-2TM "PECHORA-2TM" provides effective destruction of low-flying and small-sized targets in conditions of influence of all types of radio interference. In exceptional cases, the air defense system can be used to destroy observed ground and surface targets. The warranty period of the air defense missile system after modernization has been extended by 15 years. The P-18T (TRS-2D) modernized air target detection radar is supplied as part of the S-125-2TM PECHORA-2TM anti-aircraft battalion.
Satellite image of Google Earth: C-125 air defense missile system at a position west of Aktau
The core of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the air defense forces of Kazakhstan is the S-300PS air defense system. A number of S-300PS divisions were inherited by Kazakhstan from the USSR air defense. To maintain the existing air defense systems in working order, starting in 2007, the repair of the S-300PS elements was carried out in Ukraine and at its own enterprise "Granit".
Satellite image of Google Earth: S-300PS air defense missile system at a position northeast of Almaty
As of 2015, five S-300PS divisions were on combat duty in Kazakhstan. Due to the lack of air-conditioned missiles, a reduced number of launchers were in positions. In 2015, information appeared about the transfer of five S-300PS air defense systems and 170 5V55RM air defense missiles to Kazakhstan from the presence of reserves of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The supply of anti-aircraft systems is carried out within the framework of military-technical cooperation and the construction of a joint air defense system. Before placing the S-300PS on combat duty in Kazakhstan, anti-aircraft systems must undergo refurbishment, which will extend their service life for another 5 years. However, the supply of used S-300PS is only a temporary measure and will not significantly enhance the capabilities of the Joint Air Defense System. Moreover, the 5V55RM missiles were delivered in very limited quantities. The production of the 5V55R family of missiles was completed more than 10 years ago, and the majority of missiles of this type are operated outside the warranty period, which can affect the probability of hitting a target and the reliability of the anti-aircraft system as a whole.
In the recent past, Kazakhstan intended to buy from Russia modern medium and short-range air defense systems: Buk-M2E, Tor-M2E, Pantsir-S1 air defense systems and the latest S-400 Triumph long-range air defense systems for internal Russian prices. However, the financial capabilities of Astana did not allow the implementation of these plans. At the beginning of 2008, Kazakhstan negotiated with NPO Antey on the acquisition of S-300PMU2 air defense systems. However, the agreement was not concluded. The economic crisis did not allow Astana to allocate funds for the purchase of "Favorites". At the same time, the cost of one S-300PMU2 missile launcher is about $ 150 million. Instead, in 2009, the parties agreed to supply, on a gratuitous basis, used S-300PS from the Russian Armed Forces. These anti-aircraft systems, built 25-30 years ago, are released in the air defense missile system of the Russian Aerospace Forces after replacing their S-400 air defense systems.
As for deliveries of modern S-400s to Kazakhstan, they are still postponed indefinitely. In fact, this means that there is no talk of a significant increase in the anti-aircraft potential of the armed forces of Kazakhstan so far. The anti-aircraft systems received from Russia will most likely replace the old complexes to be decommissioned. But this is also a temporary measure, since the resource of the S-300PS air defense system is also limited and is 5-7 years.
Under these conditions, the leadership of Kazakhstan will inevitably have to develop military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation to strengthen air defense, which will require additional improvement in joint allied relations. At the moment, the air defense of Kazakhstan has a pronounced local focal character and is unable to independently resist large-scale aggression using modern combat aircraft, drones and cruise missiles. To fully cover defense facilities and vital administrative and industrial centers, Kazakhstan, taking into account the vast territory and the large length of its external borders, requires at least three times more fighters and five times more air defense systems and medium and long-range air defense systems. Since the capabilities of the air defense systems and interceptors of the NWO of Kazakhstan, when they are included in a single air defense system with the Russian Aerospace Forces, are currently not high, it is of much greater interest to ensure the defense capability of the Russian Federation that modern surveillance radars are located along the external borders of the republic, tied into a single information field of the CIS air defense. This will reduce the reaction time and push back the lines of interception of air attack assets of "potential partners".
