Brief history Kyrgyzstan was part of the Soviet Socialist Republics and declared its independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991 as the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. It gained its full independence one day before the official dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26 December 1991. It changed its official name to the Kyrgyz Republic in May 1993.
Brief history The Armed Forces were formed from former Soviet forces of the Turkestan Military District and includes the Army, Air Force, Air Defence Force, Border Troops and other forces, troops and agencies.
Until June 2014, Manas Air Base at the international airport of capital Bishkek, was used by coalition forces during operation Enduring Freedom. Russia established the 999th Air Base at Kant and still uses that base to this day, helping to patrol Kyrgyz airspace.
Air Force
Brief history The Kyrgyz Air Force was formed out of the remnants of the Soviet air force training school. Large numbers of L-39s and (dismantled) MiG-21s were left in the new independent state, along with a few Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. Although Kyrgyzstan received Russian military aid, only a few aircraft and helicopters are servicable. It is unclear how the Air Force is organised, for the moment we use the ‘Air Base/Squadron’ format in our OrBat.
Border Guard Service
Brief history On 31 August 2002 the Kyrgyzstan Border Guard Service was established from the remnants of old Soviet border guard structures. The border guard is an independent department of the Kyrgyz public service, under the State Committee for National Security. The borders with both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are not properly marked, which let to skirmishes in recent years between border troops of these countries and the Kyrgyzstan Border Guard Service. Political steps have been taken to agree on the border between the countries involved. The delivery of UAVs in recent years clearly shows the Kyrgyz intention to enhance its border security.
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