Counter-drone defence and drone operations: Kazakhstan's armed forces adapt their training

Electronic defence, counter-drone defence and the use of drones are the focus of the training exercises and methodological briefings currently being held by the Kazakh armed forces. In doing so, they are following precisely the latest trends in technological warfare observed in Ukraine.

The army's capabilities are being deepened in three areas: protecting communication systems against interference, locating sources of radio signals and defending against drones. Particular attention is paid to expanding electronic warfare, which is becoming ever more important as unmanned technologies evolve.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Azamat Askar, deputy commander of a Kazakh military unit, the current conflict is being fought not only on the ground and in the air, but also in the electromagnetic spectrum. One of the main aims of the exercises is therefore a unified approach to protecting communication systems and to detecting and neutralising unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Practical phase with counter-drone defence and jamming

As the local press in Kazakhstan reports, the soldiers work with modern electronic warfare systems during the exercises. They learn to protect communication and command channels and train in detecting and jamming drones. In the practical part, they assess the security of military targets, employ modern electronic warfare systems and coordinate the operations of their units during combat training missions.

Captain Yerik Kasymbekov pointed out that exercises of this kind offer the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and to exchange experience with colleagues from other service branches. He stressed that it was particularly important to conduct the activities under conditions that faithfully replicate real scenarios – this helps to prepare more effectively for dealing with modern threats.

The exchange of experience between representatives of different arms and branches remains central to the programme. Together, the participants discuss current challenges arising from the development of unmanned technologies and refine joint methods for neutralising them. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Defence, such exercises improve the skills of specialists, strengthen cooperation between units and make it easier to implement modern approaches to protecting military targets.

UAS as a focus of officer training

He had instructed Kazakhstan's military educational institutions to give particular weight to the use of UAS, Colonel Murat Olzhabayev said at a press conference. He heads the military education and science department at the Ministry of Defence in Astana. Advanced digital solutions, simulation technologies, elements of artificial intelligence and a secure IT infrastructure are continuously being integrated into the training process, the colonel said.

In practical training, particular emphasis is placed on unmanned aerial systems. Cadets learn techniques for reconnaissance, fire correction, surveillance and situational assessment using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as measures to defend against enemy drones. They also develop their ability to integrate drone systems into the command and control structures of units, which reflects the realities of the modern battlefield, where speed and precision are decisive— Colonel Murat Olzhabayev

In addition, according to Olzhabayev, inter-agency exercises involving various service branches are held regularly. They practise the interaction of the air force, artillery, air defence, signals units and electronic warfare units. The Ministry of Defence is also developing a unified command system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and working to make them more resilient against electronic warfare.