Interview with the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan in 2009-2014, Adilbek Dzhaksybekov
In March, 2014, the director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, Ruslan Pukhov, during a meeting with Kazakhstan's Defense Minister Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, interviewed him for Arms Export magazine. A few days after the interview, April 3 Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, who successfully proved himself to reform and develop the national armed forces, was appointed to the post of State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The importance of this position in the system of state power in Kazakhstan is indicated by the functions of the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State exercises the following powers:
- develops for the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan proposals on the main areas of domestic and foreign policy;
On behalf of the Head of State represents his interests:
- in relations with the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its chambers, other state bodies, political parties and other public associations;
-in international relations;
The full interview will be published in the second issue of the "Arms Export" magazine for 2014 a year, our blog publishes its abridged version.
Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, born in 1954, was in active military service in the Soviet Army in the Red Banner Siberian Military District. In 1977 he graduated from the economics department of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (Moscow), in 1987 he was retrained at the Moscow Institute of National Economy. Plekhanov specialty "organizer of logistics". He worked in the system Goskino and Gossnab of the Kazakh SSR, led a number of enterprises. 1988 to 1995 He headed the diversified corporation "Tsesna". In 1995, he is elected to the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1996, he was appointed first deputy akim of the Akmola region. In 1997-2003. - Akim of Astana. In 2003-2004 - Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2004-2008 - Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan. January 23 to October 13 2008 of the year - 1-th Deputy Chairman of the People's Democratic Party "Nur Otan" - Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2008-2009 - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Russian Federation. From June 2009 to April 2014, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 3 April 2014 - State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Candidate of Economic Sciences.
How do you assess the role of Kazakhstan in the system of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)? How effective, in your opinion, is the interaction between the member countries of the organization?
The Collective Security Treaty Organization today is an established multifunctional regional collective security organization, operating on the principles of equality, mutual respect and having a stabilizing effect on the situation in Eurasia.
The results of the CSTO activities confirm the commitment to improving cooperation in the field of preserving peace and stability in the region and the world. Regulations have been adopted and a mechanism for joint measures to prevent (resolve) crisis situations has been agreed. A solid legal framework has been created governing the activities of the Organization in all major areas of security.
The Republic of Kazakhstan is strengthening cooperation with the CSTO member states in the framework of coalition military development, carried out in the interests of ensuring joint security. Our state stands for the consolidation of efforts to ensure collective military security, as well as the further development of the CSTO system, forces and means.
At the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Collective Rapid Reaction Force was formed within the framework of the CSTO. The collective forces consisted of military contingents and formations of special forces, equipped with modern weapons. Collective peacekeeping forces are formed in the structure of the Organization. During joint operational and combat training activities, the level of their interaction is increased.
The Council of Ministers of Defense and the CSTO Joint Headquarters in a planned manner take measures to strengthen the integration processes in the military sphere. These are activities such as inspecting the state of combat readiness, harmonizing the forces and means of the Collective Forces during the annual Interaction and the Indestructible Brotherhood exercises.
At these exercises, approbation of the adopted regulatory legal documents and working out joint actions by contingents of the armed forces and formations of special-purpose forces of the Organization's member states that are part of the Collective Forces was carried out.
Does the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan have plans to reach certain indicators of self-sufficiency in armaments, military equipment and ammunition?
The head of state assigned the task to 2020 to ensure that the level of local content in the procurement of weapons and military equipment is up to 80%.
It is difficult to carry out production planning, especially defense, until such time. However, by 2050, we plan to reach the level of maximum equipping of the Armed Forces with military equipment manufactured by domestic enterprises, having achieved a high localization of production within
execution of state defense orders.
It should be noted that the volume of production for JSC NC Kazakhstan Engineering in 2015 will reach the level of 120,4 billion tenge (6,18 billion rubles), and the Kazakh share in the total volume of military and dual-use products will be at least 50% ( in 2013, 45%).
In this regard, the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, together with interested government agencies, is improving the national support system for domestic defense enterprises.
Is the Kazakh state armaments program synchronized with the Russian one? How do you assess the quality of the implementation of the LG?
In the Republic of Kazakhstan, systematically carried out measures of technological modernization of the Armed Forces, as well as enterprises of the military-industrial complex, aimed at:
• maintenance and modernization of existing military equipment;
• procurement of weapons and military equipment, the production of which is absent in Kazakhstan or, for economic or technological reasons, is inexpedient.
The arsenal of the Kazakh army consists of Soviet-made armament, the manufacturing enterprises of which remained in Russia. Therefore, the components of the units and components come from these enterprises, some specific services also provide them. Within the framework of the prospective equipment, separate modern models of Russian-made weapons adopted or adopted by the Armed Forces of Russia are received in military units.
Considering that Russian enterprises are, first of all, executors of the national state defense order, there is a close relationship between the Kazakh and Russian weapons programs.
As in other countries, financial and economic shocks within the state are also unavoidable in our country, which negatively affects the implementation of the planned activities. In addition, the timely fulfillment by foreign suppliers-suppliers of their obligations has a great influence.
In recent years, Kazakhstan has increased purchases of weapons and military equipment (IWT) in Europe, and contracts have been concluded with Ukraine. Is there any long-term strategy to diversify the sources of revenues of weapons and military equipment, or in each case the decision is made individually?
In the Republic of Kazakhstan, technological modernization of weapons and military equipment, as well as the development of the military-industrial complex, which allows planning in advance the flow of weapons and military equipment for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking into account supply diversification, is carried out.
The Armed Forces of Kazakhstan are purchasing modern types of weapons and military equipment that meet the requirements of future operators. Therefore, the geography of suppliers is expanding.
At the same time, in the case of the profitability of organizing the domestic production of weapons selected by the Armed Forces, issues of offset production or technology play an important factor in choosing a supplier. Based on the aggregate results of monitoring in these areas, the source of the weapons is selected.
For example, the implementation of the Armed Forces Technological Modernization Program resulted in the creation of a number of enterprises for assembling helicopters, radar stations, manufacturing ships, boats, fire and special vehicles, car trailers, optoelectronic devices, radio stations, 30-mm and 125-mm ammunition , as well as other military products. New productions such as the repair and upgrading of helicopters, armored and motor vehicles, artillery weapons were opened.
Are there any plans to buy drone drums?
Modern mobile and well-equipped armed forces of any state should be armed with modern systems and complexes capable of adequately countering external challenges and internal contradictions to protect the independence and territorial integrity of the state.
Currently, reconnaissance drums UAVs are one of the main weapons during anti-terrorist operations for the application of pinpoint strikes. This is a worldwide trend in the use of unmanned vehicles in the armed forces.
In addition, the size of the territory of Kazakhstan suggests the presence of UAVs capable of performing various functions of monitoring and tracking at long ranges and long duration. In this regard, we are considering equipping the Armed Forces with such aircraft, and active work is being done in this direction.
If we consider the potential threats in the region, what do you think is more likely: destabilization of Afghanistan or disintegration of one of the countries of Central Asia? How troubling is the current situation in Kyrgyzstan?
The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan monitors the situation in Afghanistan, since the development of the situation in this country is of great importance to us. The main threat to the region, it seems, after easing control by the central government of Afghanistan, will be an increase in drug trafficking. Now there are large flows of drugs across the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
At the same time, Kazakhstan is concerned about the growing activity of terrorist elements in the region, which can penetrate the territory of the countries of the Central Asian region and destabilize the situation. Kazakhstan is preparing for this, is strengthening its armed forces, interacting with its neighbors in the region, who directly border with Afghanistan - with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan provides assistance in strengthening borders, exchanges information in order to increase the capacity of countries in the region. It turns out and financial assistance.
As part of international efforts, Kazakhstan is actively involved in the process of stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan and is increasing bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan. Kazakhstan has allocated more than 4,5 million dollars for the restoration of roads, the construction of schools and hospitals.
Since 2010, more than 1000 Afghan students are studying in Kazakhstani schools, for which 50 million dollars have been allocated. Our defense ministry follows the policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan aimed at involving Afghanistan in regional processes, both within international organizations and on a bilateral basis.
How are military contacts with the PRC developing? Can China in the future become an equally important partner in the military sphere, like Russia, or replace it?
Kazakhstan’s foreign policy is based on the principles of multi-vector approach, balance, pragmatism and mutual benefit. In accordance with the national interests of Kazakhstan, the main foreign policy efforts will focus on the achievement of such basic goals as the all-round provision of national security, defense, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country; strengthening peace, global and regional security.
In this regard, the Republic of Kazakhstan will continue to strengthen relations with neighboring countries, including Russia and China. Both states are strategic partners of Kazakhstan, and it is inappropriate to consider replacing one with another.
Are prospective samples of individual equipment ("soldier of the future") being studied? Have any samples been tested in the Kazakh army?
Of course, this work is being done. There are separate samples of technical equipment used in promising equipment, primarily for intelligence and special purpose units. The proposals of a number of leading foreign manufacturers are being studied, for which future military trials are planned.
How do you assess the Kazakhstan experience of outsourcing, attracting civilian companies to service military units? Does this not lead to increased corruption problems and reduced combat readiness?
Analysis of the implementation of outsourcing in the technical support system of the Armed Forces shows the need for a thorough approach to this issue, taking into account financial and economic features.
Currently, the most successful example of outsourcing is the transfer of the power supply system of military units and institutions to small and medium-sized businesses. The result was the liberation of the Armed Forces from the organization of food, the maintenance of food supplies and other issues related to food. This work began at the beginning of the 2000-ies, and over the past period of time has been constantly improved.
In addition, a major overhaul of weapons and military equipment is already being carried out at domestic defense enterprises. Maintenance and repair of weapons remains the prerogative of military units. We have carried out calculations of the cash costs of military units, as well as projected costs for the types of maintenance and current repairs when they are outsourced. These calculations show the low efficiency of outsourcing the transfer of weapons and military equipment, consisting on the equipment of the Army for more than 20 years.
In order to effectively address this issue, we are systematically transferring the maintenance and repair of newly acquired modern high-tech weapons to outsourced to domestic defense enterprises.
With proper organization of the outsourcing system and related issues of interaction and control, it is possible to maximally avoid the problems of corruption and a reduction in the combat readiness of weapons.
Tell us about the exhibition of weapons and military equipment "KADEX-2014"
Once again in the city of Astana in the period from 22 to 25 in May 2014, the third international exhibition of weapons and military-technical equipment "KADEX-2014" will be held. The holding of the international exhibition of weapons and military equipment “KADEX-2014” in the capital of Kazakhstan proves once again that this is a large-scale exhibition uniting representatives of leading enterprises of the country, their partners and guests from abroad. 225 applications for participation from 23 countries of the world have been submitted for participation in the upcoming exhibition. The total area of the booked exhibition space is more than 50 000 sq.m.
The main feature of the third KADEX exhibition will be that the majority of foreign companies will present not only stands with small models of their products, but also working prototypes and real samples of military equipment. Many of these models of equipment will be demonstrated in dynamics at a special test site built for the exhibition. This will provide military specialists with a unique opportunity not only to theoretically familiarize themselves with the tactical and technical characteristics of the equipment, but also practically to study it.
A scientific and practical conference is scheduled during the exhibition. The main leitmotif of the upcoming conference will be the discussion of the prospects for equipping the Army with modern weapons and military equipment and the development of the defense-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan, its development and improvement. Including the issues of increasing labor productivity, which types of military and dual-purpose products should be specialized taking into account the world division of labor and international cooperation, as in modern conditions there is no need to produce the whole range of weapons and military equipment on our own. In addition, large foreign companies are planning to hold their own conferences on modern trends in the development of military equipment. They will discuss modern views and approaches to resolving issues related to the operation and repair of weapons and military equipment, the prospects for technical modernization of weapons and military equipment, as well as the development of high-tech production for the creation of modern weapon systems.
The main sections of the exhibition will be represented by such as:
• Space technology;
• Aviation, UAV, aviation weapons;
• Air defense systems and equipment;
• Green technologies;
• Robotics in the military sphere;
• IT-technologies, systems and communications;
• Armament and equipment of the Ground Forces and Navy;
• Rear and technical support of troops.
The previous KADEX International Armament and Military Equipment Exhibition, held in 2010 and 2012, has become one of the biggest memorable events in the framework of strengthening business partnerships and international cooperation of Kazakhstan.
One of the important components of the KADEX exhibition is its business program, including the international scientific and technical conference, as well as seminars, presentations and “round tables”.
One of the main objectives of the exhibition is the active development of the defense-industrial complex and the attraction of foreign investment in the country, which will enhance the image of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the international arena of arms and military equipment exhibitions.
At the same time with the exhibition, the organizers plan to hold the II International Festival of Military Brass Bands. Highly professional military orchestras of the countries of the near and far abroad will demonstrate the “Tattoo show” (defile).
I hope that the exhibition will substantially complement the complex being implemented to support domestic producers and strengthen the export potential of the country's military-industrial complex. I am confident that the exhibition will allow to get acquainted with the best achievements of scientific and technical thought, will make a significant contribution to the development of military-technical cooperation, will strengthen business ties and will contribute to the international authority of Kazakhstan.
Information