Kazakh Naval Forces

The Kazakh Naval Forces (Kazakh: Қазақстан Әскери-теңіз күштері, Qazaqstan Äskeri-teñız küşterı; Russian: Военно-морские силы Казахстана) is the naval force responsible for coastal defense, naval special warfare, and naval warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The navy mainly operates on the Caspian Sea and is currently based in the coastal city of Aktau.

Kazakh Naval Forces
Kazakh: Қазақстан Республикасының Әскери-теңіз күштері Qazaqstan Respublikasynyñ Äskeri-teñız küşterı Russian: Военно-морские силы Республики Казахстан
Kazakh naval emblem
Founded	2 April 1993 (1993-04-02)
Country	Kazakhstan
Type	Navy
Role	Aerial reconnaissance Aerial warfare Air assault Air-sea rescue Airstrike Amphibious reconnaissance Amphibious warfare Anti-aircraft warfare Anti-submarine warfare Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Bomb disposal CBRN defense Clandestine operation Close air support Close-quarters combat Coastal defence and fortification Counter-battery fire Counterintelligence Countermeasure Counterterrorism Covert operation Desert warfare Direct action Direct fire Fire support Force protection Forward air control Hostage rescue HUMINT Indirect fire Intelligence assessment Irregular warfare ISTAR Long-range penetration Maneuver warfare Maritime patrol Medical evacuation Military intelligence Minesweeping Mountain warfare Naval boarding Naval warfare Parachuting Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance SIGINT Special operations Special reconnaissance Tracking Underwater demolition Urban warfare
Size	3,000 sailors and 14 patrol boats
Part of	Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Headquarters	Aktau, Mangystau Region
Colors	Yellow, blue, black, and white
Anniversaries	April 2 May 7
Commanders
Supreme Commander-in-chief	Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Commander of the Navy	Rear Admiral Saken Bekzhanov[1]
Chief of Staff	Captain 1st rank Marat Janaev
Deputy Commander	Captain 1st rank Yermek Baygabulov
Deputy Commander	Colonel Yerbol Begildayev
Notable commanders	Rear Adm. Ratmir Komratov
Insignia
Naval ensign
Naval ensign of the Border Service
Naval jack of Kazakhstan

The branch currently has a strength of 3,000 personnel and is mainly equipped with patrol crafts, minesweepers and a research vessel.

History

Previously, the Soviet Navy's Caspian Flotilla served in the shores of the Kazakh SSR. Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, the fleet shrank, leaving the Kazakh contingent to serve as a basis for the newly formed navy. Kazakhstan's Naval Forces were established in April 1993 as a naval base of the Kazakh Army. The base, which was stationed in Aktau, initially became active in service on August 17, 1996, in spite of Kazakhstan being one of the largest landlocked countries on earth. In July 1999, the naval base became part of the Maritime units of the Border Guard Service of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan. It became a separate military branch by presidential decree on 7 May 2003. In February 2010, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in his position as supreme commander in chief of the entire military, presented the Battle Flag to the Kazakh Navy. The 612th Airbase in Aktau was opened a year later, in 2011.^[2][3]

Structure

Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, commander of United States Naval Forces Central Command greets Rear Admiral Ratmir Komratov prior to a meeting in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

The following units form the structure of the Kazakh Navy:^[4]

• Naval Headquarters
• Special Forces Unit
• Coastal Artillery
• Caspian Flotilla
• Border Service of the KNB
  • 1st Naval Division (Bautino)
  • 2nd Naval Division (Bautino)
  • 3rd Naval Division (Atyrau)

Aktau Naval Academy

The Aktau Naval Academy of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan was the main educational institution of the naval forces. It established in March 2001 by order of the national government on the basis of the Vocational Technical School No. 2. which preceded it. It was reorganized into a naval institute on July 10, 2003, effectively upgrading its status as a nationally recognized military school. Graduates of the institute have served in ships and coastal units of the Navy and maritime units of the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2011, the institute was deactivated and liquidated.^[5]

Commanders

• Rear Admiral Ratmir Komratov [ru] (6 November 2008 – 17 July 2009)
• Vice Admiral Zhandarbek Zhanzakov [ru] (30 September 2009 – 18 April 2018)
• Rear Admiral Saken Bekzhanov [ru] (18 April 2018 – present)

Naval equipment

Vessel	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
Vessel
Kazakhstan	Kazakhstan	Missile boat	4[6][7]
Mangistau	Kazakhstan / Azerbaijan	Missile boat	1	In December 2017, the flag of the Navy was raised on the ship in Aktau. The ship was commissioned into the Navy in October.[8] In July 2018, the ship arrived in Baku to participate in the "Sea Cup - 2018" international competition.[9][10]
Sea Dolphin	South Korea	Fast patrol boat	3
Türk	Turkey	Patrol boat	2[11]
Archangel	United States	Patrol boat	3
Dauntless		Patrol boat	1
Lashyn	Kazakhstan	Patrol boat	1
OPV-62	Israel	Patrol boat	2[11]
Shaldag	Israel / Azerbaijan	Go-fast boat	6[11]	Assembled in Azerbaijan
Project 10750E	Russia	Minesweeper	2	The first vessel was commissioned in 2017[12][13]
Project 01340G	Russia	Research vessel	1	The ship is known to be a hydrographic ship. The vessel's name is Zhaiyk[14][15]
Aircraft
Sukhoi Su-27	Russia	Fighter jets	2
Mil Mi-24	Russia	Attack helicopters	12	[16]

Ranks and insignia

Main article: Military ranks of Kazakhstan

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Kazakh Naval Forces[17] v t e
	Жоғарғы Бас қолбасшының Joğarğı Bas qolbasşınıñ				Адмирал Admïral		Вице-адмирал Vice-admïral		Контр-адмирал Kontr-admïral		Бірінші дәрежелі капитан Birinşi därejeli kapïtan		Екінші дәрежелі капитан Ekinşi därejeli kapïtan		Үшінші дәрежелі капитан Üşinşi därejeli kapïtan		Капитан-лейтенант Kapïtan-leytenant		Аға лейтенант Ağa leytenant			Лейтенант Leytenant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Kazakh Naval Forces[17] v t e
	Шебер-старшина Şeber-starşïna			Штаб-старшина Ştab-starşïna			Бірінші сыныпты старшина Birinşi sınıptı starşïna	Eкінші сыныпты старшина Ekinşi sınıptı starşïna	Үшінші сыныпты старшина Üşinşi sınıptı starşïna	Бас старшина Bas starshyna	Бірінші сатылы старшина Birinşi satılı starşïna						Екінші сатылы старшина Ekinşi satılı starşïna						Аға матрос Ağa matros				Матрос Matros