Airforces - Demo Hornet

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #365 AUGUST 2018 // 67

signed a memorandum of
understanding with Turkish
Aerospace Industries
(TAI) to establish bilateral
co-operation for the development
of the Anka unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) and Hürkuş turboprop trainer.

Chinese presence
China’s defence industry is also making inroads
into Kazakhstan, and the KADF displayed one
of its Chinese-made Wing Loong I UAVs –
having purchased two in 2016, with two more
reportedly added to the inventory since.
The former Soviet republic has also been
looking to buy an unspecified number of
military transport aircraft, and in May a first
Shaanxi Y-8F-200WA was seen in China
prior to delivery. The aircraft made its first
flight on June 14 and Kazakhstan is thought
to have placed an initial order for three.
China took the opportunity to promote
the improved Y-9E transport at KADEX

2018. The China National Aero-Technology
      Import & Export Corporation (CATIC)
      brought a model of the export-optimised
      aircraft to the show to promote it to
      potential customers in Central Asia.
      A development of the Y-8 – itself a derivative
      of the An-12 – the Y-9 has a fuselage stretched
      to 118ft 4in (36.06m), uprated FWJ6C
      engines driving six-blade JL-4 composite
      propellers and a six-screen electronic flight
      instrument system (EFIS) cockpit. Designed
      to carry 55,115lb (25,000kg) of cargo, it
      can also accommodate 106 passengers,
      132 paratroopers or 72 stretchers.

Western partners
Despite Kazakhstan’s geographic and
historical links to the East, its large central
Asian catchment area also offers opportunities
for Western industry, and this year Airbus
attended KADEX as a ‘strategic partner’,
with a range of products on static display.
Defence equipment included A400M and C295
airlifters, the latter currently in active service
in the KADF. The A400M is now being offered
as a complement to the eight-strong C295

fleet, facilitating a significant

expansion of strategic and

heavy tactical airlift capabilities.

Airbus Helicopters has been

a strategic partner of Kazakhstan

Engineering since 2010, under

the Eurocopter Kazakhstan Engineering

(ECKE) joint venture to manufacture the

EC145C2 (officially named KH145 locally).

ECKE has meanwhile developed maintenance

and training competencies and operates a

state-of-the-art flight simulator – as well as

having assembled 26 EC145s since 2011, eight

of which have been delivered to the KADF.

The remainder are used by the Kazaviaspas,

part of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency

Situations, which in turn operates under the

Ministry of Internal Affairs. Although EC145

production seems to have slowed or even

stopped, ECKE is also qualified to assemble

and maintain H130 and H125 helicopters.

While Airbus is a long-term partner in the

region, Central Asia is also of great interest for

Leonardo, which has around 40 helicopters

in use in the region, mainly for government,

military and offshore missions The company

plans further expansion and showcased its

AW139M and AW149 helicopters at KADEX.

Summing up the exhibition, Kazakhstan’s MoD

announced that more than 100 memorandums,

contracts, agreements and protocols had

been signed, with a value exceeding $880m.

Some 318 companies from 28 countries

showcased their products at the event –

the fifth KADEX confirming its position as a

key meeting point for Eastern and Western

industries seeking a potentially lucrative

foothold in Central Asia.

co-operation for the development

fleet, facilitating a significant

expansion of strategic and

a strategic partner of Kazakhstan

Engineering since 2010, under

the Eurocopter Kazakhstan Engineering

(ECKE) joint venture to manufacture the

Right: A KADF Su-30SM performs at KADEX.
Kazakhstan ordered another eight of the multi-role
fi ghters during the exhibition in Astana.
Left top: A pair of KADF Mi-17V-5s during a tactical
display with special forces. Thirty-four of the
helicopters were delivered to Kazakhstan, but at
least one has been lost – it crashed near Astana
during an exercise in August 2012.
Left bottom: A Chinese-made Wing
Loong I unmanned aerial vehicle
was on static display. The air
force currently operates four of
the type. Note the weapons
pylon under the wing.

Above: Tu-154M UP-T5401 (c/n 91A889) on the ramp at Astana. The aircraft is operated on behalf of the

Kazakh government and serves alongside more modern Airbus and Boeing equipment. The single Tu-

143A-3 (seen in the background) has been withdrawn. Below: Kazakhstan Air Defence Force C295M ‘01

Red’ (c/n 093) on the ramp at Astana. The transport is normally based at Almaty in the south of the country.

AFM