Central Asian States Are Expanding Domestic Drone Production
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are ramping up domestic UAV production to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
Central Asian states are expanding domestic drone (UAV) production to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. According to the sources, the region has historically relied on Russia and is increasingly turning to Türkiye and China.
Kazakhstan
A domestic facility belonging to Kazakhstan's Airborne Assault Forces produced 100 FPV drones in its first three months (early 2026). Kazakhstan is also pursuing production of the Anka UAV with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan exhibited the "Shunqor-8" drone interceptor (Center for Innovative Technologies) in late summer 2026. Since 2022 it has produced Lochin-brand UAVs: the HA-341(M2) surveillance UAV (about 50 km range) and the HA-251 hexacopter (10 kg payload).
Uzbekistan cooperates with Türkiye (Bayraktar; an Anka import agreement). It also fields the "EAS Dome" counter-UAV system: detection radius 5–10 km, neutralization radius 3–5 km (Electronic Autonomous Solution).
Kyrgyzstan
The private company Nanospace announced in May 2026 plans to open a UAV institute in Tash-Dobo near Bishkek. President Sadyr Japarov announced UAV production at the Dastan enterprise in April 2026. On 26 March 2026 the Ministry of Water Resources and Agriculture met the Chinese firm Quanyibao on joint UAV production.
Kyrgyzstan had earlier bought Turkish Bayraktar TB2s after the 2022 Kyrgyz–Tajik border conflict.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan reportedly signed a deal around 2022 to assemble Iranian Ababil-2 drones.
By the numbers
- Kazakhstan FPV drones: 100 units / 3 months
- Lochin HA-341(M2) range: about 50 km
- HA-251 payload: 10 kg
- EAS Dome: detection 5–10 km / neutralization 3–5 km
- Quanyibao meeting: 26 March 2026
- Dastan UAV: April 2026
- Nanospace institute: May 2026
- Shunqor-8 exhibited: late summer 2026
- Bayraktar TB2 (Kyrgyzstan): 2022
We assemble FPV drones, long-range reconnaissance drones, and ground robotic systems here.
— Ulan Salamatov, director of Nanospace (The Times of Central Asia)
