Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces
The Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces were built in 1992 from the Soviet regiments that had guarded the Afghan border — MiG-29s at Kokaydy, Su-24s at Karshi-Khanabad, Su-27s at Andijan — fought in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and over northern Afghanistan in the 1990s, lent K2 to the Americans until Andijan ended the arrangement in 2005, and in 2026 are replacing Russia as their only supplier with Chinese J-10CE fighters, a Brazilian C-390 and Turkish drones.
The Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces story: Soviet frontier regiments, the Americans at K2 and J-10CEs from China
1992–1993: the air armies of the Turkestan Military District change flags
Uzbekistan did not build an air force in 1992; it nationalised one. Soviet Central Asia was a frontier district, and the Turkestan Military District, headquartered in Tashkent, had the 49th Air Army and the 12th Independent Air Defence Army on its soil. Michael Holm’s regimental histories show what was there: the 115th Guards Fighter Regiment with MiG-29s at Kokaydy near Termez, the 735th Bomber Regiment with Su-24s at Karshi-Khanabad, the 9th Guards Fighter Regiment — credited with 558 kills in the Second World War — with new Su-27s at Andijan, and helicopter regiments at Kagan and Chirchiq, where a training centre also flew about 20 Su-25s. A presidential decree of 13 July 1992 took over the air army units, the air defence units followed on 12 November, and an air force headquarters was formed on 1 January 1993. What it lacked was people: in 1995, GlobalSecurity notes, almost all its personnel were ethnic Russians.
1992–2001: wars on the southern border
The new air force went to war almost at once. From September 1992 its helicopters and jets supported the government side in Tajikistan’s civil war against the United Tajik Opposition; Wikipedia, citing the Russian historian Drozdov, lists MiG-29s, Su-17Ms, Su-24s, Su-25s, Mi-8s and Mi-24s, and losses of one Su-24, two Mi-8s and one Mi-24. Human Rights Watch recorded a Su-24M shot down by a Stinger on 3 May 1993. In 1999 the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan crossed into Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region, and Uzbek aircraft joined the fighting: on 29 August 1999, HRW reported, the Uzbek air force mistakenly bombed the Kyrgyz village of Kara-Teyit, killing four people, and the Tajik government and opposition accused Uzbekistan of bombing Tajik territory. FlightGlobal reported in October 2001 that an Uzbek Su-24 had been shot down by the Taliban; ACIG dates the loss to 6 June 2001 near Hairatan, with both crew killed.
2001–2005: K2, the Americans and Andijan
After 11 September 2001 Uzbekistan opened its airfields to American forces. Access to Karshi-Khanabad was agreed on 5 October 2001, and the base the Americans called K2, or Camp Stronghold Freedom, held about 7,000 US personnel over four years for special forces, combat search and rescue and airlift into Afghanistan. Germany was allowed a smaller transport base at Termez. The partnership ended with the events in Andijan on 13 May 2005, when troops fired on a crowd: the government gave a toll of 187 dead, while other estimates run from several hundred to 1,500. Wikipedia notes army helicopters circling over Qorasuv the next day; no other air role is documented in the sources checked. After US and European criticism Tashkent restricted flights from K2, demanded at the end of July 2005 that the Americans leave within six months, and US operations ended on 21 November 2005. Some K2 veterans later blamed cancers on contamination at the old Soviet base, while the US Army concluded that the long-term health risk was low.
2005–2020: an ageing Soviet fleet, a new academy and a return to Russia
The next fifteen years were the quiet decline of a Soviet fleet. The air force and air defence forces were merged by a directive of 15 January 1999; the Kokaydy and Andijan regiments were disbanded that year and their aircraft concentrated at Karshi-Khanabad in the 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade. An EU arms embargo imposed after Andijan was lifted in October 2009, and in April 2011 a decree moved the helicopters to the Ground Forces, according to Wikipedia. Pilot training had begun at Jizzakh in 1994, with the first flight in a Yak-52 at Khanabad on 25 April 1995; in 2019 the school moved to Karshi, where Thales installed an H125 simulator for the country’s first air force academy. Under President Mirziyoyev Uzbekistan turned back to Moscow: up to 12 Mi-35M gunships were ordered in March 2018 at Russian domestic prices, and in 2019 Tashkent told Russia it wanted Su-30SMs, none of which had been reported delivered by September 2026.
August 2021: the Afghan air force lands at Termez
The fall of Kabul in August 2021 brought a foreign air force to Uzbekistan. In mid-August Afghan pilots flew north with what they could; Uzbekistan said 46 aircraft — 22 fixed-wing and 24 helicopters — had been “forced” to land, carrying 585 servicemen. One A-29 Super Tucano crashed after crossing the border. Initial reports said it had been shot down; The War Zone later reported that it had collided with an Uzbek MiG-29 and that both aircraft were lost, and Wikipedia notes that the Uzbek authorities gave conflicting accounts. The aircraft stayed at Termez. The Taliban demanded them back. On 24 August 2024 the US ambassador, Jonathan Henick, said the equipment would stay in Uzbekistan: “This equipment was never Afghan, it was American.” Seven Black Hawks were moved to the United States in early 2025, and in September 2025 Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry called reports of a return to Afghanistan “fake news”.
2024–2026: J-10CE, C-390 and a new map of suppliers
Since 2023 the service has changed suppliers faster than at any time since 1992. Presidential photographs in November 2023 showed Chinese Wing Loong and Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, Turkish Anka drones were reported arriving in January 2025, and in November 2025 Airbus sold Flexrotor drones. The big change is the fighter: after a year of unconfirmed reports of a 24-aircraft order, the Ministry of Defence released footage in late August 2026 of Chinese J-10CE fighters, at least six of them by The Aviationist’s count, the first fighters Uzbekistan has bought new since independence. On 25 September 2026 the first Embraer C-390 was handed over in Brazil. What is still missing is clarity: the ministry publishes no inventory, the MiG-29s are Soviet-built, estimates of what still flies range widely, and the size of the J-10CE order has never been confirmed officially.
The Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces in numbers
Dienst
- Inheemse naam
- Havo hujumidan mudofaa qoʻshinlari va Harbiy havo kuchlariUzbek name as given by Wikipedia; the Russian form used in official Russian-language texts is Войска противовоздушной обороны и Военно-воздушные силы Республики Узбекистан. The Ministry of Defence sites could not be reached to confirm the official spelling
- Opgericht
- 13 July 1992Presidential decree taking over the units of the Soviet air army; air defence units followed on 12 November 1992 and an air force headquarters on 1 January 1993. The armed forces date from 14 January 1992; the air force and air defence forces were merged by a directive of 15 January 1999
- Onderdeel van
- Armed Forces of the Republic of UzbekistanUnder the Ministry of Defence; the commander is also a deputy minister of defence
- Hoofdkwartier
- TashkentPer Wikipedia; not confirmed on an official page
- Commandant
- Maj. Gen. Akhmad BurkhanovDeputy Minister of Defence and Commander of the Air and Air Defence Forces, named in February 2025 and September 2026; appointment date not found
- Minister van Defensie
- Lt. Gen. Shukhrat KholmukhamedovIn office since 23 November 2024; previously chief of the General Staff
Kracht
- Personeel
- About 15,000Wikipedia’s figure; GlobalSecurity gave 10,000–15,000 for 2006. No official figure is published
- Gevechtsvliegtuigen
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- J-10CE — at least 6 shown in August 2026
- MiG-29/MiG-29UB — 12–31 active (estimates differ)
- Su-25/Su-25UB — about 20
- Su-27 and Su-24 — in store
No official inventory is published and estimates differ widely; the Military Balance 2024, as quoted by Meta-Defense, counted only 12 MiG-29s active with 18 MiG-29s and 26 Su-27s in store
- Vervoer
-
- Embraer C-390 — 1 delivered
- An-26 — about 4
- An-12 — about 2
C-390 delivered 25 September 2026; An-12 and An-26 counts are Wikipedia’s
- Helikopters
-
- Mi-8/Mi-17 — 60+ (Wikipedia)
- Mi-24/Mi-35M — 12 Mi-35M ordered 2018
- H125/AS350 family — number not confirmed
Wikipedia says the helicopters were moved to the Ground Forces in 2011 but still lists them under the air force; counts are Wikipedia’s except the Mi-35M order
- Trainers
-
- L-39C Albatros — 14+ (Wikipedia)
- MFI-395 Super Mushshak — 16 ordered (IISS 2020)
Pilot training at the Institute of Military Aviation, Karshi; Pakistan offers basic to tactical training
- Drones
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- Bayraktar TB2 — 4 seen
- Wing Loong I — 1 seen
- Orlan-10 — 8 seen
- Anka — number not disclosed
Shown in November 2023 presidential photographs; Anka reported January 2025; which service operates them was not stated
- Defensiebudget
- About 1.7 billion dollars (2023)Kun.uz figure for the whole defence budget; no separate air force budget is published
Infrastructuur
- Main air bases
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- Karshi-Khanabad — 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade, Institute of Military Aviation
- Dzhizak — separate mixed aviation brigade
- Fergana — mixed aviation regiment
- Tashkent — mixed aviation squadron
- Kagan (Bukhara) and Chirchiq — helicopter regiments
Order of battle as given by Wikipedia; not confirmed by the ministry
- Closed or disbanded
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- Kokaydy — 61st Guards Fighter Regiment (MiG-29)
- Andijan — 62nd Fighter Regiment (Su-27)
Both regiments were disbanded in 1999 and their aircraft concentrated at Karshi-Khanabad
- Foreign bases
- None todayUS forces used Karshi-Khanabad from October 2001 to 21 November 2005; Germany kept a transport base at Termez for the ISAF mission
- Former Afghan aircraft
- At Termez since August 202146 aircraft arrived; seven UH-60s have gone to the United States. The US says the rest stay in Uzbekistan; the Taliban demand them back
- Grondgebonden luchtverdediging
- Anti-aircraft missile brigade and radio-technical brigadeWikipedia names the 12th Anti-Aircraft Rocket Brigade; the systems in service were not named in the official reports checked
- Opleiding
- Institute of Military Aviation, KarshiFounded at Jizzakh on 20 June 1994; moved to Khanabad airfield in 2019
How the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces is organised
One service under the Ministry of Defence, its commander also a deputy minister, built from the Soviet air army units taken over on 13 July 1992 and merged with the air defence forces in 1999. Since the Kokaydy and Andijan fighter regiments were disbanded in 1999, the Soviet-built combat jets have been concentrated at Karshi-Khanabad with the 60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade, joined in 2019 by the Institute of Military Aviation. Wikipedia’s order of battle, which the ministry has not confirmed, adds helicopter regiments at Kagan and Chirchiq, mixed aviation units at Dzhizak, Fergana and Tashkent, and an anti-aircraft missile brigade.
Air and Air Defence Forces
In Tashkent per Wikipedia, under the Ministry of Defence; the air force and the air defence forces were merged by a directive of 15 January 1999. Maj. Gen. Akhmad Burkhanov, Deputy Minister of Defence and Commander of the Air and Air Defence Forces, was named in that role in February 2025 and September 2026; his appointment date was not found.
60th Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade
The main combat formation per Wikipedia, formed from the Soviet 735th Bomber Regiment and the 87th Separate Reconnaissance Regiment; the MiG-29s of the disbanded Kokaydy regiment moved here in 1999. The Military Balance 2024, as quoted by Meta-Defense, counted 12 MiG-29s active and the Su-24s and Su-27s in store. Where the J-10CEs shown in August 2026 are based has not been published.
Institute of Military Aviation
The air force’s officer school, founded at Jizzakh on 20 June 1994 and at Khanabad airfield since 1 September 2019, per Wikipedia, where Thales delivered an H125 simulator that year. The institute does not publish which aircraft it flies.
Mixed aviation brigade, regiment and squadron
Wikipedia lists a Separate Mixed Aviation Brigade at Dzhizak, a Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment at Fergana and a Separate Mixed Aviation Squadron at Tashkent, none with aircraft types. None of them is confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.
65th and 66th Separate Helicopter Regiments
Listed by Wikipedia at Kagan and Bukhara and at Chirchiq, on helicopter bases of the Soviet Turkestan Military District. A decree of 13 April 2011 moved the helicopters to the Ground Forces, according to Wikipedia; up to 12 Mi-35Ms were ordered from Russia in March 2018.
What the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces flies today
Elk type is gekoppeld aan de bijbehorende pagina in het Boek der Beesten, indien aanwezig. Het aantal vliegtuigen betreft de geregistreerde vliegtuigen, niet de vliegtuigen die op een bepaalde dag beschikbaar zijn.
| Type | Rol | In dienst | Sinds | Eenheden | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu J-10CEIn dienst | Multifunctionele gevechtsvliegtuig | — | 2026 | — | At least six, by The Aviationist’s count of the aircraft shown on state television on 28 August 2026. No official total.
MeerA 24-aircraft contract has been reported (Defence Security Asia, Meta-Defense, citing the defence minister in July 2025) but not confirmed on an official page. |
|
| Mikoyan MiG-29 and MiG-29UBIn dienst | Vechter | — | 1992 | — | 12–31 active. 30 single-seat and six two-seat aircraft inherited (Wikipedia).
MeerThe Military Balance 2024, as quoted by Meta-Defense, counts 12 active and 18 in store; Wikipedia gives 26 single-seat and five two-seat in service in 2026, and 32 at Karshi-Khanabad in its order of battle. One was reportedly lost in a collision with an Afghan A-29 in August 2021. |
|
| Sukhoi Su-25, Su-25UB and Su-25BMIn dienst | Grondaanval | 20 | 1992 | — | About 20: the Soviet training centre at Chirchiq had around 20 when Uzbekistan took them over, and 20 were listed as operational in 2021. | |
| Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35MIn dienst | Aanvalshelikopter | — | 1992 | — | 12 Mi-35M ordered (RIA Novosti via Kun.uz: four in late 2019, eight in 2020); Wikipedia lists 41+ Mi-24/Mi-35M in all.
MeerJanes confirmed at least one Mi-35M in service from state television footage. |
|
| Mil Mi-8 en Mi-17In dienst | Transporthelikopter | — | 1992 | — | 60+ per Wikipedia; no official figure. Six Mi-8P/T were listed in 1994 by GlobalSecurity. | |
| Airbus Helicopters AS350/H125 Écureuil familyIn dienst | Lichte helikopter | — | 2019 | — | Not confirmed. France announced 34 Écureuils for Uzbekistan in April 2019 without naming the user; Wikipedia lists 20 AS550s under the air force. | |
| Embraer C-390 MillenniumIn dienst | Tactisch transport | 1 | 2026 | — | One delivered on 25 September 2026; the number ordered was not published (Wikipedia gives two). | |
| Antonov An-26In dienst | Tactisch transport | 4 | 1992 | — | Four per Wikipedia; ten in 1994 (GlobalSecurity). | |
| Antonov An-12In dienst | Vervoer | 2 | 1992 | — | Two per Wikipedia; six An-12BP in 1994 (GlobalSecurity). | |
| Aero L-39C AlbatrosIn dienst | Straaltrainer | — | 1992 | — | 14+ per Wikipedia; twenty in 1994 (GlobalSecurity). | |
| PAC MFI-395 Super MushshakIn dienst | Basistrainer | — | — | 16 on order in the Military Balance 2020 (via Wikipedia); Wikipedia’s Uzbek inventory gives 16+. Delivery dates not found. | ||
| Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (ex-Afghan)In dienst | Lichte aanval | — | 2024 | — | At least six reached Termez in August 2021 and one crashed there (The War Zone). Whether the Uzbek air force flies the survivors was not confirmed. | |
| Pilatus PC-12NG (ex-Afghan)In dienst | Utility and surveillance | 6 | 2024 | — | Six to be repaired in Uzbekistan under a 64.2 million dollar US contract; about 11 were seen at Termez in 2021. | |
| Baykar Bayraktar TB2In dienst | Armed drone | 4 | 2023 | — | Four seen in presidential photographs of November 2023. | |
| CAIG Wing Loong IIn dienst | Armed drone | 1 | 2023 | — | One seen in November 2023. | |
| Special Technology Centre Orlan-10In dienst | Verkenningsdrone | 8 | 2023 | — | Eight seen in November 2023. | |
| TUSAŞ AnkaIn dienst | Armed drone | — | 2025 | — | Number not disclosed. |
Op bestelling
| Type | Besteld | Eerste levering | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu J-10CEOp bestelling | — | 2025 | A 24-aircraft contract is reported by Defence Security Asia and Meta-Defense, which also date the first two deliveries to 2 July 2025; neither government has confirmed the size of the order.
MeerAt least six were shown in August 2026, which would leave about 18 if the reported figure is right. |
|
| Embraer C-390 MillenniumOp bestelling | — | 2026 | First aircraft delivered on 25 September 2026. Neither Embraer nor the ministry published the number ordered; Wikipedia’s Uzbek inventory gives two. | |
| Airbus FlexrotorOp bestelling | — | Ordered by the state importer Uztechtrade in November 2025 for ISTAR missions; number and user not given. | ||
| PAC MFI-395 Super Mushshak (additional)Op bestelling | — | In February 2025 the air force commander asked the Pakistan Air Force for more Mushshaks to expand the existing fleet; no contract was reported. |
Every type the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces has retired
8 types, from the Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-27UB to the Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk (ex-Afghan). De piekcijfers hebben betrekking op het aantal vliegtuigen dat gedurende de gehele levensduur in gebruik is genomen, niet op de vlootsterkte op een bepaalde datum.
| Type | Rol | Piek | Geserveerd | Vervangen door | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk (ex-Afghan) | Hulphelikopter | 7 | 2021–2025 | — | About seven reached Termez in 2021 (The War Zone); seven were moved to the United States, announced on 5 February 2025. | |
| Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-27UB | luchtsuperioriteitsjager | — | 1992– | — | 6–34.
MeerWikipedia’s Su-27 article gives 34 in use in January 2013; its Uzbek order of battle lists six at Karshi-Khanabad; the Military Balance 2024 (via Meta-Defense) counts 26 Su-27/Su-27UB in store. |
|
| Sukhoi Su-24 and Su-24M | Strike aircraft | — | 1992– | — | Wikipedia’s order of battle lists 31 at Karshi-Khanabad; its Su-24 article says the fleet was in storage in 2024 (IISS). | |
| Sukhoi Su-17M | Jachtbommenwerper | — | 1992– | — | Ten in 1994 (GlobalSecurity); about 26 in very poor condition stored at Chirchiq (Wikipedia). | |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 | Onderschepper | 20 | 1992– | — | Twenty in 1994 (GlobalSecurity). | |
| Mikoyan MiG-27 | Jachtbommenwerper | 40 | 1992– | — | Forty in 1994, the basis of a regiment at Chirchiq (GlobalSecurity). | |
| Antonov An-2 | Licht transport | 20 | 1992– | — | Twenty in 1994 (GlobalSecurity). | |
| Yakovlev Yak-52 | Basistrainer | — | 1995– | — | Number not known. |
Where the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces fly from
Zwarte pinnen geven actieve bases aan, holle pinnen de vliegvelden die gesloten zijn. Kokaydy and Andijan lost their fighter regiments in 1999; Karshi-Khanabad, the US base K2 from October 2001 to November 2005, is the main air base. Termez, a German air transport base for Afghanistan from 2002, is where 46 Afghan military aircraft landed in August 2021 by the Uzbek count; the United States says they will stay in Uzbekistan, and the Taliban authorities demand them back. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.
| Baseren | ICAO | Status | Startbaan | Eenheden en vliegtuigen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChirchiqTashkent Region | Actief | — |
|
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| DzhizakJizzakhJizzakh Region | Actief | — |
|
|
| FerganaFergana Region | Actief | — |
|
|
| KaganKogonBukhara Region | Actief | — |
|
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| Karshi-KhanabadQashqadaryo Region, east of Qarshi | UTSL | Actief | 07/252,498 mconcreet |
|
| Termez AirportSurxondaryo Region | UZST | Actief | 07/253.000 mconcreet |
|
| TuzelTashkentTashkent | Actief | — |
|
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| Andijan airfieldAndijan Region | UZFA | Gesloten in 1999. | 04/222,978 mconcreet |
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| KokaydyKakaydySurxondaryo Region, north-east of Termez | Gesloten in 1999. | — |
|
Geen enkele luchtmachtbasis voldoet aan die zoekopdracht.
Who is stationed where in the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces
Vliegende eenheden per basis, met de huidige eenheden eerst. Uzbekistan renumbered the Soviet regiments it inherited: the 115th Guards at Kokaydy became the 61st Guards Fighter Regiment and the 9th Guards at Andijan the 62nd, both disbanded in 1999. The American and German units at Karshi-Khanabad and Termez are listed and marked as not Uzbek; where a unit rests on Wikipedia alone, the entry says so.
- 60th Separate Mixed Aviation BrigadeMixed aviation brigade · active
- Sukhoi Su-24, Mikoyan MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-27
- Institute of Military Aviation, University of Military Security and DefenceFlying training institute · active
- —
- 735th Bomber Aviation Regiment (Soviet)1954–1992
- MiG-15, MiG-17, Sukhoi Su-9, MiG-23M, Sukhoi Su-24
- 416th Air Expeditionary Group (US Air Force)2002–2005
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (visiting)
- 66th Separate Helicopter RegimentHelicopter regiment · active
- Mil Mi-8/Mi-17, Mil Mi-24
- Soviet Su-25 training centre—
- Sukhoi Su-25, Su-25UB and Su-25BM
- Separate Mixed Aviation SquadronMixed aviation squadron · active
- —
- 65th Separate Helicopter RegimentHelicopter regiment · active
- Mil Mi-8/Mi-17, Mil Mi-24
- 162nd Helicopter Regiment (Soviet)—
- —
- Separate Mixed Aviation BrigadeMixed aviation brigade · active
- —
- Jizzakh Higher Military Aviation School1994–2019
- Yakovlev Yak-52
- Separate Mixed Aviation RegimentMixed aviation regiment · active
- —
- German air transport base Termez (Bundeswehr)2002–
- Transall C-160
Geen enkel apparaat voldoet aan die zoekopdracht.
Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces milestones, 1914 to today
October: the 115th Guards Fighter Regiment arrives at Kokaydy near Termez, where it stays until 1992.
The 735th Fighter Regiment moves to Karshi-Khanabad; from 1984 it flies the Su-24.
November: the 9th Guards Fighter Regiment, a Second World War unit credited with 558 kills, moves to Andijan.
December: the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan begins under the Turkestan Military District; units later inherited by Uzbekistan, such as the Kokaydy fighter regiment, support it until 1989 (Wikipedia).
30 June: the Turkestan Military District is dissolved. 13 July: presidential decree takes over the Soviet air army units in Uzbekistan. 12 November: air defence units taken over. September: aircraft begin supporting the government side in Tajikistan.
1 January: air force headquarters formed. 3 May: a Su-24M is shot down by a Stinger over Tajikistan (HRW).
20 June: the Jizzakh Higher Military Aviation School is founded; its first flight, in a Yak-52, follows on 25 April 1995.
15 January: air force and air defence forces merged. 29 August: Uzbek aircraft bomb Kara-Teyit in Kyrgyzstan by mistake, killing four (HRW). The Kokaydy and Andijan regiments are disbanded.
6 June: a Su-24 is shot down near Hairatan, Afghanistan (ACIG). 5 October: US forces are given access to Karshi-Khanabad (K2).
13 May: Andijan. End of July: Uzbekistan tells the US to leave K2 within six months. 21 November: US operations at K2 end.
13 April: helicopters transferred to the Ground Forces by decree, according to Wikipedia.
29 March: Mi-35M contract signed with Russia; up to 12 are delivered from 2019.
July: Uzbekistan tells Russia it wants Su-30SMs. September: the aviation academy opens at Karshi with a Thales H125 simulator.
Mid-August: 46 Afghan aircraft land at Termez; an A-29 crashes, reportedly after colliding with an Uzbek MiG-29.
November: presidential photographs show Bayraktar TB2, Wing Loong and Orlan-10 drones.
24 August: the US ambassador says the former Afghan aircraft will stay in Uzbekistan. 10–14 September: joint air defence exercise with Kazakhstan.
30 January: Anka drones reported. 5 February: seven ex-Afghan Black Hawks moved to the US. July: first J-10CEs reported, unconfirmed.
3 February: Embraer names Uzbekistan as a C-390 customer. 28–31 August: the ministry shows its J-10CE fighters. 25 September: first C-390 handed over.
Every war the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces have fought
Uitvallen en verliezen waar de gegevens die vermelden, en een eerlijke blanco waar die ontbreken.
- Soviet–Afghan War 1979–1989 Units that Uzbekistan later inherited sat on the Afghan border and supported the 40th Army; Uzbekistan itself did not exist as a state
- Tajikistani Civil War 1992–1993 Uzbek jets and helicopters supported the Tajik government side against the United Tajik Opposition, according to Wikipedia citing Drozdov (2021)
- Batken conflict and IMU incursions 1999–2000 Uzbek aircraft attacked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan fighters who had crossed from Tajikistan into Kyrgyzstan’s Batken region, and again during the 2000 incursions
- Afghan civil war 2001 Uzbek aircraft attacked Taliban positions near the border before the US intervention, according to secondary sources
- Operation Enduring Freedom (host nation) 2001–2005 Host nation: US forces flew from Karshi-Khanabad and Germany from Termez; no Uzbek combat sorties are recorded
Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces news from Afterburner
Everything MiGFlug’s magazine has published on the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces and the aircraft it flies. Deze lijst wordt automatisch vernieuwd — nieuwe Afterburner-verhalen verschijnen hier automatisch.
Everything people ask about the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces
What is the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces called in Uzbek?
What fighter jets does Uzbekistan fly in 2026?
Has Uzbekistan bought the J-10C?
What was K2 in Uzbekistan?
Did the Uzbek air force take part in the Andijan events of 2005?
What happened to the Afghan aircraft that flew to Uzbekistan in 2021?
Did an Uzbek MiG-29 collide with an Afghan plane?
Has the Uzbek air force ever fought in a war?
Where are Uzbek military pilots trained?
Does Uzbekistan have the largest air force in Central Asia?
Read the aircraft the Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces flew
Elk type met een pagina in het Boek der Dieren, eerst op basis van de periode dat het in dienst was, daarna op basis van het jaar waarin het de vloot verliet.
Alle feiten gecontroleerd
- The Nation (Pakistan): Pakistan, Uzbekistan agree to expand military collaboration (27 February 2025)Major General Burkhonov Akhmad Jamalovich, Deputy Minister of Defence and Commander of the Air and Air Defence Forces, met the PAF chief; Uzbekistan wants to expand its existing Mushshak fleet from the PAF; PAF offers pilot and maintenance training.
- Kun.uz: Uzbekistan receives first C-390 Millennium from Embraer (28 September 2026)First aircraft handed over on 25 September 2026 at Gavião Peixoto, Brazil; contract dated late 2024; Air Force Commander Major General Ahmad Burkhanov quoted; Uztechtrade present.
- Kun.uz: Uzbekistan to acquire Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft (4 February 2026)Embraer announced Uzbekistan as a customer at the Singapore Airshow on 3 February 2026; number not given; first Central Asian operator.
- AirDataNews: From Brazil to Uzbekistan, Embraer reveals Central Asia’s first C-390 (11 September 2026)MSN 39000019, test registration PT-CYQ, originally prepared for the Brazilian Air Force as FAB 2861; repainted in Uzbek grey in August 2026.
- Kun.uz: Uzbekistan adds Chinese J-10CE fighters to its Air Force (31 August 2026)Ministry of Defence footage of “modern fighter jets protecting the country’s airspace”; type not named officially; no official total or contract value; first official confirmation.
- The Aviationist: Uzbekistan unveils its Chinese J-10CE fighters (30 August 2026, Parth Satam)At least six J-10CEs shown on O’zbekiston 24 on 28 August 2026 for the 35th Independence Day; aircraft ferried about 3,000 km from Chengdu; second export operator after Pakistan.
- The Times of Central Asia: Central Asia arms market, Chinese fighter jets and Uzbekistan (25 August 2026, Andrei Matveev)July 2026 reports of four J-10CEs delivered and a possible 24-aircraft contract; neither Uzbekistan nor China had confirmed; the Ministry of Defence declined to comment to Kun.uz.
- Meta-Defense: Uzbekistan J-10CE Chinese fighters (23 July 2026)Claims of four more J-10CEs on 21–22 July 2026 unconfirmed; says 24 contracted and two delivered on 2 July 2025; cites Military Balance 2024: 12 MiG-29/MiG-29UB active, 18 MiG-29 and 26 Su-27/Su-27UB in store.
- Defence Security Asia: J-10CE, China and Uzbekistan (22 July 2026, in Malay)Says defence minister Shukhrat Kholmukhamedov confirmed a 24-aircraft J-10CE contract in July 2025 with staged deliveries and training in China; two aircraft said to have arrived on 2 July 2025.
- Kun.uz: Uzbekistan turns to China for new generation fighter jets amid shifting alliances (28 April 2025)Reports (Bulgarian Military) of interest in JF-17 Block 3; no official announcement; ageing MiG-29 and Su-27; 2023 defence budget of 1.7 billion dollars.
- FlightGlobal / Flight International: Russia opens way for US attack (2 October 2001, Paul Lewis)Uzbekistan flies MiG-29s, Su-17s and Su-24s; an Uzbek Su-24 was shot down by the Taliban; Tuzel and Chirchiq offered; US 82nd Airborne and C-17s at Chirchiq in 1997.
- GlobalSecurity.org: Uzbekistan Air Force1994 inventory: 20 MiG-21, 30 MiG-29, 40 MiG-27, 10 Su-17M, 20 An-2, 6 An-12BP, 10 An-26, 20 L-39C, Yak-52s, Mi-8s; about 13 active air bases in 1994; 10,000–15,000 personnel in 2006; almost all personnel ethnic Russians in 1995.
- GlobalSecurity.org: Karshi-Khanabad (K2)US access granted 5 October 2001; 10th Mountain Division troops; 416th Air Expeditionary Group; after Andijan night flying and heavy transports were restricted in June 2005.
- Congressional Research Service RS21238: Uzbekistan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests (21 August 2013)K2 agreement October 2001; demand at the end of July 2005 to leave within six months; US ceased operations at K2 on 21 November 2005; German base at Termez with about 163 troops; Navoi opened for NATO supplies in 2009; CSTO: left 1999, rejoined December 2006, suspended 20 June 2012; EU arms embargo lifted October 2009.
- Military Times: Post-9/11 veterans attribute deadly cancers to contaminants at US base in Uzbekistan (27 February 2020, Patricia Kime)About 7,000 US personnel at K2 2001–2005; contaminants listed in DoD documents; H.R. 5957.
- Michael Holm, ww2.dk: 735th Bomber Aviation RegimentAt Karshi-Khanabad 1954–1992; MiG-15, MiG-17, Su-9, MiG-23M, Su-24 from 1984; taken over by Uzbekistan 1 January 1992 (Wikipedia gives 30 June 1992).
- Michael Holm, ww2.dk: 9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment PVOAt Andijan November 1955–October 1992; Su-15 1968–1990, Su-27 1990–1992; taken over by Uzbekistan October 1992.
- Michael Holm, ww2.dk: 115th Guards Fighter Aviation RegimentAt Kokaydy October 1947–May 1992; MiG-15 to MiG-29; taken over by Uzbekistan May 1992, renamed 61st Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in 1993.
- Human Rights Watch World Report 2000: KyrgyzstanOn 29 August 1999 the Uzbek air force mistakenly bombed Kara-Teyit, killing four, injuring 280 and leaving 31 families homeless; IMU incursion of 22 August 1999.
- Human Rights Watch World Report 2000: TajikistanUzbekistan blamed by the Tajik government and the UTO for bombing Tajik territory while supporting the Kyrgyz offensive in 1999.
- The War Zone: Dozens of U.S.-bought Afghan Air Force aircraft are now orphaned at an Uzbek airfield (17 August 2021, Joseph Trevithick)Uzbek statement: 46 aircraft (22 fixed-wing, 24 helicopters) forced to land; satellite image of 16 August at Termez; one A-29 lost, first reported shot down, later said to have collided with an Uzbek MiG-29 with the loss of both aircraft; the A-29 pilots ejected.
- The Diplomat: US transferring Afghan aircraft to Uzbek control (August 2024)46 aircraft; US ambassador Jonathan Henick: “This equipment was never Afghan, it was American”; 64.2 million dollar Sierra Nevada contract to repair PC-12s in Uzbekistan under Foreign Military Sales; Taliban spokesman Enayatullah Khwarazmi objected.
- Kun.uz: USA reaches an agreement with Uzbekistan on aircraft transferred from Afghanistan (24 August 2024)Henick: “It will be in Uzbekistan. Yes, it is already official.” Types: A-29, UH-60, MD 530, Mi-17, PC-12; six PC-12s to be repaired for 64.2 million dollars.
- Khaama Press: US and Uzbekistan agree on Afghanistan military aircraft (27 August 2024)22 aircraft and 24 helicopters entered Uzbekistan in August 2021; Taliban defence minister Mohammad Yaqoob’s warnings.
- Khaama Press: 7 former Afghanistan army Black Hawk helicopters transferred from Uzbekistan to US (5 February 2025)Seven UH-60s moved to the United States, announced at Uzbekistan’s embassy in Washington; Taliban call them property of the Afghan people.
- Kun.uz: US may give about 50 former Afghan aircraft to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan (20 September 2022)Citing Politico: about 46 aircraft, about 25 per cent of usable Afghan aircraft; Uzbekistan says they belong to the United States.
- Kun.uz: Uzbekistan’s MFA calls reports on helicopter transfer to Afghanistan fake news (12 September 2025)Afghan media claimed 57 helicopters would be returned; MFA spokesman Ahror Burkhanov: “this is fake news”; 22 aircraft, 24 helicopters and 585 servicemen entered in August 2021.
- Jamestown Foundation, Eurasia Daily Monitor: Russia’s discounted Mi-35 sales to Uzbekistan (2018)Contract signed 29 March 2018 at ArmHiTec-2018 for more than ten Mi-35Ms at Russian domestic prices under the 2016 treaty; 16 European helicopters for 180 million euros considered in 2014.
- Kun.uz: Uzbekistan to purchase 12 Mi-35M multi-role combat helicopters from Russia (8 July 2019)Citing RIA Novosti: 12 Mi-35Ms from Rostvertol, four in the fourth quarter of 2019 and eight in 2020, under a 2017 Russian state export credit.
- Janes: Uzbekistan receives Mi-35M heloAt least one Mi-35M seen in service on O’zbekiston 24 footage aired 14 January; up to 12 ordered in early 2018.
- Forecast International Defense & Security Monitor: Uzbekistan planning Su-30SM buy (8 July 2019, Derek Bisaccio)Citing RIA Novosti and Russia’s FSVTS: Uzbekistan intends to buy Su-30SMs on Russian credit; number not given.
- Forecast International Defense & Security Monitor: Uzbekistan shows off recent drone acquisitions (16 November 2023, Derek Bisaccio)Presidential images of a visit to a Surxondaryo unit show one Wing Loong, four Bayraktar TB2, eight Orlan-10 and one Uzbek Lochin, all armed with air-to-surface missiles.
- bne IntelliNews: Uzbekistan to acquire Anka combat drones from Turkey (30 January 2025)Local reports that Anka deliveries were due within days; number not given.
- Aerohaber: Uzbekistan to procure Anka UAVs from TUSAŞ (31 January 2025)Number of drones not disclosed; deliveries expected imminently.
- Kun.uz: Uzbekistan to purchase drones from Airbus Helicopters (20 November 2025)Uztechtrade orders Flexrotor VTOL drones for ISTAR; number and end user not given; first Central Asian customer.
- Kun.uz: French Airbus intends to deliver 34 helicopters to Uzbekistan (18 April 2019)French minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne: 34 Écureuil (AS350-family) helicopters to “strengthen the sovereignty of Uzbekistan”; customer service not named; Thales to supply simulators.
- Vertical Magazine: Thales provides flight simulator to Uzbekistan, marks first air force academy (19 September 2019)AS350/H125 simulator delivered August 2019 to a new academy at Karshi air base, inaugurated early September 2019; capacity 300 students.
- Institute of Military Aviation, University of Military Security and Defence: history page (airforce.uz)Official institute site. Founded 20 June 1994 at Jizzakh (Cabinet resolution 310-41); first cadets 3 October 1994; first flight 25 April 1995 in a Yak-52 at Khanabad; first 97 lieutenants 14 October 1997; move to Karshi by decree of 18 January 2018; list of commanders.
- Kun.uz: President Mirziyoyev reviews plans to transform air defense and military aviation systems (9 June 2026)Presentation on restructuring the air defence forces and air force, reorganising tactical aviation, simulators at the Karshi institute and mentoring at Khonobod airfield; no figures.
- Kun.uz: Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspects air defense systems at Surkhandarya military unit (27 February 2026)President inspected modern air defence systems; systems not named.
- Kun.uz: Air forces of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan hold a joint airspace defense exercise (14 September 2024)Exercise “Ashiq aspan” 10–14 September 2024 with helicopters, army and transport aircraft and air defence units; joint procedure for air defence use agreed.
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: The PACT Act and your VA benefitsUzbekistan listed among presumptive exposure locations for service on or after 11 September 2001.
Figures verified 2026-09-30. Order of Battle pages are regenerated from a single dataset; if a number here disagrees with a Book of Beasts page, this page is the more recent of the two.
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