The Republic of Kazakhstan (Қазақстан Республикасы) is an independent Central Asian republic, formerly a part of the Soviet Union. The nation declared itself independent on 16 December, 1991. The Armed Forces of Kazakhstan (Қазақстанның Қарулы күштері/Qazaqstannıñ Qarwlı küşteri) were largely inherited from the Turkestan Military District of the USSR, but have been restructured and re-fitted in the years since the country was declared independent. In addition to the ground forces of the Army, Air & Air Defense units, and a small Naval force based on the Caspian, the National Security Committee (UQK) has its own Internal Security Troops, Border Guards, Military Counterintelligence, Foreign Intelligence Bureau and a number of special operations units. A Republican Guard unit of approximately 2500 personnel was formed in 1994. Airmobile forces (paratroops/air assault) consist of at least three brigades.
