Kazakhstan to build its own fleet of kamikaze drones

Kazakhstan has allocated a record 1.5 billion tenge for defense in 2026, equivalent to about 1% of the country’s GDP, Deputy Defense Minister Askar Mustabekov said. The funding will be used to procure new weapons systems and military equipment.

«This includes unmanned aerial vehicles, kamikaze drones and related systems,» Mustabekov said.

He declined to specify the countries supplying the equipment, citing confidentiality.

A kamikaze drone, also known as a loitering munition, is a precision-guided weapon designed to strike a target by colliding with it and detonating on impact.

Read also: Ghost drones: Unexplained crashes in Kazakhstan’s west prompt urgent safety tips.

Mustabekov also said the ministry plans to develop domestic aircraft production, including drones. The initiative will be supported by agreements with Turkish defense company Baykar Defence.