Rank #72 · Eurasia
Uzbekistan fields Central Asia's largest standing army by personnel at 120,000 active troops, spending roughly $1 billion on defence annually. Under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tashkent pivoted sharply away from the Russia-led CSTO after 2012 and has since cultivated Turkish drone technology, US training partnerships, and Chinese equipment imports as part of a deliberate multi-vector defence policy.
Uzbekistan's defence budget has risen steadily through the early 2020s as the Mirziyoyev government prioritised military professionalisation and domestic arms production. Budget transparency is limited; official figures reported to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs are incomplete. Core MoD spending is estimated near $1 billion, but the National Guard, Border Troops, and Interior Ministry troops add substantially to the true security envelope. Turkey has become a key partner for drone acquisition — Bayraktar TB2 deliveries were confirmed in 2022 — while Russia retains a significant role as the primary legacy equipment supplier.
The Armed Forces of Uzbekistan include Ground Forces, Air and Air Defence Forces, a River Force (Amu Darya), and a National Guard. Conscription runs 12 months for males at 18. The Air Force operates Soviet-legacy Su-24 strike aircraft, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-27s, though serviceability rates are reportedly low. Ground Forces are organised in mechanised brigades equipped with T-64/72 tanks and BMP infantry fighting vehicles. Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drones have added a modern strike dimension. Special Operations Forces receive the highest per-capita investment and Western training exposure through US CENTCOM engagement programmes.
Uzbekistan's defence industry is embryonic. The country is almost entirely dependent on imports for major platforms. UzAvtosanoat produces some light military vehicles, and domestically manufactured armoured personnel carriers (Tarlon and Qalqon) entered limited service. Russia hosts the Termez logistics base and remains the baseline supplier for most heavy systems. Turkey has replaced Russia as the preferred partner for new drone technology. The United States transferred excess equipment under the DoD 1206/333 programme. Tashkent has expressed interest in joint production of Turkish drones and in expanding maintenance capacity for legacy Russian aircraft domestically.
Uzbekistan faces no active external conflict but is acutely concerned about spillover from Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban takeover. The Taliban-affiliated IMU (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) and TTP have periodically threatened border regions. Tashkent operates a strict border security posture with fencing, surveillance, and River Force patrols. The Ferghana Valley remains a domestic tension point with shared borders against Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan mediates Central Asian water disputes (Amu Darya, Syr Darya) that carry a latent security dimension. No CSTO obligations — Tashkent left in 2012 and has not rejoined.
Bayraktar TB2 drones delivered in 2022 began operational integration with Uzbek Air Forces through 2024-2025. Uzbekistan hosted joint military exercises with the US in 2024 under the Steppe Eagle framework. President Mirziyoyev signed a defence cooperation memorandum with Turkey in 2024 expanding technology transfer provisions. Tashkent declined CSTO observer status for the 2025 Armenia-Azerbaijan exercises. In February 2025 Uzbekistan announced a five-year military modernisation roadmap prioritising drone warfare, cyber defence, and special operations capabilities.
Approximately $1 billion per year, or around 1.4% of GDP. The figure is an estimate due to limited budget transparency; broader security-sector spending including border troops and the National Guard is higher. Uzbekistan is the second-largest defence spender in Central Asia after Kazakhstan.
No. Uzbekistan was a founding CSTO member but suspended participation in 2012 and has not rejoined. Tashkent pursues a multi-vector foreign policy, maintaining defence ties with Russia, Turkey, the US, and China while avoiding formal alliance commitments.
Yes. Uzbekistan received Bayraktar TB2 combat drones from Turkey starting in 2022, becoming the first Central Asian country to field this system. The acquisition is part of a broader Turkey-Uzbekistan defence partnership that includes potential co-production agreements.