BISHKEK. March 31 (Interfax) - Tactical games involving Bayraktar attack drones are taking place in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz presidential press service said on Thursday.
"The Kalkan [Shield] 2022 special tactical exercise is taking place at the Edelweiss training center of the Defense Ministry in the Issyk-Kul region. Bayraktar TB-2 attack drones operated by the Border Service of the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security will be used during the exercise," the press service said.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov is monitoring the exercise that involves units of the State Committee for National Security, the Defense Ministry, the Emergency Situations Ministry and the Interior Ministry and aims at training cohesion between Kyrgyz law enforcement and defense agencies in defeating a mock enemy that broke through the state border, the press service said.
The Bayraktar attack drones made in Turkey were supplied to the Kyrgyz Border Service in December 2021.
Kyrgyzstan has become the first member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to buy the Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles. The Russian Kant airbase is located in Kyrgyzstan.
As reported earlier, Azerbaijan procured Bayraktar TB2 drones and used them during the Karabakh conflict in fall 2020.
It was also reported in September 2021 that Bayraktar drones were demonstrated at the Ashgabat parade marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan.