Kazakh Naval Forces

The Kazakh Naval Forces (Қазақстан Әскери-теңіз күштері, Qazaqstan Äskeri-teñız küşterı; Военно-морские силы Казахстана) is the naval force responsible for coastal defense, naval special warfare, and naval warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The navy mainly operates on the Caspian Sea and is currently based in the coastal city of Aktau.

The branch currently has a strength of 3,000 personnel and is mainly equipped with patrol crafts, minesweepers and a research vessel.

History
Previously, the Soviet Navy's Caspian Flotilla served in the shores of the Kazakh SSR. Following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union, the fleet shrank, leaving the Kazakh contingent to serve as a basis for the newly formed navy. Kazakhstan's Naval Forces were established in April 1993 as a naval base of the Kazakh Army. The base, which was stationed in Aktau, initially became active in service on August 17, 1996, in spite of Kazakhstan being one of the largest landlocked countries on earth. In July 1999, the naval base became part of the Maritime units of the Border Guard Service of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan. It became a separate military branch by presidential decree on 7 May 2003. In February 2010, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in his position as supreme commander in chief of the entire military, presented the Battle Flag to the Kazakh Navy. The 612th Airbase in Aktau was opened a year later, in 2011.

Structure
The following units form the structure of the Kazakh Navy:


 * Naval Headquarters
 * Special Forces Unit
 * Coastal Artillery
 * Caspian Flotilla
 * Border Service of the KNB
 * 1st Naval Division (Bautino)
 * 2nd Naval Division (Bautino)
 * 3rd Naval Division (Atyrau)

Aktau Naval Academy
The Aktau Naval Academy of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan was the main educational institution of the naval forces. It established in March 2001 by order of the national government on the basis of the Vocational Technical School No. 2. which preceded it. It was reorganized into a naval institute on July 10, 2003, effectively upgrading its status as a nationally recognized military school. Graduates of the institute have served in ships and coastal units of the Navy and maritime units of the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 2011, the institute was deactivated and liquidated.

Commanders

 * Rear Admiral Ratmir Komratov (6 November 2008 – 17 July 2009)
 * Vice Admiral Zhandarbek Zhanzakov (30 September 2009 – 18 April 2018)
 * Rear Admiral Saken Bekzhanov (18 April 2018 – present)

Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.