Turkmenistan Strengthens Its Air Defense With Chinese FK-2000 Systems

Turkmenistan publicly demonstrated for the first time the new Chinese FK-2000 anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems (AAMS) in service with the country.

The new systems were displayed during a military parade in Ashgabat marking the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence.

Based on published footage of the parade, at least eight FK-2000s can be counted in the mechanized column. However, the official number of systems purchased by Turkmenistan has not yet been disclosed.

In an official Turkmen government statement, the FK-2000 was referred to as a system that was recently introduced into the country’s armed forces.

As the mechanized column passed by, the FK-2000s followed behind Chinese air defense systems that have been in service with Turkmenistan since 2016: the FM-90, KS-1A, and FD-2000.

The parade marked the first official confirmation of the FK-2000’s service with the Turkmen armed forces.

FK-2000

The FK-2000 is a Chinese self-propelled air defense missile system designed to destroy cruise missiles, high-precision air-to-ground munitions, air-to-ground missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and aircraft.

The system was publicly unveiled for the first time at the Airshow China international aerospace exhibition in Zhuhai in 2021.

The FK-2000 air defense missile system consists of a self-propelled air defense missile launcher on an 8×8 wheeled chassis, equipped with an unmanned combat turret.

The system can engage aircraft at ranges of 1.2 to 25 km and cruise missiles at ranges of 1.2-10 km.

The turret houses 12 anti-aircraft guided missiles with an independent elevation mechanism, while close-in air defense is provided by two 30-mm six-barrel cannons.

Also in January, these anti-aircraft systems were spotted in service with the Sudanese anti-government group Rapid Support Forces (RSF).