THE ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzbek: O'zbekiston Respublikasi Qurolli Kuchlari, Ўзбекистон Республикаси Қуролли Кучлари), is the name of the unified armed forces of Uzbekistan, consisting of the Ground Force and the Air and Air Defence forces under the defence ministry. Paramilitary units include the National Guard, a Frontier Service and a River Force. It is reported to be the largest and the strongest in Central Asia. 'The country has also began professionalizing its military, an effort that has only limited success and erratic government support. But even in Uzbekistan, these changes represent merely a modest beginning and most of the benefits are concentrated in a few elite, higher readiness formations rather than uniformly applied to the entire force. The Uzbek military is woefully inadequate, but it is far superior to its neighbours.' Emerging from the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Army of the Republic of Uzbekistan embarked on a unique journey of transformation.