The Armed Forces of Central Asia
A comprehensive research project mapping military infrastructure and force structures across Central Asia.
The Armed Forces of Central Asia is a multi-chapter research series providing detailed analysis of each country's armed forces, complemented by an interactive map displaying thousands of military locations and units. It represents the most comprehensive publicly available resource on Central Asian military infrastructure.
Military Units & Map Tracker
The Oxus Society has compiled the most comprehensive collection of military maps currently available on Central Asia, identifying over 4,500 military and security sites across all five republics. These maps provide an unparalleled resource for understanding the region's defence landscape, from bases and airfields to border posts and specialised facilities.
Key Reports
In-depth research and analysis from this project
The Armed Forces of Central Asia: Uzbekistan
The latest release in our Armed Forces of Central Asia project highlights Uzbekistan, traditionally viewed as Central Asia's leading military power.
Read report
The Armed Forces of Central Asia: Tajikistan
Comprehensive analysis of Tajikistan's armed forces, examining strategic position, military capabilities, economic factors, and geopolitical challenges.
Read reportUpcoming Chapters
New chapters currently in development
Media
Podcast episodes exploring Central Asian defence topics
AFOCA Part II: Wargaming Regional Conflicts
In part two, we wargame three plausible regional conflict scenarios to reveal how Central Asian militaries might respond to peer rivals. Produced by the Red Line podcast, the discussion highlights critical constraints, from limited logistics to geography, offering rare insights into the region's defense preparedness.
AFOCA Part I: Tajikistan and Regional Command Structures
The first installment of a mini-series explores Tajikistan's military, from complex command structures to the hidden factors shaping doctrine, equipment, and operations. Produced by the Red Line podcast, an expert panel unpacks the challenges facing Tajikistan's armed forces and their growing role in Central Asian security dynamics.
Additional Research Tools
- Arms Flows Tracker — Visualizing arms imports and exports across Central Asia (1994–2019)
- Military Exercises Diagram — Mapping joint exercise partnerships between Central Asian and global militaries
Full Reports & Data
While the public reports and maps share a significant portion of our findings, the complete datasets are available through the Oxus Society. These include detailed spreadsheets, full orders of battle, wargaming modules, research notes, sourcing, and extended analysis.