Akramjon Nematov: The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan laid the foundation for a new stage in the modernization of the national army - its high-tech transformation

On the occasion of the Day of Defenders of the Motherland and the 34th anniversary of the formation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of significant state events took place. The key ones were the extended meeting of the Security Council chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, familiarization with the production capacities of the military-industrial complex, as well as the head of state’s address to military personnel and compatriots.

First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akramjon Nematov commented on the key results of these events and the tasks outlined by the leader of the country.

It can be said without exaggeration that today the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Uzbekistan has laid the foundation for a new stage in the modernization of the national army - its high-tech transformation. I would even say that Shavkat Miromonovich’s congratulations this year became not just a tribute to tradition, but a kind of manifesto of a “New Look Army,” where intelligence and technology should finally supplant outdated approaches to warfare. In the President’s vision, security is not an isolated military task, but a multidimensional foundation for the sustainable development of the state in the digital era.

By analyzing the key messages of the head of state, one can trace a clear and consistent logic of transformation of all elements of the public administration system.

The key novelty of the current stage of reforms lies in the recognition of the deep transformation of the very nature of modern wars, in which non-humans are decisive. number of personnel, and technological superiority. That is why the President of Uzbekistan has set the task of large-scale doctrinal updating: the development of a new edition of the Defense Doctrine and the National Security Concept has been initiated. This is dictated by the need to adapt strategic documents to the conditions of hybrid threats while maintaining Uzbekistan’s non-aligned status and reliance on multilateral diplomacy. This sends a clear signal about the predictability and sovereignty of the republic’s course.

The central element of the updated strategy is the transition to a “proactive mode of operation”, in which the security system must not only respond to emerging threats, but also be able to predict risks in advance and neutralize them at an early stage.

Such intellectualization of security naturally requires a revision of the technical appearance of the Armed Forces. In this regard, the head of state initiated a qualitative re-equipment of the army with the priority of introducing artificial intelligence, robotic systems and modern cybersecurity systems. It was emphasized that in modern conflicts it is not the number of bayonets that wins, but technological superiority and the speed of information processing. In this context, the digital transformation of the army becomes a non-alternative priority. In other words, in modern warfare, intelligence is more important than mass, and victory is determined by the quality of technology and management.

At the same time, high technologies require a fundamentally new level of competencies. Therefore, a real personnel transformation has been initiated: the army is positioned not as a closed institution, but as a modern educational and technological platform. It becomes a school of life and professional growth, as well as a driver of economic development. Every year, 5 thousand conscripts will be trained under the “One Million Programmers” and “Five Million AI Leaders” programs. This strategic step allows us to simultaneously solve two problems: increasing the cyber resilience of the army and creating a pool of in-demand specialists for the country’s economy.

In addition, it is planned to train soldiers in civilian professions with the issuance of state-issued certificates upon completion of service. For military personnel starting a business after demobilization, the state compensates 6% of the loan rate. Educational preferences are also being introduced: the opportunity to take entrance exams to universities directly in military units, the provision of interest-free educational loans for those entering universities after service, as well as compensation for the costs of obtaining international language certificates. This approach reflects the modern trend of creating “smart forces”, in which the defender of the country is at the same time a qualified specialist in demand in the civilian sector.

Thus, the army is organically integrated into the system of civil society, providing young people with real tools for personal and professional success.

For the effective functioning of this model, a strong social foundation is necessary. That is why the logical continuation of the reforms was the unprecedented strengthening of social protection for military personnel. The decisions to double longevity bonuses for officers and pay veterans pensions at 100% of their pay are, in my opinion, a strategic investment in the prestige of military service. Additionally, it is planned to increase the pay of privates and contract sergeants by 10%, as well as to increase the wages of civilian defense personnel by 20% this year and another 50% next year.

The President clearly demonstrates that the state takes full responsibility for the well-being of those who defend the Motherland, thereby raising the authority of military service and strengthening the principle of unity of the people and the army.

The final element of this comprehensive strategy is the achievement of deep technological independence. The modernization of the national defense-industrial complex, the creation of our own military technology parks and the development of the production of unmanned systems are aimed at minimizing external dependence. A visit to the Chirchik aircraft plant and defense technology parks clearly demonstrates that Uzbekistan is relying on localization, a service economy and the development of its own industrial base. The creation of a regional hub for servicing Airbus equipment is not only a matter of prestige, but also a practical step towards technological independence and integration into global production chains.

All this strengthens state sovereignty, allowing us to effectively protect national interests, relying on our own innovative potential and competencies. At the same time, the army is turning into a driver of innovative development: technologies created for defense needs inevitably find application in civilian industries.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the announced initiatives mark a final departure from outdated models. In essence, we are witnessing the formation of a new model of statehood, in which high-tech sovereignty, intellectual capital and social justice are combined into a single strategy.

A highly mobile, technologically equipped army is being created, capable of effectively countering hybrid threats in the changing nature of wars. The army acts not only as a shield of the state, but also as an engine of education, the economy and social elevators - this is a modern, pragmatic and deeply national approach to development and security in the new world reality.