International Special Tactical Peacekeeping Exercise “Operation Steppe Eagle-2011” opened on 8th, August 2011 at the "Iliskiy" Training Center in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan.

The list of participants increased considerably this year. Joining, Kazakh peacekeeping "Kazbrig" and "Kazbat," were personnel from the U.S. Army, the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. All told, more than 1,400 soldiers and about one hundred units of equipment will participate in the three week training exercise.

Foreign participants have been arriving in Kazakhstan over the last few days and stationed in "Iliskiy" training area field camp. Upon arrival, Kazakh and foreign units work together to deploy the field camp, set up its headquarters and prepare the training facilities — all before the exercise’s opening ceremony. The pre-exercise set up work is important to the soldiers’ learning rapid base deployment of multi-lingual coalition peacekeeping base in a simulated combat zone.

For three weeks, personnel representing six armies will practice interaction, combat compatibility, cooperation and interoperability during international peacekeeping operations. Throughout the duration of the exercise, soldiers will report to their commanders in the Kazakh, Russian and English languages only.

The exercises will culminate in what is called the “active phase,” during which peacekeepers will conduct a live peacekeeping operation in compliance with all international regulations.

To accommodate the increased participation in “Operation Eagle Steppe 2011”the areas of the exercise were expanded to include the training areas of "Iliskiy," "Shoshkaly," "Novo Iliskiy" landing site and "Bereg" Training Centre.

Kazakh forces participating include: Helicopters of Army Aviation, Air Forces of Kazakhstan, pontoon bridge battalion, representatives of the Military Police and the Cadets of the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense.

This is the 9th time “Operation Steppe Eagle” has been held in Kazakhstan, since the exercises were first held here in 2003. In 2006, the exercises were added to the NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan on Kazakhstan.

As a result of the exercise, military observers from foreign countries, experts from various NATO Headquarters and accredited Military-Diplomatic Corps will assess the level of preparedness of Kazakhstan’s military for participation in peacekeeping operations.