From 14 to 23 April 2026, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic and with the support of the Ministry of Defence of Austria, delivered a regional training course on propellant stability assessment in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The course brought together nine military officers from the Ministries of Defence of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. The training was supported by OSCE field operations across Central Asia, further strengthening regional co-operation and contributing to improved ammunition safety.
Participants received hands-on training in the operation of the specialized Quality Propellant Assessment Kit (QPAK) system to assess the stability of nitrocellulose-based propellants. This represents a critical measure for reducing the risk of unplanned explosions at ammunition storage sites. The course also enabled participants to learn new approaches to testing propellant stability while fostering the exchange of experience and strengthening regional co-operation.
"The effective management of propellants is essential for national and regional security. Their degradation can pose serious risks, including unplanned explosions that threaten both human lives and infrastructure. This is why the implementation of reliable methods for assessing the stability of propellants is of paramount importance," said Ambassador Volker Frobarth.
*** This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities within the extra-budgetary project "Improvement of Small Arms and Light Weapons and Conventional Ammunition life-cycle management capacity of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic" supported by Austria, France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland.
