(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan has received an additional six Su-30SM fighter jets, according to a recent report from the official Telegram account of the country’s Ministry of Defense.
With this latest delivery of six Su-30SM fighters, the Kazakhstan Air Force now possesses a total of 30 Su-30SM aircraft since it began acquiring them in 2014.
This recent delivery of Russian-made Su-30SM fighter jets to Kazakhstan also effectively “shuts the door” on certain Western nations that have been eyeing opportunities to enter the fighter jet market in Central Asia.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has strained relations between Moscow and Astana, creating an opening for several European countries, particularly France, to showcase their defense industry capabilities to Kazakhstan.
France has been eager to expand its influence in Central Asia, including in Kazakhstan and other countries in the region.
Moscow has expressed “concern” about Western efforts to “separate” Russia from its Central Asian neighbors.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly stated that Western countries are attempting to “pull away” neighboring countries, partners, and allies from Russia.
In 2021, France successfully sold two A400M transport aircraft to Kazakhstan, following the earlier sales of C-295 transport planes and H145 helicopters.
These successes, coupled with the cooling of relations between Astana and Moscow due to the Ukraine conflict, have emboldened France, which is now working hard to attract Kazakhstan’s interest in the Rafale fighter jet produced by Dassault Aviation.
In November last year, French President Emmanuel Macron made an official visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in an effort to “strengthen ties” with these former Soviet states.
However, France’s efforts were unsuccessful as Kazakhstan remained committed to Russian-made defense systems.
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Commander of Air Defense and head of the Armament Department, Yerhan Nildibayev, reportedly stated that the Central Asian nation never had plans to purchase Western-made weaponry.
“We have no plans to acquire the Rafale fighter (from France). It is an expensive fighter jet, so we chose the Su-30SM due to its quality-to-price ratio,” he said.
Nildibayev’s statement effectively ended France’s attempts to market the Rafale fighter jet to Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan.
In October last year, the Kazakh government announced the sale of 117 fighter and bomber aircraft acquired during the country’s time as part of the Soviet Union.
These fighter jets and bombers, along with their engines, include MiG-31, MiG-27, MiG-29, and Su-24 aircraft built during the Cold War tensions of the 1970s and 1980s.
Kazakhstan is seeking to sell these Soviet-era aircraft because they are no longer operable, having become too outdated, and repairs are no longer considered economical.
Among the aircraft Kazakhstan wants to sell immediately are 10 MiG-31 jets at a price of USD 1 million (RM 4.5 million) for the entire lot.
Recent reports indicate that some of the 117 Soviet-era aircraft owned by Kazakhstan have already found buyers.
The buyer is reportedly the United States, which has purchased 81 of the 117 advertised fighter jets at an average price of USD 20,000 (RM 95,000) per aircraft, totaling approximately USD 2.26 million (RM 10.7 million).
The purchase of these combat aircraft and bombers from Kazakhstan was conducted through an offshore company.
The primary motive behind the United States’ decision to purchase these outdated aircraft remains unclear, but many speculate that the planes will be transferred to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force still relies on fighter jets and bombers produced during the Soviet era. — DSA