French Push for Rafale Stumbles, Kazakhstan Opts for Russian Su-30SM and TOR-M2.

(DFEENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Although “courted” by France to purchase Rafale fighter jets, the Kazakhstan Air Force has ultimately decided on the Russian-made Su-30SM fighter aircraft.

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Air Defense Commander-in-Chief and Head of the Arms Department, Yerhan Nildibayev, was quoted by the TASS news agency as stating that Kazakhstan will acquire 10 Su-30SM fighter jets and two TOR-M2 air defense systems batteries from Russia.

Both weapon systems, Su-30SM and TOR-M2, are expected to be obtained between 2023 and 2024.

“We have no plans to acquire Rafale fighter jets (made in France). They are expensive, so we chose the Su-30SM fighter jets due to the ratio of quality and price,” he said.

Nildibayev’s statement puts an end to France’s efforts, which have been ongoing for several months, to market Rafale fighter jets to Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

 

However, there is no report from Uzbekistan thus far regarding its consideration to acquire Rafale fighter jets.

Earlier, Uzbekistan officials had expressed interest in purchasing 24 Rafale fighter jets developed by Dassault Aviation.

Last November, French President Emmanuel Macron made an official visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in his efforts to “forge closer ties” with both former Soviet Union member countries.

 Moscow has expressed “concerns” about Western countries’ efforts to “separate” Russia from the Central Asian countries.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly stated that Western countries are trying to “draw” neighboring countries, partners, and allies away from Russia.

This is not the first time Russia has voiced its concerns about Western efforts in Central Asia in recent months.

 

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Alexander Shevtsov said in June last year, “The United States and its allies are trying to support nationalist sentiment, spread misinformation in the public opinion, including through the internet and social media.”

As former member states of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan rely heavily on Russian-made weaponry, including fighter jets.

Both Central Asian countries, with close ties to Russia, plan to retire their aging Russian-made fighter jets and replace them with new ones.

The Kazakhstan Air Force is expected to retire MiG-29 fighter jets, while the Uzbekistan Air Force will phase out Su-27 fighter jets.

 

In addition to the MiG-29, Kazakhstan has also offered over 100 fighter jets and bombers built during the Soviet era for sale to interested parties.

 These former Soviet-era fighter jets, along with their engines, include MiG-31, MiG-27, and Su-24, built during the tensions of the Cold War in the 1970s and 1980s.

According to local media reports in Kazakhstan, the announcement regarding the sale of 117 obsolete assets owned by the country has been disseminated. — DSA

DEFENCE  SECURITY ASIA APPS

 

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