The U.S. has reportedly acquired 81 outdated combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, a country traditionally aligned with Russia, according to a report by the Kyiv Post on Sunday. The report suggests that these aircraft could potentially serve as spare parts or decoys in conflict zones like Ukraine.
Kazakhstan, currently in the process of modernizing its air force, recently auctioned off a total of 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber planes. This auction included a range of aircraft such as MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers, dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.
According to the Kyiv Post, the sale fetched around one billion Kazakhstani tenge, equivalent to approximately $2.26 million, averaging to about $19,300 per aircraft. The report cited information from the Ukrainian Telegram channel Insider UA and the Russian news site Reporter, indicating the involvement of the U.S. in the acquisition.
Although the reason behind the U.S. procurement was not disclosed, there's speculation that these aircraft might find utility in Ukraine, where similar models are already in operation.
The Mikoyan MiG-31, a supersonic interceptor, originally designed to protect Soviet airspace, played a crucial role during the Cold War era.
Derived from the MiG-23, the MiG-27 served as a ground-attack aircraft and saw action in conflicts like the Soviet-Afghan War.
Meanwhile, the MiG-29, renowned for its prowess in air-to-air combat, has been widely exported and continues to serve in various air forces.
The Su-24, an all-weather tactical bomber, remains operational in multiple air forces, including the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Ukrainian Air Force.
The Russian website Reporter noted that the transaction was conducted through offshore entities and mentioned that "the aircraft will subsequently be transferred to Ukraine."
Reporter further stated on April 26, "Specialists from the Armed Forces of Ukraine can disassemble it, using parts on aircraft available to the Air Force. Also, the hulls of obsolete aircraft can be used as decoys at airfields."
However, Kazspetsexport, the state-owned weapons trading entity of Kazakhstan, denied the claim of selling military aircraft to Ukraine, asserting in a statement that foreign firms were not allowed to participate in the bidding process.
There is a growing trend among Western nations of purchasing Soviet-era military hardware globally, irrespective of its condition, with the intent of supplying it to Ukraine, which continues to rely on such weapons. Ukraine’s hybrid weaponry, supported by U.S. assistance, combines modern Western arms with older Soviet equipment sourced from Ukraine's arsenal, exemplified by the "FrankenSAM" air defense system.
