Aircraft on sale included MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers, all leftovers from the 1970s and 1980s. The purchase was done through offshore entities, a fact that lends mystery to US intentions in the wake of this acquisition.
Though it has not revealed the purpose of buying those aircraft, there are many speculations. Some say these aircraft, identical to those that already serve with Ukraine, may be handed over to the Eastern European nation. “Given Ukraine’s continued reliance on Soviet-era weapons, the aircraft could either serve as a source of spare parts or be strategically deployed as decoys at airfields,” a report in the Post said.
These aircraft have a great deal of colorful history. The MiG-31 was actually designed as a supersonic interceptor to patrol Soviet skies during the Cold War, and it played a very critical role then. The MiG-27 was developed from the Mig-23 for ground-attack missions; it did active service in wars like the Soviet-Afghan War. MiG-29 did some commendable service during air-to-air combat and still goes on in the service of some air forces. Even though it is an older design, this all-weather tactical bomber is still operated by a number of air forces, including the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Ukrainian Air Force.
The sale comes at a time when Kazakhstan is inching ever closer to the West, further away from Moscow. Its leader, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, recently described his nation’s firm commitment to the course of following the sanctions regime against Russia and promised comprehensive cooperation with its neighbor.
The deepening relations between Kazakhstan and the West were once again underlined by the recent visit of UK Foreign Minister David Cameron to Astana, the Kazakh capital. These agreements, on trade, education, environment, and mineral supplies, wrapped up the visit, showing that Kazakhstan made a clever strategic navigation of geopolitical challenges thrown up by neighboring countries such as Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran.