Kazakhstan to Receive Russian Su-57 Fifth Generation Fighters Within Two Years - Reports

The Kazakhstan Air Force is scheduled to receive its first fifth generation fighter aircraft within two years, according to reports from multiple Kazakh and Russian sources, which will mark a major milestone in the fleet’s modernisation. A number of sources have indicated that the orders for the Russian Su-57 fifth generation fighter have already been placed, following confirmation in 2025 that multiple countries have already ordered the new aircraft. The Air Force currently operates exclusively Soviet and Russian origin combat jets.

While the majority of sources have not confirmed the type of fifth generation fighter that will be procured, only three such aircraft are currently available for export worldwide, including the Chinese J-35, U.S. F-35,  and Russian Su-57. While F-35 sales are unlikely for political reasons, the J-35 has long been expected to be a leading competitor to Russian aircraft in Central Asia. China achieved its first major fighter sales to the region in the early 2020s, supplying JF-17 Block 3 fighters to Azerbaijan, and J-10C fighters to Uzbekistan, both to replace MiG-29 fighters inherited from the Soviet Union. 

While not confirmed, the Su-57 is a likely option for Kazakhstan due to its close defence ties with Russia, and the type’s far higher combat potential than other Russian combat jets. The Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces currently operate MiG-31 interceptors inherited from the Soviet Union, and subsequently modernised to the MiG-31BM standard in Russia in the 2010s. The service also received Soviet Su-27 air superiority fighters from Russia in exchange for Tu-95MS bombers it had inherited from the Soviet era, and subsequently procured the Su-27’s enhanced derivative the Su-30SM which currently forms the backbone of its fleet. 

The Su-57 is expected to replace the Su-27, and possibly later the MiG-31, in Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces service, providing a significant improvement to combat capabilities. A procurement would make Kazakhstan the second Soviet successor state to field fifth generation fighter aircraft after Russia, and the likely second foreign client for the Su-57 after Algeria. The Su-57 is in many respects less sophisticated than the J-35 and F-35, but has a number of advantages including lower maintenance requirements, a much longer range, a far higher degree of combat testing, and access to several unique missile types.