Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defence Plans Acquisition of Additional Su-30 Heavy Fighters

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defence Plans is planning to procure additional Su-30SM air superiority fighters from Russia. A former Soviet member state operating some of the most sophisticated weapons systems of the ex Warsaw Pact states, Kazakhstan's Air Force today retains advanced weapons systems including combat aircraft - many of which it played a significant role in developing as a Soviet member state. The MiG-31 interceptor and R-33 air to air missile in particular remain highly sophisticated weapons systems of which Kazakhstan is the sole operator outside Russia. While formidable, the Kazakh Air Force has made few acquisitions since the fall of the Soviet Union and today remand in need of modern heavy fighters.

In February 2015 Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces commander Major General Nurlan Ormanbetov announced that his country would procure Sukhoi Su-30SM fighters, which were to serve in a complementary role alongside the country's Soviet era fleet. While the Su-27 fighter, inherited by Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, was still in its infancy at the time of the fall of the USSR, the program has since evolved extensively. The Su-30SM is a more sophisticated variant of the fighter widely exported by Russia, and represent by far the latest platforms in the Kazakh fleet.

The Kazakh Ministry of Defence stated regarding the acquisition of the new fighters: “Within the framework of the agreement on military-technical co-operation with the Russian Federation in 2018, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan plans to conclude a contract for the supply of Su-30SM multirole aircraft, and until 2020 it has planned to purchase (additional) Su-30SM aircraft and Mi-35 helicopters." The number of additional aircraft to be procured remains unknown. Kazakh Su-30 fighters are set cooperate closely with Russian platforms, with both countries being jointly responsible for one another's air defence under the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Tashkent Treaty. Russia is likely to provide Kazakhstan with special terms under which to purchase the Su-30, as the strengthening of its Central Asian partner's air defence capabilities is strongly in Moscow's interests. Kazakhstan is set to field a fleet of approximately 50 Su-30 heavy fighters, which alongside other combat platforms such as the MiG-31 and the country's small MiG-29 fleet will ensure the country's ability to contest air superiority and protect its territory in the event of war.