MiG-31 Foxhounds in the Kazakh Air Force

The Kazakh Air Force lost one of its MiG-31 Foxhound heavyweight interceptors on April 16th, which crashed due to a major technical issue in the Karaganda region near the regional capital. The MiG-31 was the most capable and heaviest Soviet jet designed for air to air combat, and as the second largest Soviet successor state Kazakhstan was one of the only two states to inherit them the alongside Russia. The aircraft are prized for their massive and extremely powerful sensor suites, their high speed and endurance and their ability to operate at extreme altitudes of up to 25km while carrying long range missiles. The Kazakh Air Force deploys 32 of the heavy interceptors in two squadrons which form the mainstay of its fleet’s air to air combat capability, alongside two classes of heavyweight fighter - the Su-27 and the recently received Su-30SM. At least some of Kazakhstan’s MiG-31s have been upgraded to the MiG-31BM standard and equipped with R-77 missiles, with all also deploying the older but longer ranged R-33 missile for air defence. It is unknown whether any post-soviet R-33 variants have been acquired. It is expected that the Kazakh Air Force could show interest in the faster and longer ranged R-37 missile in future - which Russia has used to equip its own Foxhound interceptors.