The authorities of Kazakhstan are attempting to auction off more than 100 Soviet-made combat aircraft. The lot was put up for sale by the state enterprise Kazspetsexport and includes MiG-27, MiG-29, MiG-31, and Su-24 combat aircraft.
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The Auction
The starting price for the entire lot of 117 aircraft was set at approximately 1.8 billion Kazakhstani tenge ($3.85 million). These aircraft, delivered between 1975 and 1989, are currently in storage at various military facilities. Their condition has so deteriorated that restoration was deemed impractical due to the high cost involved. Some of them are even reported to be unsuitable for “cannibalization,” meaning their parts cannot be used to refurbish other aircraft. However, part of the MiG-31 fleet should still be close to flying conditions. As recently as April 2020, an aircraft of this type crashed near Karaganda, 185 kilometers (115 miles) southeast of the capital city Astana, after one of the engines caught fire.
Potential Buyers
A first sale was scheduled for October 26, 2023. However, for an unknown reason, it did not take place. A new tender is scheduled for November 11, 2023. The entire lot will be put up for auction again, but this time at half the original price. Some suspect that Russia might purchase the lot to acquire spare parts, as some of the combat aircraft mentioned are still in use by the Russian Air Force and engaged in the invasion of Ukraine, but are no longer in production. However, on October 19, 2023, Kazakhstan announced a ban on the export of approximately 100 products to Russia, including drones and electronic components. It remains to be seen whether this ban includes the avionics found in these combat aircraft. Ukraine could also benefit from some of these aircraft, as it operates the MiG-29 fighter and the Su-24 bomber. Without access to Russian manufacturers, the country has relied on the support of European partners to supply Soviet aircraft.
Future Plans
In the meantime, the Kazakh Air Defense Forces are harmonizing and modernizing their fleet with the recent acquisition of at least 24 Su-30SM multirole fighter jets. This auction represents a significant shift in Kazakhstan's military strategy as it moves away from Soviet-era technology. It will be interesting to see how this auction unfolds and what impact it will have on the global military landscape.
