US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally for less than $20,000 each, report says

Ukrainian SU-27 fighters escort an SU-24 front-line bomber during an air force exercises on Starokostyantyniv military airbase on October 12, 2018. GENYA SAVILOV | Getty Images|GENYA SAVILOV | Getty Images

• The US has purchased 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan for $1.5m, the Kyiv Post reports.
• Kazakhstan, a historic ally of Russia, is engaging more with Western nations.
• The planes may be used for spare parts or deployed as decoys in conflict regions.

The US has acquired 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, the Kyiv Post reported.

Kazakhstan, which is upgrading its air fleet, auctioned off 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers from the 1970s and 1980s.

The declared value of the sale was one billion tenge, or $1.5 million, said the Post.

The motive behind the US purchase remains undisclosed, said the Post, fueling speculation about potential use in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service.

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, said the Post.

The Mikoyan MiG-31 was a supersonic interceptor designed to defend Soviet airspace, according to Airforce Technology. It played a critical role during the Cold War.

Derived from the MiG-23, the MiG-27 was a ground-attack aircraft and saw action in conflicts like the Soviet-Afghan War.

The agile MiG-29 excelled in air-to-air combat. It was widely exported and remains in service with some air forces.

MiG-31 Russian Defense Ministry

Despite its age, the Su-24 – an all-weather tactical bomber – remains in service with several air forces, including the Russian Aerospace Forces and Ukrainian Air Force.

Kazakhstan, formerly part of the Soviet Union, has maintained close ties to Russia and historically was one of its strongest allies. But the relationship between the two countries has shifted since Russia invaded Ukraine, with Kazakhstan aligning itself more with the West, drawing the fury of some in Russia.

But the Central Asian country’s efforts to upgrade its military capabilities coincide with its increasing engagement with Western nations, signaling a shift away from historical ties with Moscow, per the Kyiv Post’s analysis.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Germany in 2023 underscored Kazakhstan’s commitment to international sanctions against Russia.

Kazakhstan and Western nations are showing increasing cooperation, with recent diplomatic engagements including a visit from UK Foreign Minister David Cameron to Astana, the capital.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at Ak Orda Presidential Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, on February 28, 2023. Olivier Douliery/Pool Photo via AP

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the central Asian country in March 2023, where he said that the US “strongly supports Kazakhstan’s sovereignty, its independence, its territorial integrity,” according to news agency AFP.

Some of Russia’s outspoken propagandists have suggested that Russia should look to Kazakhstan next following its invasion of Ukraine.

One notable Russian TV commentator, Vladimir Solovyov, said that his country “must pay attention to the fact that Kazakhstan is the next problem because the same Nazi processes can start there as in Ukraine.”

Agreements on trade, education, environment, and mineral supplies reflect the deepening ties between Kazakhstan and Western nations as they navigate geopolitical challenges posed by neighboring countries like Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.