Kazakhstan receives six Russian-made Su-30SM fighters

The Kazakh Air Force has received a batch of six Su-30SM fighter jets, which it ordered from Russia.

Here's What We Know

The Irkutsk Aviation Plant (part of the United Aircraft Corporation) has recently handed over a batch of Su-30SM fighters that were manufactured to order by the government of Kazakhstan. This was reported by Scramble.

The aircraft received red tail numbers 51 to 56, and they will be assigned to the 602nd Air Base in Shymkent, where they will replace the outdated MiG-29s.

The new Su-30SMs are the first batch of ten ordered. It is worth noting that the contract between the two countries was signed at the end of 2023.

The fighters are to replace the fleet of outdated and largely inoperable Soviet fighters and bombers. Last year, the country put 117 aircraft up for sale. These aircraft include MiG-31 supersonic fighter interceptors, MiG-27 fighter-bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 frontline bombers, all produced in the 1970s and 1980s.

Source: Scramble