The United States acquired 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan - media

The United States acquired 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan - media

The United States purchased 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan.

This was reported by the Kyiv Post .

It is noted that Kazakhstan, which is renewing its aircraft fleet, sold at auction 117 Soviet-era fighters and bombers, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter-bombers, MiG-29 fighters and Su-80-19 bombers. The announced sales value was one billion Kazakhstani tenge, or $2.26 million.

“The United States purchased 81 obsolete combat aircraft. ... The motive for the US purchase remains undisclosed, ... but we are talking about the possibility of their potential use in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service. The sale was made through offshore companies,” the material says.

Analysts speculate that, given Ukraine’s continued reliance on Soviet-era weapons, the aircraft could serve as a source of spare parts or be strategically deployed as a decoy at airfields.