Yerzhan Nildibayev, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Chief of Air Defence and head of the primary armaments division, announced Kazakhstan’s decision to purchase Russian-made Su-30SM fighters, rejecting a concurrent offer from France for Rafale jets.
Nildibayev revealed that the Kazakh Defence Ministry plans to acquire ten more of the Su-30SMs by 2023-2024, highlighting their superior “quality-price” ratio in comparison to the French competitors. For several months, France’s Dassault Aviation had been marketing their Rafale jets to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, both of which operate an older fleet of Soviet jets. These planes, such as Kazakh MiG-29 strike fighters and Uzbek Su-27 air superiority fighters, are predicted to be retired from service soon.
Already integrated class
Already boasting the most advanced Air Force in Central Asia, Kazakhstan began inducting its first Su-30SMs into service in 2015. Thus far, it has signed three separate procurement contracts, amassing a total of 23 fighters.
The argument to further expand the Su-30SM fleet derives its strength from the benefits of utilizing an already integrated fighter class. This avoids the myriad complications and additional costs associated with introducing a new aircraft variant, such as differing training, spare part requirements, infrastructure needs, and weaponry compatibility.
In the current Kazakh fleet, the Su-30s are the mainstay, along with 32 MiG-31 interceptors spread over two squadrons. The MiG-31 interceptors are remarkable for their longer engagement ranges and larger radars in comparison to Su-30s.
Same as Algeria’s choice
Kazakhstan’s choice of the Su-30 over the Rafale echoes Algeria’s choice in the mid-2000s. The French aircraft, Rafale, was highly marketed to Algeria but failed to pique considerable interest.
The Su-30SM acquired by Kazakhstan has a close association with the Su-30MKA purchased by Algeria. Both these models are products of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant and are derivatives of the Su-30MKI ‘4+ generation’ fighter concept, originally tailored to meet the specifications of the Indian Air Force.
The Su-30s deployed by these nations are equipped with thrust-vectoring engines and phased-array radars. Such features offer a markedly superior performance in air-to-air combat when compared to cheaper Su-30 models manufactured by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant. The Su-30SM and Su-30MKA also incorporate several technologies from the discontinued Su-37 air superiority fighter.
Extensive coverage area
A notable advantage of the Su-30 for countries like Algeria and Kazakhstan is the extensive area coverage it offers. The Rafale, despite being impressive in range for a lightweight fighter, falls short when compared to heavyweights such as the Su-30 and F-15.
The aerial coverage requirement of the Algerian Air Force equates roughly to the combined areas of France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, and Greece. Kazakhstan’s territory is an even more imposing 14 percent larger.
The larger radar and superior flying capability of the Su-30 give it an advantage over the Rafale, being able to carry more weapons and fly further. This makes it a formidable adversary with greatly enhanced situational awareness, given that its radar is nearly twice the size of the Rafale’s RBE2.
Advantages and disadvantages
Equipped with the modern N011M Bars phased array radar, the Su-30SM variant offers a maximum detection range of 400 km. Conversely, the Rafale’s M88 engines, considered the weakest among fighters being produced, limit their speed and operational altitude.
Rafale’s primary benefit is its lower operational and maintenance costs which come from being a lighter class fighter. However, this plus is partially offset by the Su-30’s lower purchase price. There are Rafale variants that bring advanced sensors and air-to-air missiles into play comparable to those on Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter. These anticipated technologies are due to come in upgrade packages for the Su-30.
A significant disadvantage with the Rafale, however, is Western arms suppliers’ tendency to impose embargoes on spare parts and place restrictions on their assets’ usage abroad. Additionally, compatibility issues with Kazakhstan’s existing Russian and Soviet equipment and likely operational difficulties in joint networks with Russian forces pose considerable challenges to the French fighter.
Integrated air defense
As Kazakhstan and Russia continue to strengthen their integration of air defenses, an endeavor that intensified with the development of a joint Collective Security Treaty Organization air defense network last November, incorporating French fighters with very short ranges and incompatible systems would pose a significant challenge.
The significance of maintaining compatibility with Russian forces came into sharp focus in January 2022. Astana called for the assistance of the Russian military to supplement local forces in countering a brief but intense insurgency backed by Turkey, an uprising that saw substantial casualties among local security forces.
Source : Bulgarianmilitary
