MWM: Russian Su-30SM fighter is superior to the French Rafale.
Kazakhstan has rightly chosen the Russian Su-30SM over the French Rafale, according to authors of the US-based Military Watch Magazine.
“The Su-30 not only flies much further and with more powerful armament, but also has a much greater awareness of its surroundings due to a radar twice as large as the Rafale’s,” the publication noted.
MWM drew attention to the similarity of Kazakhstan’s choice with Algeria’s decision in 2006. The journalists recalled that the French also tried to sell their fighters to the African country, but it eventually chose the Russian Su-30 MKA. In particular, it has superiority in range and is much more suitable for both countries because of its huge size, the authors noted.
Another disadvantage of the Rafale, the journalists called the habit of Western manufacturers to impose bans on the supply of spare parts for their equipment. In addition, the U.S. and its allies often demand restrictions on the use of their weapons in operations outside the buying country.
On Thursday, Yerzhan Nildibayev, deputy commander-in-chief of the Air Defence Forces for armaments, denied a statement by French newspaper Tribune about talks between Astana and Paris over the purchase of French Rafale fighter jets. A Kazakh Air Force spokesman added that the Russian Su-30SM aircraft suits the armed forces in terms of value for money.
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