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

[DudleySmith]

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

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

www.businessinsider.com

The motive behind the US purchase remains undisclosed, said the Post, but it raised the possibility of their use in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service.

Spare parts, or dummy drones?

 

[Mikeoxenormous]

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

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

www.businessinsider.com

The motive behind the US purchase remains undisclosed, said the Post, but it raised the possibility of their use in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service.

Spare parts, or dummy drones?

Back in the day, the T-38 was made to look like a Soviet interceptor for Red Flag exercises. Maybe these will be used in the same manner, to find the weakness of the jet and how to make it easer to defeat.

 

[ThirdTerm]

These Soviet-era fighter jets are in a junk state. Most aircraft were scrapped or left to deteriorate in storage since the 1990s. If they are transferred to Ukraine as planned, they will have to be disassembled in a junkyard before Ukraine's air force can use them as spare parts. Hulls could be used as decoys at Ukraine's airfields.

Kazakhstan Sold 81 Soviet Era Fighter Jets to U.S. for Possible Transfer to Ukraine

Specialists from the Armed Forces of Ukraine can disassemble it, using parts on aircraft available to the Air Force.

www.defensemirror.com

 

[DudleySmith]

Back in the day, the T-38 was made to look like a Soviet interceptor for Red Flag exercises. Maybe these will be used in the same manner, to find the weakness of the jet and how to make it easer to defeat.

Saw an article the other day on testing a new jet trainer, but don't remember where. Apparently several companies are marketing new trainers now, so T-38s may be sold off to the civilian markets.

Old military aircraft for sale.

Pardon Our Interruption

Some of these are cool.

 

[Litwin]

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

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

www.businessinsider.com

The motive behind the US purchase remains undisclosed, said the Post, but it raised the possibility of their use in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service.

Spare parts, or dummy drones?

both

Kazakhstan has reportedly sold 81 Soviet era military aircraft, including MiG-27, MiG-29, and Su- 24, to the United States via offshore entities.

bad news for pootler, The aircraft could subsequently be transferred to Ukraine. Specialists from the Armed Forces of Ukraine can disassemble it, using parts on aircraft available to the Air Force.

www.usmessageboard.com

 

[whitehall]

$20 grand a piece is chump change. It would probably cost more to ship them home. Surely nobody would fly the junk. Collectors would probably pay more.

 

[Litwin]

$20 grand a piece is chump change. It would probably cost more to ship them home. Surely nobody would fly the junk. Collectors would probably pay more.

Specialists from the Armed Forces of Ukraine will disassemble it, using parts on aircraft available to the Air Force.

Kazakhstan has reportedly sold 81 Soviet era military aircraft, including MiG-27, MiG-29, and Su- 24, to the United States via offshore entities.

bad news for pootler, The aircraft could subsequently be transferred to Ukraine. Specialists from the Armed Forces of Ukraine can disassemble it, using parts on aircraft available to the Air Force.

www.usmessageboard.com

 

[DudleySmith]

$20 grand a piece is chump change. It would probably cost more to ship them home. Surely nobody would fly the junk. Collectors would probably pay more.

Flyable military aircraft go for pretty cheap; I posted a site the sells them. Not that these in the OP are for sale here, $20K is a lot more money in Kazakhstan than it is here; a flyable one here might go for $100K plus or more.