France pitches Rafale to Kazakhstan

Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft.

France is aiming to sell Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft to Kazakhstan, French newspapers reported. French President Emmanuel Macron explored this opportunity during a trip to Kazakhstan in early November. The visit took place the day before the one in Uzbekistan where he also discussed the sale of the Rafale.

While Uzbekistan appears to be very interested in buying up to 24 Rafales, Kazakhstan is at a much earlier stage.

The air forces of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are very similar, both are equipped with Russian-made fighters such as the MiG-29, Su-25 and Su-27, however the two nations have also started to introduce Western aircraft such as the CASA C-295 and Eurocopter helicopters.

Over time, the two nations have established and consolidated a strategic partnership and alliance and it would be advantageous for both to continue to operate the same type of aircraft in the future. This is why the choice of one could also influence the choice of the other.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Image: Dassault Aviation