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New fighter joins Kazakh Air Force

The Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan has announced the receipt of a new fighter jet from a Russian manufacturer.

By Richard Tomkins
A Sukoi Su-30 of the Russian Air Force. Photo by Sergey Krivchikov.
A Sukoi Su-30 of the Russian Air Force. Photo by Sergey Krivchikov.

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 20 (UPI) -- An undisclosed number of Sukoi Su-30SM fighter jets have been delivered to the Air Force of Kazakhstan by the Irkut Corporation, part of the Sukoi group.

The Su-30SM, a multi-role fighter designated as Flanker C by NATO, is a twin-engine, two-seat aircraft with a maximum speed of 1,320 miles per hour, a ceiling of 56,800 feet and a range of 1,620 miles.

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Air Force Maj. Gen. Nurlan Ormanbetov, head of the country's air force, was quoted as saying that the receipt of the aircraft "significantly increases" protection of the country's borders.

The Kazakh Ministry of Defense said the aircraft will participate in national celebrations on May 7 marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Flight crews and technical staff of the Air Force of the Republic of Kazakhstan had earlier been trained on Su-30SM systems at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Russia.

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