Uzbekistan is reportedly considering acquiring 24 Rafale fighter-bombers

Uzbekistan, a former republic of the Soviet Union, is not the first country that comes to mind when it comes to potential sales of Rafale fighter bombers. Especially since Tashkent is close to Moscow, Beijing and even Ankara and the orders placed by its armed forces with the defense industrial and technological base [BITD] The French is almost anecdotal [40 millions d’euros par an, en moyenne, sur la période 2013-22].

Also when President Macron went there at the beginning of this month [une première depuis la visite qu’y fit François Mitterrand, en 1994, ndlr]It should only be about energy, mineral resources and trade. But as I mentioned that Online intelligence [IOL]Last week, Uzbekistan expressed interest in the Rafale aircraft… what was reported by La Tribune newspaper CertainNovember 26.

Currently, the Uzbek Air Force has 38 MiG-29 “Fulcrum” aircraft, 25 Su-27 “Flanker” aircraft and about twenty Su-25 “Frogfoot” aircraft. In theory at least… because nothing says these devices are all good for service. Moreover, since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has not received any new combat aircraft. Hence this interest in the Rafale, which is surprising.

According to La Tribune newspaper, Tashkent wants to obtain 24 copies [20 monoplaces et 4 biplaces, au standard F4] Fighter bomber produced by Dassault Aviation. Obviously, the chances of concluding a new contract with the French industrialist would be “very serious” even if the Uzbek Air Force managed to set its sights on the South Korean F/A-50 “Golden Eagle”.

Another country belonging to Russia’s “sphere of influence” would also be keen to buy the Rafale jets. At least, that’s what was said after Mr. Macron’s visit to Astana before heading to Uzbekistan. However, the potential order made by Kazakhstan seems highly unlikely.

To be sure, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, his Kazakh counterpart, the tenant of the Elysee, welcomed Kazakhstan’s “refusal” to take “the path of subordination behind a few powers.” […] In a world where great powers want to become hegemons, and where regional powers become unpredictable.

But this forgets that this country is one of the founders, along with Russia, of the Collective Security Treaty Organization [OTSC]Which stipulates the condition of collective defense among its members. In addition, it has already begun modernizing its combat aviation through the purchase of Russian-designed Su-30 aircraft.