US acquired 81 obsolete Soviet-era combat jets from Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan, which is upgrading its air fleet, auctioned off 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers from the 1970s and 1980. The motive behind the US purchase remained undisclosed but that the aircraft could be used in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service.