Iran Finally Admits to Buying Russian Su-35 Fighters
It has been long assumed that Moscow would somehow reciprocate for the assistance Tehran has provided it.
The extent of warming Russian-Iranian ties has just been officially confirmed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). For the first time, an Iranian official has confirmed Western suspicions that Tehran has purchased the Russian-designed Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet. Ali Shadmani, the deputy coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters and a senior official within the IRGC, was quoted in an Iranian state-run news outlet as saying that the purchase had taken place, although he declined to clarify how many jets were procured. “Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces,” Shadmani said. “The production of military equipment has also accelerated.”
Analysts have long speculated that Moscow would deliver its top-tier fourth-generation fighter platform to Tehran, especially after procuring scores of Iranian-made drones which continue to fuel its invasion of Ukraine. More than two years ago, Iranian state media claimed that agreements had been finalized to purchase Russian fighters. However, similar claims since then have never yielded actual results. The two rogue allies signed a cooperative military agreement earlier this month, signaling that arms trades could follow. Considering this newly penned “comprehensive strategic partnership,” the IRGC’s recent Su-35 delivery claims could actually come to fruition.
Iranian-Russian Ties Are Warming
Both Iran and Russia have been largely isolated from the international community, due to Iran’s nuclear-related violations and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Sharing a mutual contempt for the West (and specifically the United States), the two nations have increasingly leaned on each other for support in recent years. Iran has notably become Russia’s primary UAV supplier since February 2022, providing an array of lethal combat drones to aid the Kremlin in its war in Ukraine.
It has been long assumed that Moscow would somehow reciprocate for the assistance Tehran has provided it. However, analysts have noted that such reciprocation probably would not directly include existing military equipment, as the Kremlin simply does not have a surplus of resources or arms to give. According to estimates, Russia likely possesses around 100 Su-35 fighters at the moment.
Specs and Capabilities
The Su-35 was first conceptualized during the Cold War as a replacement for the Soviet’s aging Su-27 fighter. As a heavily upgraded derivative of the Flanker, the Su-35 (designated by NATO as the “Flanker-E”) is touted by Moscow as being one of the most sophisticated 4.5-generation aircraft systems available across the globe. The one-seat jet is designed to engage air and ground threats and to counteract adversarial naval surface forces. According to Russian officials, the fighter is capable of traveling at speeds in excess of Mach 2.5. Comparably, the American F-22 Raptor can fly at the same speed, but the newer F-35 Lightning II is actually slower. The Flanker-E can carry an array of advanced weapons, including air-to-air missiles like the Vympel R-27, air-to-surface missiles like the Molniya Kh-29, and anti-ship missiles like the Kh-31A.
A Major Upgrade
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force is primarily composed of Soviet-era relics acquired prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian pilots also continue to fly the American-made F-14 Tomcat and F-4 Phantom jets—planes that were cutting-edge when purchased by the Shah in the 1970s, but are largely obsolete today. Obviously, the acquisition of a fourth-gen platform like the Flanker-E would elevate Iran’s aerial might. But only time will tell if Moscow will actually agree to deliver its Su-35 to its questionable ally.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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