Will Russia Sell Su-35 Fighters to Iran?
The acquisition of the Su-35, a more modern fighter series, would undoubtedly elevate Iran’s aerial abilities.
Russian-Iranian ties are only strengthening as both countries are turning toward each other to fulfill their respective defense needs. As Moscow suffers from international sanctions due to its ongoing Ukraine invasion and Tehran’s influence in the Middle East becomes shaky amidst conflict on multiple fronts, the need to better nail down an anti-Western hegemonic coalition has become apparent to both nations. Marking the latest milestone in Moscow and Tehran’s defense relationship is the potential sale of the Sukhoi Su-35. Since Iran’s air force is notably aging and in poor shape, the acquisition of a more modern fighter series would undoubtedly elevate its aerial abilities. While Iranian officials have “confirmed” its purchase of the Russian-made platform, the Kremlin has yet to verify its position.
A brief overview of the Su-35
Like most of the weapons and military systems Russia fields today, the Su-35 fighter has Soviet-era roots. During the Cold War, the Su-35 became the production variant of the Su-27. As a direct evolution of the Su-27 “Flanker,” the Su-35 has been designated by NATO as the “Flanker-E.” The twin-engine supermaneuverable platform was designed to counter America’s top-tier jets of the time, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and the Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat. While the jet does share several basic characteristics with its Flanker predecessor, the Su-35 features additional canards that differentiate it from the older platform.
The Flanker-E is powered by a pair of Sturn/UFA AL-31F 117S turbofan engines that allow the fighter to fly at speeds reaching roughly 2,390 km/h (Mach 2.25). Comparably, the U.S. Air Force’s newest fifth-generation platform, the F-35 Lightning II, is only capable of traveling at a top speed of Mach 1.6. America’s other fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor, also does not have its Russian counterpart beat with its own top speed of Mach 2.2. In addition to its speed, the Flanker-E can carry more ordnance than some of its predecessors. Equipped with a dozen hardpoints for carrying external weapons and stores, the Russian jet is a well-armed platform on paper. According to Airforce Technology, the jet can carry a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, including the Vympel R-27, Molniya Kh-29, and the long-range Kh-58UShE. The Gryazev-Shipunov 30mm GSh-30-1 gun is also fitted to the Su-35, along with 150 rounds of ammunition. Sensor-wise, the Flanker-E hosts a range of countermeasures that make it superior to earlier Soviet platforms: “The aircraft’s electronic warfare suite includes a radar warning system, radar jammer, co-operative radar jamming system, missile approach warner, laser warner and chaff and flare dispenser.”
While the Flanker-E looks good on paper, the Russian jet has not performed well in Ukraine. To make matters worse, not many countries have displayed interest in procuring the platform at all. Only Russia’s Aerospace Forces and China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force field the fighter today, as Moscow has failed to garner attention from potential foreign client states in the Middle East. If the Iranian-Russian Flanker-E arrangement is real, Tehran could become the first in the region to fly the fighter.
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.
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