File image.
Video footage showing a MiG-29 conducting a patrol over the Iranian capital, Tehran, surfaced on social media on October 2, fueling speculations that the Islamic Republic recently received additional fighter jets of this type from Russia.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) already operates MiG-29s. In fact, these fighter jets are considered among the newest in service with the air force.
Iran purchased 20 single-seat MiG-29 (9.12B variant) and four two-seat MiG-29UB trainers from the Soviet Union in 1989, with deliveries starting in 1990. This marked the initial entry of the MiG-29 into Iranian service, helping to rebuild the IRIAF after the war with Iraq.
The Islamic Republic got additional MiG-29s in 1991 when seven or nine Iraqi fighter jets of this type fled to Iran during the Gulf War and were kept as reparations. In later years it was reported that Iran upgraded its MiG-29s. It is unclear, however, how many are still operational to this day.
The IRIAF saw no real action during the 12-day war with Israel last June. Following the war, calls were made to boost the capabilities of the largely outdated air force. In response, reports concerning armament deals, including one on additional MiG-29 fighter jets, begin to emerge.
Last month, Iranian lawmaker Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of parliament’s National Security Committee, said that additional MiG-29s were supplied by Russia and deployed at Shiraz Air Base in the north of the country, describing them as a “short-term solution” to bolster aerial capabilities while more advanced Sukhoi Su-35 jets are expected soon. A deal on the Su-35 was first reported around two years ago.
Zohrevand claimed that the MiG-29 delivery was a part of broader military cooperation with Russia, including the purchase of S-400 long-range air defense systems. He also talked about HQ-9 long-range air defense systems being supplied by China in significant quantities. Neither Moscow nor Beijing has officially confirmed the transfers, however.
The latest footage showing the MiG-29 over Tehran was widely used to further confirm Zohrevand’s claims, although this may just be one of the IRIAF older fighter jets.
Tensions between Iran and the United States, which took part in the 12-day war alongside Israel, are once again building up.
The last few days saw a mass deployment of aerial refueling tankers by the U.S. Air Force between Europe and the Middle East. The U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier also entered the Mediterranean Sea.
Iran keeps its military purchase under tight wraps, thus it is impossible to verify the claims made by Zohrevand. One thing is sure, however, and that is the fact that the Islamic Republic is preparing for another round of fighting with Israel, and possibly the U.S.
MiG-29 are highly-capable, and the newer versions that are armed with beyond-visual range air-to-air missiles like the R-77, could be especially effective in disturbing attacks by the Israeli Air Force and the U.S. Air Force. That being said, Iran’s biggest problem during the last war was not its lack of armament, but its compromised security which allowed Israeli agents to infiltrate and launch attacks from within. Without addressing this problem, no weapon will be able to make a difference.
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reminder = iran #3 in world oil reserves and #2 in natural gas reserves. oil was first discovered in the region about 1908. soon after the british colonialist bankers decided to create israel to exploit the energy assets. and the show goes on ! now they just expect america to clean up all the messes they make !
by genocide ? its like “us” are not guilty of anything. typical christian cannibalism. two things are central here; control over the unholy land, and wipe out the jews for the imposters, which sit on white peoples neck since 800 years back.
decades of media and public school indoctrinations assist
if the iranians coudn’t protect their ultra high performance concrete reinforced, deep underground, multi billion nuclear sites that took decades to construct, i doubt they can protect any of their airfields if the us and israel were to mount a sustained air campaign.
they can erase the imposters from the surface = problem solved.
iran needs to make some nukes, then they would get respect
of course the zionists are already closely watching zohrevand (look up zohrevand on memri on youtube). zohrevand who was the ambassador of iran in afghanistan before taliban were put in power is also very critical of the current liberal government of iran and its soft responses to zionists.