Su-35 fighter – © Marina Lystseva/TASS
Russia will supply Iran with dozens of Su-35 multirole fighter jets, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on December 24, citing Western intelligence officials.
The news channel said that Iran could get as many as 24 Su-35s which were originally built for Egypt, in a deal that the United States thwarted. Intelligence reports claim that Iranian pilots have already began training on the advanced fighter jets.
The report comes after Iranian media said in September that Tehran was weighing the purchase of fighter jets from Russia.
The U.S. has been talking about a growing relationship between Iran and Russia involving military equipment since the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine earlier this year. Washington claims that Iran supplied Russia with hundreds of suicide and combat drones in the last few months for use against Kiev forces. However, both Moscow and Tehran deny this.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) is in desperate need for advanced multirole fighter jets like the Su-35. The air force currently relies on American-made fighter jets in the 1970s which were left from the period before the 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran hasn’t acquired any new fighter jets since the 1990s, when it received a few MiG-29s from Russia.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shared the reports on the Su-35 deal on December 28, without confirming or dismissing the claims.
The Su-35 was designed by Russia’s leading Sukhoi Design Bureau to engage all types of aerial targets in long and close ranged air battles as well as to attack ground and sea-surface targets including those covered by air defenses and located far behind the frontline.
The fighter jet can carry a variety of advanced weapons, including the R-37 long-range, hypersonic air-to-air missile and the Kh-59 long-range land-attack cruise missile.
Click to see full-size image.
The Su-35 would boost the capabilities of the IRIAF. However, the alleged deal could lead to tensions between Russia and Israel, who may consider it a violation of the 2015 nuclear agreement and related international sanctions.
With the lack of any confrontation from Russia or Iran, it is possible that the alleged Su-35 deal is a mere propaganda stunt meant to increase pressure on both countries.
Russia should use all the power to crush Ukraine before spreading the forces, selling the military hardware etc.
These dozens of Su-35s, used with wisdom, might break the spine of Ukronazy war machine…
Their spine is fractured already, all Russia needs to do is to deliver the final fatal crushing blow.
It’s hard to really believe Russia wouldn’t use these 24 aircraft as part of its military inventory (with the Ukraine campaign happening)
But I understand the politics between allies of convenience against a fading superpower determine to destroy them both
Iran is going to need more than just 24 Su 35s, which probably indicates more military barter trading in the future
All your hear about russias forces in ukraine are either ground forces or ship based and group based missiles. the number of times air craft were mentioned it could allmost seam that the russian air force is not part of the war and only does something after beeing asked nicely now and then.
Besides that russia should as a reaction to the us and western sancions lift every single sanction and sell anything to anyone besides of course weapons of mass destruction and things which could help to build them.
Comedy. Russia is unable to organize its own air force to operate effectively in Ukraine. Therefore, they can only dream about selling aircraft abroad.
Its bad news for israel
I predict many Jew American F35 planes will fall out from the sky.
I like your way of thinking.
Israel’s betrayal of Americans on 9/11 and betrayal of Russia in Ukraine mark it as a New World Order tool for control of the Mideast .A few Su-35s for Iran should serve as a warning to what will happen if they continue on their current path..
Israel is supporting Ukraine in the current conflict, Russia has the right to support Iran. With the return to power of the corrupt megalomaniac Netanyahu to power in Israel, I don’t doubt that Israel will try to attack Iran again, Iran needs to prepare!
What.
send them 24 su35, and exchange them for 10.000 suicide and attac drones, that would be a good deal for both sides.
Learn some respect first. Iran is a sovereign country. What has Russia given Iran so far, except for some warm words? Russia has to offer and give a lot more than it has given so far. I hope that Iran negotiates with Russia in a proper way from now on. And no, some Su-35 jets are not enough.
As Iranian suicide drone cost around 20 000 USD, so 24 pcs of SU-35 is equivalent of 100 000 drones
Yes, but the iranians have also some good copys of US Raptor, Predator amd others, value up to a Million USD pcs. for sure.
You are very misinformed as to the value vs cost !! All USA weapons are extremely over valued because of the Military complex industry being privately/publicly owned therefore it has the need to drive the value of its shares(which are mostly owned by political elite) by driving the cost of its products as high as possible, same is done in Phara-industry !! Eg. the cost to DEVELOP the F-35 (which is still garbage ) was over 400 billion USD !!
it seems you dont get it. i say, iranians have good copys of us drones, even the bigger ones, also the missiles like the iranian hellfire copys. and sure, us MIC prices are generally extremly overvalued, but anyway, if a us drone costs lets say 10-15 million usd pcs. than a similar iranian copy would cost 2-3 million anyway, because the needed materials, tech and production costs are much lower, but still not near zero. its the same with russian or chinese military products, usually some 3-5 times cheaper than us and nato ones, with similar abilities and tech.
Hopefully R-37 AWACS and Pegasus killers included in deal.
Hades is waiting for you bourla you eugenicist pig that kills israelis.
Iran should send Quds Force to Donbass so they can coordinate and send units to gain high intensity warfare experience.
What will Russia give in return? Nothing?!
It is human nature to exert equal or greater pain when someone sticks its nose where it doesn’t belong. Russia has a problem with Ukraine hosting nuclear weapons 200 miles away from Moscow. And it did something about it just like the US did during the Cuban missile crisis. it should have all been resolved amicably but instead Ukraine is now getting all kinds of noxious weapons that will only make matters worse. Russia can exert excess amounts of pain by facilitating Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Screw Israhell! The whole world is against them, they don’t deserve any sympathy.
About time. Iran cannot defend itself w/F-4 jets forever. The JCPOA only prohibited weapons transfers for 7yrs, well, it’s been 7yrs. So what agreement is Bibi complaining about, some fictional agreement in his own mind?
JCPOA doesn’t limit on weapons, it only focus on nuclear program. Btw, US & EU had already reneged on JCPOA, so its not longer binding.
It was a separate 10yrs weapons import ban imposed by UNSC which expired last October.
Su35 might be the best value for money air superior multi role fighter. But Rusxia radar and electronic system are backward.
So Iran might need to upgrade them with China’s modern AESA radar, PL15 BVR AAM, electronic warfare module, supported by Y500 AWACS. China operated a fleet of Su35 prior to J20 entering mass production, they have good experience to upgrade it.
But Iran will need a 5th Gen fighter like J31 once China is ready to export, as to match Israel’s F35I. Forget about 4.5++ Su57 & Su75, they won’t be ready until 2030. Rusxia has failed to modernize its military for last 20yrs. Rusxia also reneged on supplying S300 after receiving Iran’s payment 10yrs ago, Russia is not a reliable source when come to Israel Jews..
You are true about the last point but i do not see the chinese beeing any more reliable. All that comes from them are words and i think they are playing everyone and are the real 4D Chess players that some thought Russia was.
God bless Russia & Iran!!