Iran Confirms Completion of Sukhoi-35 Fighter Jet Deal with Russia
Iran confirms the completion of its procurement deal for Russian Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, stating the aircraft will be delivered after the current war ends.
Iran's military spokesperson, General Mohammad Akrami-Nia, confirmed on Saturday that the procurement deal for Russian Sukhoi-35 fighter jets has been fully completed, but clarified that the aircraft will arrive in Iran only after the war ends. In an interview with the Iranian news website Tabnak, he stated that after the conflict, the military will receive the advanced jets, noting that preparations, contract signing, and pilot training have already concluded.
According to the spokesperson, the jets were originally scheduled to be delivered before the outbreak of the war. Once they arrive, the Iranian Air Force will operate with significantly greater power and more advanced capabilities. He added that the military also aims to acquire early-warning aircraft, satellites, and fifth-generation fighter jets. This marks the first time the regular Iranian military has directly addressed the deal, while Russia has not issued any official comments on the matter.
Leaked documents from the Russian defense industry last year indicated an order of 48 aircraft valued at approximately 6 billion euros, with open-source estimates suggesting that around 20 jets have already been manufactured and remain in Russia. Tehran's need for modern aircraft is acute, as its air force relies primarily on aging pre-1979 American models and Soviet-era aircraft that cannot effectively counter modern Western or Israeli air power.
