Preparations were finalized for the supply to Iran of 24 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighters, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 training aircraft.
According to Tasmin news agency, Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Mahdi Farahi stated that he reached an agreement with Russia for Sukhoi Su-35SE fighters (originally intended for the Egyptian Air Force), Mil Mi-28NE attack helicopters and Yak-130 trainer aircraft to join the fighter units of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF).
Первые фотографии первых пяти истребителей Су-35С для египетских Военно-воздушных сил в небе Комсомольска-на-Амуре («КнААЗ»).
Бортовые номера:
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● 9211Источник: https://t.co/U7zEZTvQV9
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Farahi assured that these three models of advanced military aircraft will definitely be at Iran’s disposal and that the processes are currently underway.
The general pointed out that Iran has the most powerful military helicopter fleet in the region in quantitative terms and that its capabilities were upgraded after carrying out several upgrade projects.
Modernization of the Iranian Air Force finally begins?
Iran today has a motley fleet of aircraft from the 1970s and 1980s, many of US origin. Over the years they have tried to replace and upgrade their fleet with Russian aircraft, managing to acquire a small number of MiG-29s in the 1990s, but the US and its regional allies were very effective in blocking these modernization projects.
So Iran went to enormous efforts to try to keep its aging aircrafts operational, with some modernizations and replacement of obsolete parts, in many cases, through reverse engineering. Not to mention the multitude of domestic fighter projects, all based on recovered Northrop F-5 airframes.
But the need to renew its air equipment remained pressing. Veiled U.S. threats to keep Egypt from acquiring Russian Su-35 fighters (which it had already paid for) and the Russian-Iranian partnership following the outbreak of war in Ukraine opened a window of opportunity for the IRIAF to begin receiving modern materiel.
As a result of a defense cooperation agreement, the first Russian Yak-130 advanced trainers began arriving in Iran in September this year, while negotiations for Su-35 jets, attack helicopters and for eventual life extension, overhaul and upgrade work on 23 MiG-29 aircraft and 25 Su-24MK attack bombers continued.
According to reports, Russia will transfer to Iran the necessary know-how to carry out local maintenance and overhaul of the Su-35SE. In addition, there are rumors that the aircraft will be equipped with R-37M long-range air-to-air missiles. If the deal goes through, the Persian F-14 Tomcat will finally enter its well-deserved retirement.
