Iran and Russia have concluded agreements to acquire military aircraft that have long been considered, Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Mahdi Farahi told Tasnim news agency.
Farahi revealed that plans include Yak-130 trainers, some already delivered, Mil Mi-28 combat helicopters, and the long-awaited Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets.
Tasnim, which is linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, did not detail aircraft numbers, however. It is said that the order is for 24 fighters, some of which were originally produced for Egypt, which withdrew from an agreement years ago.
Iran has not received a new fighter jet since the 1990s when Russia delivered MiG-29 jets. Currently, the fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) includes aircraft from different manufacturers and generations.
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The 19 MiG-29s are added to 23 Sukhoi Su-24s, 18 F-7s (MiG-21s), 17 Mirage F-1s, 63 F-4s, 48 F-5s and 41 F-14 Tomcats, the only ones that were exported. by the United States before the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
The agreement between Iran and Russia would involve the production of attack drones that have been used in the military invasion of Ukraine.