Iran’s controversial purchase of Sukhoi Su-35SE fighter jets gained a new chapter on Monday when a senior commander of the Revolutionary Guards said the country had reached a deal for the aircraft with Russia.
Ali Shadmani told the Student News Network that the government had indeed purchased the aircraft, but did not provide details on quantities or a delivery timetable.
“Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces,” Shadmani said. “The production of military equipment has also accelerated.”
Previous reports said Iran had reached an agreement with the Putin government to receive an arms package that included not only the Su-35 but also the Yak-130 trainer jets. Those aircraft have, in fact, already arrived in the country.
The deal would be in exchange for sending drones to be used against Ukraine.
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The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) is expected to receive 24 Su-35 fighters, some of which were built for Egypt before the deal fell through.
In December, it was reported that the first two fighters had been delivered on November 18 in a ceremony at the KnAAPO plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
The aircraft were reportedly transported by an Antonov An-124 to Tehran for reassembly. The Sukhoi Su-35s, an advanced variant of the Su-27 Flanker, have more efficient radar and a greater weapons load.
The jets are expected to replace aging US fighters such as the F-4E Phantom II and F-14 Tomcat, which were delivered before the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
