The Iranian Air Force is set to receive 30 more Su-35s.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Russia's Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant has completed 20 Su-35 fighter jets ordered by the Iranian Air Force and expects another 10 to be delivered by the end of this year.

A Su-35 fighter jet of the Russian Air Force (Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense).

According to the American magazine Military Watch, the Iranian Ministry of Defense is paying for maintenance in Russia before these aircraft are delivered back to Iran.

This information emerged after leaked Russian military- industrial documents late last year revealed that 16 Su-35s were being produced on order from Tehran at the time. Although the factory previously produced an average of only about 14 Su-35s per year, the General Director of United Aircraft Corporation, Vadim Badekha, confirmed efforts to increase production in May 2025.

The Russian Aerospace Forces are expected to reduce the number of Su-35s delivered over the next two to three years to prioritize contracts with Iran.

Large orders and delivery plans

Leaked Russian government "secret documents" from late 2025 confirmed that Iran's Ministry of Defense purchased 48 Su-35s, following earlier confirmation from Tehran officials of an undisclosed number of aircraft.

Yak-130 training aircraft began deliveries to the Islamic Republic in September 2023, apparently designed to support domestic pilot training in parallel with training programs in Russia.

The Su-35 fighter jet is likely to begin arriving in the Middle Eastern country in 2026, with some sources suggesting that infrastructure damage at Hamadan Air Base is the main factor hindering the delivery of the new aircraft. Engineering units are reportedly undertaking reconstruction. The handover is expected to include the provision of advanced simulation equipment.

Tehran's purchase of Su-35s is not an isolated case. Russian sources confirmed on June 4th that Tehran had ordered 12 used Su-30SM2 fighter jets from Russian frontline units, with delivery expected from mid-2027.

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Despite using the same engines and similar advanced avionics, the Su-30SM2 is significantly less expensive, easier to maintain, and better suited for attack operations as well as Su-35 pilot training.

Additionally, there are indications that Tehran has also ordered the more advanced Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, although significant order backlogs mean deliveries are not expected to begin until closer to 2030.

Iranian Air Force: Unexpected effectiveness with old aircraft and new potential.

The American magazine noted that Tehran's purchase of its first post-Cold War fighter jets is particularly significant, especially considering the effectiveness of older fighters in conflicts with the US and its strategic partners.

In late April, Iranian Air Force third-generation F-5E fighter jets successfully carried out a bombing raid on Buehring Air Base in Kuwait, penetrating the multi-layered air defense systems of the US and Kuwait, according to Military Watch Magazine.

Then, in early May, the F-4E, heavier and with a longer range than the F-5 but also outdated, was used to carry out a successful infiltration into Saudi Arabia.

This operation is only known because it resulted in an aerial battle between an F-4 fighter and at least one US Air Force F-16CJ fighter jet, in which the F-16 failed to shoot down the Iranian aircraft. The aforementioned report raises the possibility that these aircraft may have carried out more widespread incursions.

Iranian Air Force F-4 fighter jet (Photo: Creative Commons).

In recent conflicts with the U.S. and strategic partners in the Middle East, the Iranian Air Force has demonstrated its ability to protect its aircraft despite high-intensity attacks on its bases, Military Watch Magazine noted.

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The successes achieved with outdated fighter jets further raise the possibility that the delivery of the Su-35 will allow Tehran to conduct much larger-scale attacks against hostile targets across the Middle East.

The Su-35's superior flight range, with a combat radius of nearly 2,000 km, offers the potential for deep penetration attacks into enemy airspace. Its ability to operate from airfields with short runways or makeshift airfields will make the squadron less vulnerable.

In many respects, the Su-35 is considered less advanced than its American and Chinese counterparts such as the F-35 and J-16, but this Russian fighter jet has been "tested in fire" more than any other fighter jet in the post-Cold War world in complex air combat missions, and has been progressively modernized, including the integration of new generation air-to-air missiles.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/khong-quan-iran-sap-co-them-30-su-35-20260702122306964.htm