Forbes: Iran lags behind neighbours in military aviation From Azerbaijan to the UAE

While Iran struggles to maintain its ageing F-14 fleet, neighbouring countries are rapidly modernising their air forces, leaving Tehran at a growing disadvantage in regional military aviation.

Iran’s outdated Air Force proved almost powerless against Israel during the 12-day war in June. Forbes reports.

Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE have all invested heavily in advanced 4th- and 5th-generation fighter jets, long-range missiles, and modern radar systems, highlighting a widening capability gap across the Persian Gulf and Caucasus region.

On November 8, Azerbaijan showcased its new JF-17C Block III fighters, recently acquired from Pakistan. Baku has ordered 40 of these advanced jets, which feature numerous cutting-edge systems, including active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. The newest JF-17 variant can also fire China’s PL-15E beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles—the same type Pakistan used to shoot down at least one French-made Indian Dassault Rafale during clashes in May.

Iran’s most advanced fighters remain the American-made Grumman F-14A Tomcats, purchased in the 1970s. Tehran received 79 aircraft before the 1979 revolution, and at least several dozen remain in service. The F-14—highly advanced for its time—was equipped with the AWG-9 radar and AIM-54 Phoenix missile, pioneering long-range air-to-air combat. The AIM-54 can strike airborne targets at distances up to 160 kilometres. Iran has developed its own version of the Phoenix, known as the Fakour-90.

However, none of these missiles match the reported range of the PL-15E, which extends to 120 miles. While there is currently no indication that Azerbaijan possesses or will acquire the PL-15E, such a development would not be surprising. After all, Baku recently obtained China’s HQ-9BE long-range surface-to-air missile systems.

To Iran’s east, Türkiye has recently finalised a deal to purchase 44 Eurofighter Typhoon jets in the 3A and 4 variants. Ankara will also acquire Meteor missiles, whose range exceeds 120 miles, for these 4.5-generation fighters equipped with modern AESA radars. Türkiye also hopes to buy 40 fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II jets in the near future and is developing its own stealth fighter, the TF Kaan.

Saudi Arabia likewise aims to acquire the F-35. Ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House, reports have indicated that Riyadh wants to purchase 48 of these stealth fighters. This would significantly boost the already formidable Royal Saudi Air Force, which currently operates several modern 4.5-generation Western aircraft.

Over the past decade, neighbouring Qatar has also accumulated a sizeable fleet of nearly 100 Western-made 4.5-generation fighters of three types: the Eurofighter, Rafale, and the advanced Boeing F-15QA.

The United Arab Emirates became the first country to acquire F-16 fighters more advanced than those fielded by the U.S. Air Force in the 2000s. Although Abu Dhabi has suspended the earlier deal to buy 50 F-35 jets—reached near the end of President Trump’s first term—it ordered 80 Rafale F4 multirole fighters from France in late 2021. These French jets will carry Meteor missiles and other modern munitions. The scale of this deal is comparable to Iran’s landmark acquisition of the F-14A fifty years ago.

Armenia, which has long maintained friendly ties with Iran, possesses only four modern multirole Su-30SM fighters in addition to its Su-25s.

Iran’s acquisition of the Su-35 is unlikely to alter the balance of air power in the Persian Gulf or relative to the Israeli Air Force. Moreover, the large-scale purchases of 4.5- and 5-generation fighters in Iran’s immediate neighbourhood suggest that 48 Su-35s represent the bare minimum the Iranian Air Force needs simply to avoid being overwhelmingly outmatched and outgunned.

By Khagan Isayev