Iran confirms purchase of Russian fighter jets, strengthens military capability

Iran has officially confirmed the purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, a senior commander from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said.

This marks the first time an Iranian official has publicly acknowledged the acquisition of Su-35 jets, which has raised concerns in the West regarding the increasing military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Ali Shadmani, the Deputy Coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters, was quoted by the Student News Network (SNN) but did not specify how many jets were bought or whether they had already been delivered to Iran. He stated, "Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces. [...] The production of military equipment has also accelerated."

In November, Iran’s media reported that Tehran had finalized arrangements to purchase Russian fighter jets. Earlier this month, Iran and Russia also signed a comprehensive strategic partnership, although the agreement did not explicitly mention arms transfers. The partnership instead emphasized the development of "military-technical cooperation."

Iran’s air force currently operates a limited number of strike aircraft, which include Russian-made jets as well as aging US models acquired prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The purchase of the advanced Su-35 fighter jets is expected to significantly enhance Iran's air combat capabilities.

By Vafa Guliyeva