Tehran – The Islamic Republic of Iran will soon receive a full squadron of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, as Tehran and Moscow step up defense and economic cooperation in defiance of widespread sanctions and tightening. So the move is sure to infuriate the West even more, because the measures.
According to media sources citing military experts, Iran will soon acquire 24 fourth-generation twin-engine supermaneuver fighters, which will be used mainly for air superiority missions.
Some of the fighters will be housed at TAB 8 of the Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) in the Iranian city of Isfahan in the heart of the country.
Based on Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter has “the qualities of a modern fighter (super-maneuverability, excellent active and passive acquisition aids, high supersonic and long range, combat group It combines the ability to manage actions, etc.) with a superior tactical aircraft (a wide range of weapons it can carry, modern multi-channel electronic warfare systems, reduced radar signature, and high combat survivability).”
Apart from a handful of Russian-made MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters purchased in the 1990s, Iran has not purchased any new fighter jets in recent years.
In addition to MiG-29s, IRIAF primarily uses field-modified F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat, and F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft in the 1970s, and these aircraft was overthrown and sent to the US-backed Pahlavi regime. Until the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Significant agreements have been reached in recent months between Iran and Russia to expand economic, trade, energy and military cooperation.
Iran fell under a blanket US sanctions regime in 2018 after Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
After Moscow launched military operations in Ukraine in February, the US and its allies imposed a number of similar and even tougher sanctions on Russia.
Experts believe that US sanctions have failed to achieve their primary goal of forcing Iran to make significant political and military concessions.
They argue that the restrictions have given Iran less reliance on oil revenues, adopted a resistance economy, and even given it the opportunity to focus more on its own talents.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an economic symposium in Vladivostok earlier this year that Moscow has benefited from Western sanctions because it has more opportunities to participate in markets in West Asia and Iran.
