Sukhoi-35 aircraft purchase deal concludes in Iran and Russia - Russian news agency informs

Tehran – Iran, the target of international sanctions, has signed an agreement with Russia to purchase advanced Sukhoi-35 fighter jets. Moreover, Iran has completed all procedures of the procurement transaction, the Russian news agency reported. Thus, the Iranian newspaper claimed this would increase the strength of Iran’s air force, which uses older-generation aircraft. This cooperation between Iran and Russia could challenge Israel, which plans to attack Iran’s nuclear project.

After the First Gulf War with Iraq between 1980-88, Iran decided to increase the preparedness of its air force. Accordingly, Iran appealed to allies and partner countries to purchase fighter jets. But the modernisation process of Iran’s air force stopped after the US, European countries and the UN imposed sanctions on the nuclear programme. Further, Iran responded to the sanctions by producing indigenously manufactured aircraft and other weapons during this period. But due to the sanctions, it was difficult to get even the spare parts of the older generation aircraft, which had greatly reduced the capability of the Iranian air force.

But according to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, in 2020, Russia had proposed the acquisition of advanced fighter jets to Iran after the lift of sanctions imposed on Iran regarding the purchase of foreign weapons. Furthermore, all the dealings in this regard were kept very confidential. But Iran has now purchased the Sukhoi-35 fighter jet from Russia, the Russian news agency reported. On the technology front, the Sukhoi-35 fighter jets will be an aide to Iran’s air force, Russian news agencies said.

Also, neither Russia nor Iran has provided details on how many aircraft Iran will buy from Russia and when these aircraft will join the Iranian Air Force. But there were indications that Iran was preparing to acquire Sukhoi-35 aircraft from Russia a few days ago. Last month, Iran revealed its first underground airport, Eagle 44, to the world. Apart from this, Iran had warned about the deployment of fighter planes at this airbase hidden under the mountains and that these planes could attack the enemy by flying a secret route on time.

Meanwhile, US military analysts had claimed that Iran had built this underground airfield to deploy large Russian aircraft such as the Sukhoi-35. Besides, Israel may attack Iran’s nuclear facilities and military sites in the near future. American analysts had claimed that, in that case, Iran would use Sukhoi-35 to respond to Israel’s retreating planes. Therefore, the deal between Iran and Russia regarding purchasing Sukhoi-35 becomes a warning for Israel.