Russia Reportedly Prepares To Deliver 20 Su-35 Fighter Jets To Iran Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Russia is reportedly preparing to deliver the first batch of 20 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets to Iran, marking one of the most significant steps in Tehran’s long-running effort to modernise its aging air force. The aircraft are part of a wider order that reportedly includes 48 Su-35 fighter jets purchased by Iran.

According to a report cited by SindoNews from Military Watch Magazine, the first 20 aircraft have been completed at Russia’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant. The jets are still in Russia and are said to be ready for transfer to Tehran, while Iran’s Defence Ministry is reportedly covering maintenance and sustainment costs before delivery.

The Su-35 order is seen as a major development for Iran because the country’s air force still relies heavily on older aircraft acquired before and shortly after the 1979 revolution. Iran’s current fleet includes Cold War-era platforms such as the F-14A Tomcat, F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II, many of which have become increasingly difficult to maintain due to sanctions and limited spare parts.

The leaked Russian documents cited in the report suggest that Iran ordered a total of 48 Su-35 jets, confirming earlier statements from Iranian officials that Tehran had purchased an unspecified number of Russian fighter aircraft. The agreement follows a broader Russia-Iran defence deal reached in 2023, which also included Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yakovlev Yak-130 jet trainers.

The Su-35, known by NATO as the Flanker-M or Super Flanker, is one of Russia’s most advanced operational 4+ generation fighter jets. It is developed from the Su-27 platform and features improved manoeuvrability, thrust-vectoring engines, enhanced radar and multirole capability for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

With a combat radius of nearly 1,600 kilometres, the Su-35 could allow Iran to conduct longer-range operations across the Middle East. The aircraft can also operate from shorter or improvised airfields, making it less dependent on major air bases and potentially more difficult for adversaries to neutralise.

Iran has reportedly started preparing pilots for the new fighter fleet. The delivery of Yakovlev Yak-130 trainer aircraft to Iran began in September 2023 and is widely viewed as part of a larger pilot-training programme ahead of future Su-35 operations.

However, the delivery timeline could still face delays. Some reports suggest that damage to infrastructure at Hamadan Air Base may affect the deployment schedule. Engineering teams are reportedly working to restore facilities, while advanced flight simulators are expected to arrive before the fighter jets themselves.

Iran is also said to be expanding its military procurement from Russia beyond the Su-35 programme. Russian sources cited in the report claimed that Tehran has also ordered 12 Su-30SM2 fighter jets, with deliveries expected to begin in mid-2027 using aircraft transferred from active Russian units.

There are also reports that Iran may seek to acquire Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighter in the future, although production delays could push any possible delivery until around 2030.

The reported Su-35 transfer comes at a sensitive time for the Middle East, where tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States remain high. If delivered, the aircraft could strengthen Iran’s air defence and strike capabilities, while also deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.