Russia may have delivered the first Su-35 fighter jets to Iran, with media sources revealing the exact number involved in the transfer.

On November 18, the Russian Federation delivered the first two Su-35 aircraft to Iran. This took place during a ceremony held at the aircraft factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

According to RBK-Ukraine, this was reported by Flug Revue.

The publication states that the fighters were disassembled and then transported to Mehrabad Airport in Tehran on an An-124-100 aircraft. From there, the planes will be delivered to the third tactical airbase of the Iranian Air Force near the city of Hamadan.

There, the Su-35 fighters will be reassembled.

Media reports indicate that initially, Iran intended to replace only the Grumman F-14A Tomcat in Isfahan with Su-35 aircraft. However, the order was later increased from 25 to 50 Su-35 aircraft. This will also allow Iran to retire some outdated F-4E Phantom II aircraft currently in service with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing in Hamadan.

What is known about the Su-35

The Su-35 is a multi-role fighter of the 4++ generation, developed in Russia as an upgrade of the Su-27. Thanks to powerful engines with thrust vectoring, the aircraft boasts high maneuverability, enabling it to perform complex combat maneuvers. The "Irbis-E" radar, with a detection range of up to 400 km, provides the capability to detect and track dozens of targets simultaneously. The Su-35 is capable of carrying a wide range of armaments, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as guided bombs, making it versatile for various types of missions.

Despite its technical advantages, the aircraft remains expensive to produce and maintain, and faces competition from Western fighters such as the F-35.

Iran to receive Su-35

It should be noted that back in November of last year, it became known that Iran reached an agreement with Russia for the supply of Su-35s.

This year, it was also reported that Iran may build shelters for Russian Su-35S fighters. This was specifically confirmed by satellite imagery.