Iran has completed the purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets but will receive the aircraft only after the ongoing war with the United States and Israel ends, an Iranian Army spokesman has said, providing the clearest indication yet that Tehran’s long-discussed fighter acquisition has moved beyond the contractual stage.
Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, spokesman for the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, made the announcement in an interview with Iranian news website Tabnak, conducted jointly with BitRun and published on Saturday, October 31.
Akraminia said the necessary preparations for the acquisition had been completed several years ago, including procurement procedures, contract signing and pilot training. However, the aircraft, which were expected to arrive before the outbreak of hostilities at the end of February 2026, have yet to be delivered.
“The issue of the Su-35 has been raised for several years. We had already done the necessary work several years ago,” Akraminia said.
He explained that the procurement and contractual arrangements had been handled by relevant government agencies outside the Army, while the necessary preparations for training Iranian pilots had also been completed.
“The preliminary work that needed to be done was completed — both the purchase and the signing of the contracts, which were handled by the relevant bodies outside the Army, and the pilot training, for which the necessary work was also completed. There was no problem in that regard,” he said.
The spokesman added that the aircraft had originally been scheduled to arrive before the war but that deliveries would now take place after the conflict.
“These aircraft were supposed to arrive before the war. God willing, we will definitely receive these aircraft after the war and upgrade our fleet,” he said.
Akraminia did not disclose the number of Su-35 fighters purchased, the financial value of the agreement or a specific delivery schedule. Russia has also not publicly confirmed the latest announcement.
Nevertheless, his statement represents an important development in Iran’s long-running effort to modernise an air force that continues to operate a substantial number of ageing aircraft, many acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran’s interest in acquiring the Russian Su-35 has been reported for several years, with multiple announcements from Iranian officials indicating that negotiations and preparations had been progressing.
In late 2022, reports based on Western intelligence assessments and Iranian media coverage suggested that Tehran could acquire approximately 24 Su-35 fighters originally manufactured for Egypt. Egypt had reportedly abandoned its planned purchase following pressure from the United States.
In December 2022, then-White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Iranian pilots had begun training in Russia to operate the Su-35. He also indicated that deliveries could begin within the following year.
Kirby described the growing military relationship between Moscow and Tehran as an unprecedented defence partnership, warning that cooperation could have consequences for Ukraine and countries across the Middle East.
However, the anticipated deliveries did not materialise according to the original timetable.
In January 2023, Iranian lawmaker Shahriar Heydari also indicated that the aircraft were expected to arrive at the beginning of the next Iranian calendar year, which started on March 21.
Further confirmation came in November 2023, when Iran’s deputy defence minister, Mehdi Farahi, told the Tasnim news agency that arrangements had been finalised for Su-35 fighters, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 advanced training aircraft to join Iranian military units.
Russia did not publicly confirm the full list of acquisitions.
The first Yak-130 advanced training aircraft arrived in Iran later in 2023, providing the Iranian military with a platform for preparing pilots for more sophisticated combat aircraft.
During the current conflict, however, an Iranian Yak-130 was shot down by an Israeli F-35I, according to the Israeli military, highlighting the increasingly difficult operating environment facing Iran’s remaining combat aviation fleet.
In January 2025, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Ali Shadmani, then deputy coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters, publicly confirmed that Iran had purchased Su-35 fighters.
“Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces,” Shadmani said at the time, without specifying the number of aircraft or confirming whether any had already been transferred.
The announcement followed the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Iran and Russia in January 2025. The agreement committed both countries to expanding cooperation, including military-technical collaboration, although it did not publicly identify specific weapons purchases.
Reports have subsequently suggested that Iran’s order could involve between 24 and 48 aircraft, with some assessments indicating a possible expansion of the original arrangement. However, these figures have not been officially confirmed by both governments.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies also noted in April 2025 that reports of the first two Su-35 deliveries lacked supporting satellite imagery or other publicly available visual evidence.
A November 2026 investigation by The Insider further reported that aircraft associated with the Iranian order had remained in Russia, with sources suggesting that Tehran had delayed accepting some fighters because of concerns that they could be destroyed in US strikes.
Akraminia’s latest remarks therefore suggest that the acquisition remains an important component of Iran’s postwar military modernisation strategy, even as the delivery schedule has been pushed back.
The Su-35 is a Russian-developed, twin-engine, multirole fighter derived from the Su-27 family. Classified by Russia as a 4++ generation aircraft, it is designed for air-superiority missions, interception and precision strikes against ground targets.
The aircraft features advanced radar systems, electronic warfare capabilities, long-range weapons and high manoeuvrability. Its capabilities could provide Iran with a significant improvement over much of its existing combat aircraft inventory.
Iran’s air force has historically depended on ageing American-made F-14 Tomcats, F-4 Phantom II and F-5 fighters, alongside Russian and domestically developed aircraft.
International sanctions and restrictions on access to Western aviation technology have made it difficult for Tehran to replace and maintain its older aircraft fleet.
The introduction of the Su-35 could therefore improve Iran’s ability to conduct air-defence missions, intercept hostile aircraft and protect strategically important military installations.
However, acquiring advanced fighters alone will not automatically establish air superiority. Their effectiveness depends on pilot proficiency, maintenance infrastructure, weapons availability, secure communications, radar coverage and integration with wider air-defence networks.
Akraminia acknowledged this requirement in his interview, emphasising that modern air power must operate through an integrated network of ground-based radars, airborne surveillance systems and satellite capabilities.
“In the new architecture of the air force, these matters have been considered, and good work has also been done. These works complement each other,” he said.
He added that advanced aircraft such as the Su-35 require supporting surveillance and detection systems to operate at their full potential.
“When you operate an advanced aircraft such as the Su-35, you must also have ground-based, airborne and satellite capabilities so that the aircraft can reach its full potential,” he explained.
Alongside the Su-35 acquisition, Iran has also been linked to efforts to obtain Russia’s S-400 Triumf long-range air-defence system.
The S-400 is designed to detect, track and engage different categories of aerial threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles and certain ballistic missile targets. Its long-range engagement capabilities could significantly strengthen Iran’s layered air-defence network.
Earlier reports, including coverage by The Washington Post, highlighted Tehran’s interest in the Russian system.
In 2024, an Iranian delegation reportedly visited a Russian defence production facility to examine various air-defence technologies, including the S-400.
However, neither Tehran nor Moscow has publicly confirmed a completed S-400 procurement agreement.
The distinction is important because Iran’s interest in the system should not be confused with an actual purchase or confirmed delivery.
The S-400 has attracted considerable international attention following its reported performance during the May 2025 military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
In August 2025, India’s then-Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said that Indian forces had shot down five Pakistani fighter aircraft and one larger military aircraft during the fighting. He credited India’s Russian-made S-400 systems with bringing down most of the aircraft.
Singh said the larger aircraft, possibly an airborne early-warning or electronic intelligence platform, had been engaged at a distance of approximately 300 kilometres.
He described the S-400 as a game-changer for India’s air-defence capabilities, arguing that its range had prevented Pakistani aircraft from approaching sufficiently close to employ certain weapons.
Pakistan rejected India’s claims, and the reported aircraft losses have not been independently established. Nevertheless, the episode demonstrated the strategic importance attached to long-range air-defence systems by regional military powers.
For Iran, an S-400 acquisition could potentially complement the Su-35 by providing a stronger ground-based defensive component. However, integrating such systems into an effective national air-defence architecture would require extensive training, command-and-control coordination and supporting radar infrastructure.
At present, the Su-35 programme appears considerably more advanced than the reported S-400 negotiations.
Akraminia presented the fighter acquisition as part of a broader effort to rebuild and modernise Iran’s military aviation capabilities.
He said Iran had also made progress in developing domestic defence technologies but argued that foreign procurement would provide access to advanced systems and technical knowledge.
“Purchasing equipment from abroad will bring us closer to advanced technologies,” he said.
The spokesman also expressed confidence that the Army’s aviation capabilities would improve after the war, promising a more powerful fleet equipped with advanced aircraft and supporting equipment.
His remarks come as Iran faces serious questions about the future of its air force and air-defence infrastructure following sustained military operations by the United States and Israel.
The conflict has exposed the challenges facing Iran’s existing aviation capabilities, particularly its ability to protect airspace against technologically advanced opponents.
Akraminia also insisted that Iranian forces had been prepared for the confrontation.
“Iran was ready and trained for war with America,” he said.
Nevertheless, the delayed arrival of the Su-35s illustrates a central problem for Tehran: a military procurement programme negotiated over several years cannot immediately address operational weaknesses during an ongoing conflict.
Even after delivery, the aircraft will require operational integration, maintenance arrangements, weapons systems, technical support and the establishment of dedicated squadrons.
For now, the clearest indication from Tehran is that the Su-35 purchase has been completed and that the aircraft are expected after the war.
Whether Iran will eventually receive 24, 48 or another number of fighters remains unknown. The status of the S-400 acquisition is even less certain.
The immediate priority for Tehran appears to be securing the aircraft already purchased and rebuilding the supporting infrastructure necessary to operate them.
The Su-35 could become a significant element of Iran’s postwar military modernisation. But until deliveries are independently confirmed and the aircraft enter operational service, the promised strengthening of Iran’s air force remains a plan rather than an established military capability.
