Iran has received authorization from Russia to domestically manufacture Su-30 and Su-35 fighter jets, marking a transformative step in Iran’s ongoing efforts to enhance its air combat capabilities. These fourth-generation fighter jets, known for their advanced multirole capabilities, are a considerable boost to Iran’s defense resources and regional influence. According to these reports, Iran aims to produce between 48 and 72 Su-35s, while the exact number of Su-30s has not been specified. This strategic move appears to follow agreements reached during the recent BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, which took place from October 22 to October 24, 2024.
This article explores the strategic and geopolitical ramifications of Iran’s new manufacturing capacity, detailing the specifications and capabilities of the Su-30 and Su-35, as well as Iran’s broader efforts to modernize its aerial fleet in cooperation with Russia.
Both the Su-30 and Su-35 jets represent significant advancements in modern aerial warfare, especially given Iran’s current air fleet, which comprises older American-made and domestic aircraft.
Su-35: Known for its formidable radar and weaponry, the Su-35 is a single-seat, multirole fighter jet capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 2.25. It has a maximum range of approximately 3,600 kilometers and is equipped with the cutting-edge Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which can detect multiple targets at long distances and handle complex air-to-air and air-to-ground combat scenarios. The jet’s arsenal includes advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, providing flexibility across a range of mission profiles.
Su-30: The Su-30, a two-seater model with in-flight refueling capabilities, is designed for varied missions, including air superiority and ground or naval strike operations. It includes advanced avionics and radar systems, enhancing navigational accuracy and control in hostile environments.
Iran’s planned production of these aircraft could dramatically alter its operational capabilities, adding versatility and reach to its air force. With an increase in aerial strike and interception power, these aircraft enhance Iran’s self-sufficiency, reducing its reliance on imported aircraft while also advancing domestic aviation technology and skills.
The Kazan BRICS summit appears to have been instrumental in facilitating this new stage of Iran-Russia defense cooperation. With BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) increasingly looking to redefine global power structures, defense collaboration has emerged as a core area of focus. Russia’s support for Iran’s fighter jet production, along with previous transfers of Mil Mi-28 helicopters and Yak-130 training jets, highlights Moscow’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Tehran. This relationship allows Russia to project influence in the Middle East, where U.S. presence has traditionally been dominant.
This development also follows a series of diplomatic exchanges. In January 2023, Igor Levitin, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, held discussions with Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammed Mokhbar, where Levitin expressed interest in joint helicopter production. The continued progression of these discussions illustrates how both nations seek to bolster their defense sectors through collaborative manufacturing and technology transfers.
The new license to produce Su-30 and Su-35 jets aligns with Iran’s long-standing ambition to enhance its aerial defense. In recent years, Tehran has diversified its fleet by procuring a combination of Russian-made aircraft and domestic upgrades. In November 2023, Iranian media reported acquisitions of Russian Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, Su-35 fighter jets, and Yak-130 training jets as part of Iran’s ongoing military modernization program. The integration of these aircraft into the Iranian Air Force not only upgrades operational readiness but also ensures pilot proficiency with Russia’s advanced fighter jets.
The Yak-130, in particular, represents a significant addition to Iran’s pilot training capabilities. As a lead-in fighter trainer, the Yak-130 enables Iranian pilots to acquire skills necessary to operate advanced jets like the Su-35, accelerating the modernization process for Iran’s Air Force. Iran has already stationed the first Yak-130 units at Shahid Babaei Air Base in Isfahan, emphasizing its commitment to training a new generation of pilots skilled in operating fourth-generation fighter jets.
Iran has also been making preparations to safeguard its newly acquired capabilities through the construction of fortified underground air bases, such as the “Oryol 44” base. Iranian Air Force Commander Amir Hamid Vahedi, in a 2023 interview, discussed the strategic importance of these air bases, which are designed to protect aircraft from potential attacks using bunker-buster munitions. These facilities allow Iran to maintain its operational readiness while safeguarding high-value assets, adding an additional layer of security against possible threats from regional adversaries.
Additionally, Iran has been modernizing its legacy aircraft, such as the American-made F-4 and F-14, with radar and missile upgrades to extend their operational range. This modernization process is critical for Iran, as it seeks to maintain a balanced fleet capable of both defensive and offensive operations.
The increased military cooperation between Russia and Iran, including the transfer of fighter jet production capabilities, is expected to have significant ramifications across the Middle East. For Iran, the ability to domestically produce advanced fighter jets represents a leap in self-reliance and defensive autonomy, strengthening its bargaining power in regional geopolitics.
This development comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Iran’s relationships with neighboring countries, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia, remain contentious. An enhanced Iranian Air Force could be seen as a deterrent by some states, while others might interpret it as an aggressive expansion of Iran’s power. This shift has the potential to trigger a regional arms race, compelling neighboring countries to seek similar upgrades or partnerships to counterbalance Iran’s strengthened military.
Washington has closely monitored the growing defense collaboration between Moscow and Tehran, expressing repeated concerns, especially within the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The United States and its allies view Iran’s potential fighter jet production as part of a larger, concerning pattern of military cooperation between Russia and Iran, which they believe could undermine regional stability. Both the U.S. and the European Union have issued sanctions against Iran for its alleged support of Russia’s military initiatives, particularly following reports of Iranian drones used by Russia in Ukraine.
In April 2024, Iran denied claims that it would imminently receive 12 Su-35 jets, with Iranian media later retracting the reports. Despite these public denials, the recent production license underscores that collaboration between the two countries continues to advance behind closed doors. In response, the U.S. may impose additional sanctions or seek to increase its military support for countries in the Middle East, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia, to counterbalance Iran’s enhanced air capabilities.
Iran’s domestic defense sector has taken on a more significant role in recent years, largely as a response to international sanctions and arms embargoes. To circumvent these restrictions, Iran has invested heavily in indigenous technology and manufacturing capabilities, culminating in the development of domestic jets like the HESA Saeqeh and Kowsar. These aircraft have bolstered Iran’s air capabilities, albeit at a much lower technological level than Russia’s Su-30 and Su-35.
The transfer of fighter jet manufacturing technology from Russia not only enriches Iran’s existing capabilities but also empowers its domestic defense industry with advanced aviation knowledge and experience. The production of Su-30 and Su-35 jets domestically could serve as a catalyst for the Iranian defense sector, spurring further technological advancements and providing opportunities to develop and deploy additional indigenous aircraft designs in the future.
Iran’s new capacity to produce high-grade Russian fighter jets is likely to influence the strategic calculus of numerous Middle Eastern states. Countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel may view this development with alarm, potentially seeking to deepen their own military alliances with Western powers like the United States. As such, Russia’s decision to extend manufacturing licenses to Iran is poised to contribute to an increasingly complex military environment in the region, with new partnerships and rivalries shaping future interactions.
Russia stands to benefit from strengthened ties with Iran as it seeks to expand its influence in the Middle East and counterbalance Western alliances. By empowering Iran with the ability to manufacture its own Su-30 and Su-35 jets, Moscow gains a reliable partner in the region who could support Russian interests, while Iran gains the strategic autonomy it has long sought.
