Su-35 Flanker E, which will be in the hands of the Iranian Air Force (IAF), is needed to make it a major air power in the Middle East, says sources.
Russia's Su-35 Flanker E
These fighters have significantly improved the Iranian Air Force's capability to engage in aerial combat. It is categorized as a little more than a 4++-generation combat aircraft, mainly used in air supremacy missions. This airframe is also renowned because of its air-to-ground activities and the large armaments that could be installed, reported The EurAsian Times.
According to UAC, the heavy fighter has what a modern needs to survive on the modern battlefield; it includes the capacity to function with a wide range of equipment and weapons.
The US claims that the IAF is getting training to fly the deadly Russian fighter; Washington does not like that Moscow is arming the Iranians with a modern fighter that can stand with military and technical know-how too." American officials claim that both Moscow and Tehran are threatening their neighbors in the region.
As reported previously, the US assertions have been mainly aimed at Gulf-Arab countries, which have tried and failed to constrain Iran's geographically aggressive behavior but have refrained from taking a hard position against Russia's incursion into Ukraine.
Aside from a few Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters bought in the 1990s, Iran has yet to procure any new jet fighters.
Consequently, it is complicated to maintain and operate these vintage planes. Iran has yet to acquire any new fighter aircraft, excluding a few Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters it bought in the 1990s, per Air Force Technology.
Even so, despite the fears among US authorities and Middle Eastern countries that only see Iran as a danger, a few military experts think that simply purchasing the Su-35 aircraft cannot provide Iran with air superiority over the Persian Gulf.
Iranian Air Force Will Need More Su-35s To Dominate
The IAF still needs to have a minimum of 60 4++ generation fighters to counterbalance its current F-14 and MiG-29s, states History Navy Mil.
Paul Iddon, a Middle East military expert for Forbes, contends there is presently no data as to whether Russia would produce 30 or more Su-35s for Tehran as a part of a second batch for shipment or if it will send fighters from its strategic reserve, which seems surprising given their demand in the conflict in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia owns a fleet of more than 80 upgraded F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) fighters, a much more sophisticated version of the Strike Eagle, in the Persian Gulf. These aircraft are famed for being outstanding dogfighters and are thus able to carry up to 12 long-range AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
There needs to be more than the Su-35 Flanker E for the Iranian Air Force to become the one air force in the region.