Deputy Minister of Defense of Iran, General Mahdi Farahi, has confirmed that Iran has successfully secured agreements with Moscow for the procurement of Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 training aircraft.
This agreement, reported by the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim, marks a significant step in Iran's military procurement, representing Russia's largest acquisition in over three decades, as per to Yahoo News.
Iran-Russia Defense Deal Deepens
The procurement is expected to be mutually beneficial for both Moscow and Tehran, potentially reinforcing their respective positions in two geopolitically important capitals. The agreement represents an expanding defense alliance between Iran and Russia, especially significant in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
This partnership has been characterized by a notable exchange of military resources, with Iran supplying Russia with a substantial number of loitering munitions, known as "suicide" or "kamikaze" drones, for use against Ukraine.
In addition to drone deliveries, Russia has reportedly compensated Iran with millions of dollars and captured Western weaponry, which Tehran could potentially reverse-engineer, including Javelin anti-tank missiles. However, until recently, the promise of fighter jet delivery remained unfulfilled.
In early September, signs of Russia's commitment to the deal emerged when Iran received its first two Yak-130s. This delivery was seen as an indicator that the more eagerly anticipated Su-35s might eventually follow.
The latest statement from Farahi adds clarity to Iran's selections, with the Mi-28 being the chosen attack helicopter over the Ka-52, which suffered significant losses in Ukraine.
While the primary focus of the deal is on aircraft, there has been speculation about Iran potentially acquiring new air defense systems, such as the S-400, an advancement over the S-300PMU-2s received from Moscow in 2016, according to Forbes.
Wagner Group's Transfer Signals Russia-Iran Strategy Shift
The US intelligence, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, indicates possible plans by Russia's Wagner mercenary group to provide a medium-range Russian-built Pantsir-S1 air defense system to Hezbollah in Lebanon. This move could mark a significant convergence of Russia-Iran policy regarding Israel and the United States.
Despite previous speculations, including a potential purchase of 300 T-90 main battle tanks from Russia, Iran's procurement has been relatively modest, with only a small number transferred to allied groups in Syria.
However, the confirmation of this latest arms deal with Russia could be a significant boost for Tehran, offering a much-needed upgrade to its regular armed forces and dispelling concerns about an imbalanced exchange with Russia.
For Moscow, this sale could demonstrate its capacity to secure new arms export contracts despite the logistical challenges it has faced since its military actions in Ukraine.
Consequences of an unbalanced or potentially exploitative military-technical alliance between Iran and Russia could be further intensified by any substantial delays or failures in contract fulfillment.
Iran's air force, which includes a mix of Russian jets and aging US models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is set to undergo a significant transformation with these new acquisitions. This development comes alongside Iran's efforts to develop its military aircraft, such as the Kowsar fighter, believed to be a variant of the US F-5, Rauters News reported.
