Information has emerged that Russia has already transferred the first Su-35SE fighters to Iran: what is behind this step?

According to the German publication Flugrevue from 11/29/2024, Russia has already officially transferred 2 Su-35SE (“Super Flanker”) fighters to Iran. However, despite the political context of this deal, the essence of the issue is not limited to the transfer of modern aviation equipment.

This deal underscores the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran amid increasing Western pressure and active military-technical cooperation.

These fighters were delivered disassembled to the third air base in Hamadan, where their final assembly is planned.

As he writes Flugrevuethe handover ceremony took place on November 18, 2024 at the aircraft plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. This delivery marks the beginning of a major contract involvingtransferring 50 such aircraft to Iran instead of the originally discussed 25.

How the Russians themselves write, Su-35 (according to NATO classification: Flanker-E+ – “Flanker-E+”) is a “Russian multi-role ultra-maneuverable 4++ generation fighter with thrust vector control. It was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in 2008. Today the Su-35 is one of the key fighters of the Russian Air Force. In 2018, the aircraft was presented as a “transitional link” between the previous Su-27 model and the more modern Su-57.”

What is really behind these fighters and what weaknesses of Russian military equipment could affect Iran's actions?

Su-35: not such a super plane

The new Su-35SE fighters, although they belong to the fourth generation aircraft, are not revolutionary weapons compared to modern Western counterparts. Of course, they have improved electronics and greater range, but their level of combat performance is far from ideal. These aircraft are capable of maneuvering and carrying various types of weapons, but remain limited in terms of avionics and protection against modern types of missiles.

According to Flugrevue: “Although the Su-35 represents another modernization of older models, their capabilities still leave much to be desired compared to Western fighters.”

For Iran, this is a significant strengthening, but we must not forget that with this aircraft Tehran will not solve all its problems in air defense. The supply of such aircraft, of course, will make it possible to replace outdated equipment, but how effective will the Su-35 be in real combat conditions?

Transfer process and impact on regional security

According to reports, the transfer of the fighters was carried out disassembled and delivered to Iran using an An-124 aircraft. This means that the final assembly process will be carried out at the Hamadan base, demonstrating the long-term logistics and strategic focus of the deal.

The deal puts Iran in an advantageous position against other states in the region, including Israel, which views such supplies as a serious threat to its security. In addition, sources in Tehran say that 48 more Su-35 fighters will be delivered in the future, strengthening Iran's air force.

How the Su-35 affects Iran and Israel

Deliveries of the Su-35 could significantly change the strategic picture in the region. Iran is receiving combat vehicles that should strengthen its airspace, but what if this equipment is not effective enough in combat conditions?

Possible scenarios:

1. Strengthening Iran: The Su-35 could provide Tehran with an important strategic advantage in aerial combat against neighbors and adversaries such as Israel.
2. Risks for Israel: For Israel, the deal is a reason to strengthen its defenses and increase diplomatic pressure on Russia and the West.
3. Questionable effectiveness: The Su-35, while powerful, is still outdated compared to Western counterparts such as the F-35 or F-22, and its effectiveness on the battlefield may be less than expected.

Russian weapons: myths and reality

It is interesting that recently many experts have been skeptical about the quality of Russian military equipment. Although Russian fighters are in service with a number of countries, many believe that they cannot compete with modern Western designs. The Su-35 is an upgrade of older aircraft, which limits its ability to deal with new threats.

According to Flugrevue: “You shouldn’t expect the Su-35 to be a revolutionary change in the Iranian air force, since many elements of Russian military equipment are significantly inferior to their Western counterparts.”

For Israel, this may be a signal of the need to accelerate the modernization of its own army, as well as the creation of new strategies to contain potential threats.

Conclusion: how will events develop?

Uncertainty regarding the effective combat capability of the Su-35 continues to be a hot topic of discussion. But, despite all the doubts, Iran, which received the first two aircraft, continues to increase the potential of its air force. This requires a serious response from Israel, both in terms of military strategy and diplomatic efforts on the international stage.

Russia has transferred Su-35 fighter jets to Iran, but this does not solve all of Tehran’s problems. The details of the deal and its consequences for the region will be actively discussed in the media, and we will continue to monitor the development of the situation on our website NAnews – Israel News.

*”Russia handed over the first Su-35 to Iran. The only question is how much this technology can change the balance of power in the region,” *writes Flugrevue.

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