Iran army says Russian Su-35 jets to arrive after war ends
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Iran’s army spokesman said the country has completed the purchase of Russian Su-35 fighter jets and expects to receive them after the current conflict with the United States ends.
Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia, spokesman for the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh), made the remarks in an interview with the Iranian outlets.
He stated that preliminary work on the acquisition, including procurement and contracts handled by relevant bodies outside the army, had been completed years earlier, along with pilot training.
“There were no longer any problems in that regard,” he said.
The aircraft “were supposed to arrive before the war. God willing, we will certainly receive them after the war and upgrade our air fleet.”
Akraminia framed the Su-35s as part of broader plans to modernize the air force with advanced aircraft.
He noted that while Iran has made domestic progress, purchasing from abroad brings closer access to advanced technology.
He expressed confidence that the army’s air force “will emerge after the war with more power and with more advanced aircraft and equipment.”
He also discussed related capabilities such as airborne early-warning systems (AWACS), ground and airborne radar, satellites, and ambitions for fifth-generation fighters.
The comments mark one of the clearest official confirmations from the regular army of a deal long discussed in Iranian media and by other officials.
In January 2025, a Revolutionary Guards officer had previously indicated a purchase had been completed.
Leaked Russian industry documents reported in late 2025 pointed to an order of around 48 Su-35s, valued in the billions of euros, though Moscow has not publicly confirmed numbers or timelines.
Open-source reports earlier in 2026 indicated that roughly 19–20 of the jets had been completed at a Russian plant and remained in Russia, with factors such as infrastructure issues at potential basing sites cited in some accounts.
Neither Tehran nor Moscow has released detailed delivery schedules, configurations, or exact quantities in connection with Akraminia’s latest statements.
The Su-35, a Russian 4.5-generation multirole fighter produced by Sukhoi, is designed for air superiority and ground-attack roles and would represent a significant upgrade for Iran’s aging fleet, which still relies heavily on older US-origin aircraft from before 1979 alongside domestic platforms.
Russia is the sole established manufacturer of the type.Akraminia’s interview occurred against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities that Iranian officials say began in late February.
He did not explain the reasons for the delay in pre-war delivery and emphasized Iran’s readiness and reliance on domestically produced weapons in recent fighting while still pursuing foreign advanced systems.
