Practically at the same time it became known that Iran had reportedly received MiG-29 fighters while awaiting its new Su-35S, lawmakers from the regime suggested that the country may also be negotiating the purchase of new HQ-9 and S-400 air defense systems from China and Russia, respectively, in an effort to re-equip its Armed Forces. This issue is particularly relevant, since, if successful, it would allow Iran to strengthen an air defense network severely degraded after Israeli and U.S. strikes during operations “Midnight Hammer” and “Rising Lion.”
Expanding on the details, the development stems from statements made by Abolfazl Zohrevand, an Iranian lawmaker serving on the parliament’s national security committee, who also revealed the supposed reception of Russian fighters. In his own words, Tehran was negotiating the arrival of “significant quantities” of new Chinese- and Russian-made air defense systems, celebrating that this would enable Iran to bolster its capabilities in the near future. However, it is important to note that neither Moscow nor Beijing confirmed these claims, leaving room for doubt and speculation about their accuracy.
It is worth recalling that the backbone of Iran’s air defense network was composed of Russian-made S-300 systems, of which Iran had acquired enough units to form four battalions beginning in 2016. According to local media reports, the country has already lost them entirely during the aforementioned Israeli and U.S. operations, a key factor in the lead-up to the bombing of Iran’s main nuclear facilities carried out by U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers, which emerged completely unscathed from their mission.
In this regard, the Iranian regime seeks to restore and expand these severely weakened capabilities, while also diversifying suppliers to avoid dependence on a single source—one that is already heavily burdened by the war in Ukraine and an existing backlog of orders. A possible example lies in the recent news surrounding the S-400 systems sold by Russia to Turkey in 2017, which the Kremlin is now seeking to recover. The main hypotheses point to a need to either deploy them with its own Armed Forces on the Ukrainian front or deliver them to potential foreign clients. India—and now Iran—are seen as the main candidates.
Beyond these issues, it is also important to highlight that, from a technical standpoint, the potential acquisition of HQ-9 and S-400 systems would represent a significant leap in Iran’s capabilities, as both are among the most advanced air defense systems available from China and Russia. The former is capable of engaging targets at ranges of 200 to 250 kilometers depending on the source, making it suitable for neutralizing aircraft, drones, and some long-range missiles. The S-400, on the other hand, extends that range up to 400 kilometers, creating a complementary pairing capable of countering a wide array of threats.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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