Following recent leaks of information from Russia’s aerospace industrial complex—attributed to the hacker collective Black Mirror—details have emerged regarding a potential production plan for combat aircraft intended for foreign customers. Although the list that circulated on social media appears to correspond to previous years, the information aligns with reports gathered over the past several months. In addition to the manufacturing of Su-34 and Su-57 aircraft for Algeria, the documents also highlight the production of Sukhoi Su-35S fighters destined for the Iranian Air Force.
As previously reported, the Islamic Republic of Iran finalized the purchase of an undisclosed number of Sukhoi Su-35S fighters—one of the most modern and advanced iterations of the Flanker family—intended to replace its aging fleet of F-14 Tomcats.
This acquisition has been repeatedly confirmed by military and parliamentary officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as revealed through recent statements made by Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of the National Security Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the country’s main legislative body.
According to the legislator, Iran is currently awaiting the arrival of the first Su-35S units from Russia. He also confirmed that Moscow has transferred a number of MiG-29 fighters being retired from service by the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), as part of efforts to restore Iran’s air capabilities following Israeli strikes during Operation Rising Lion. Although this operation primarily targeted the country’s nuclear facilities, it also inflicted significant damage on the Iranian Armed Forces’ capabilities.
In this context, and within the framework of renewed ties between Tehran and Moscow—strengthened by Iran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine through the provision of various types of drones and loitering munitions, some of which have served as the basis for Russia’s own developments, such as the Geran-2 UAVs—the Russian defense industry is expected to move forward with the delivery of the aforementioned aircraft.
However, despite the alleged contracts and statements from officials, neither Russia nor Iran have disclosed specific details about the Su-35S agreements, with only estimates available regarding the number of aircraft to be supplied.
Another key detail, which aligns with recent statements from Iranian sources, is that the execution period of the contract—or its potential starting date—would fall between 2026 and 2028, the timeframe during which the first aircraft could be delivered.
This information gains further significance as the delivery of Yak-130 advanced jet trainers to the Iranian Air Force has already been confirmed. These aircraft serve as a crucial stepping stone for operating the more advanced Su-35S fighters, while also being capable of performing light attack missions. Additionally, the aforementioned transfer of MiG-29s from the VKS would serve as a temporary stopgap measure until the first Flankers arrive, helping Iran restore part of its aircraft inventory lost to Israeli Air Force strikes.
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