Iran’s Army Says Su-35 Fighters Are Bought but Will Arrive Only After the War
Iran has bought Russian Su-35 fighter jets but will receive them only after the current war ends, according to the spokesman of the Iranian Army, Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia. He made the remarks in an interview with the Iranian outlets Tabnak and BitRun, published on the evening of Saturday, 31 October 2026 (Tabnak, Iran International).
- Iran’s Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia said the Su-35 purchase and contract were completed through bodies outside the Army
- He said pilot training was done and that the jets had been due to arrive before the war, but would now be received after it ends
- No number of aircraft, contract value or delivery date was given, and Russia has not commented
- Akraminia also said the Army is pursuing airborne early warning aircraft, satellites and fifth-generation fighters
What the Army spokesman said
Akraminia said the preliminary work, including the purchase and the contract, had been handled by bodies outside the Army, and that pilot training and other preparations had also been completed. The aircraft, he said, had been due to arrive before the war. “After this war, we will receive these aircraft,” he said, adding that the Army air force would emerge from the conflict stronger and better equipped than before (Iran International, Persian, Türkiye Today).
He did not say how many Su-35s Iran has ordered, what the contract is worth or when deliveries would begin. Russia has not commented on his remarks. Persian-language outlets stressed that no aircraft have arrived, after some analysts on state television had earlier suggested the jet was already in the country (Türkiye Today).
According to Iran International, Akraminia also said the Army is pursuing airborne radar (AWACS) aircraft, satellites and fifth-generation fighters, and claimed that Iran had relied entirely on domestically produced weapons in its two recent wars. These statements could not be independently verified (Iran International).
What is the Su-35?
The Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine multirole fighter developed by Sukhoi, now part of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation. It is a deep modernisation of the Su-27 family and entered Russian Air Force service in its Su-35S version in the mid-2010s. Russia’s state exporter Rosoboronexport said in October 2026 that it had delivered a first batch to Ethiopia (our report). For Russia’s wider fighter fleet, see our guide to Russian fighter jets.
Previous developments
Iranian officials have spoken about the deal for years without giving numbers. In November 2023 Deputy Defence Minister Mehdi Farahi told Tasnim that plans had been finalised for Su-35 fighters, Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 trainers to join Army combat units; Russia did not confirm this (Reuters). In January 2025 Revolutionary Guards commander Ali Shadmani said Iran had purchased Su-35s, again without numbers, and the Kremlin declined to comment (Reuters, TASS). Documents reported by media in 2025 referred to 48 aircraft; Moscow has never confirmed that figure.
Why it matters
Iran’s air force has relied for decades on a few dozen strike aircraft, including Russian-made jets and ageing US models acquired before the 1979 revolution (Reuters). On the spokesman’s own account, any Su-35s would not be available to Iran while the current conflict lasts. The statement is the first on-record comment on the programme from the Army itself, but until Russia or Iran publishes quantities and a delivery schedule, the order, the delivery and the number of aircraft in service should be treated as separate, unconfirmed questions.
Sources: interview with Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia, Tabnak and BitRun, 31 October 2026; Iran International (English and Persian); Türkiye Today; Reuters (November 2023, January 2025); TASS (January 2025).
