Ali Shadmani, the deputy coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia Central Headquarters, said today (Monday) that Iran has acquired advanced Russian Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, according to Iran International.
Shadmani did not say if Iran had already received the jets, and Iran's deputy Defense Minister had already declared the purchase last November.
Iran has been working hard to strengthen its offensive and defensive capability in the air, especially following a series of Israeli air strikes in retaliation to Iranian drone and missile strikes on Israeli territory.
Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in retaliation for eliminating senior IRGC officers and affiliated leaders. In return, the IDF air force destroyed vital strategic installations and most if not all of its air defenses.
Israel and President Donald Trump have discussed the option and perhaps the necessity of launching a combined or at least supported air strike on Iran's nuclear facilities to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon, though Trump has said it would be "nice" if Israel would not have to do that.
In response, Iran has been developing a large arsenal of drones for both short and long range attacks on targets, and the Islamic Republic claims some of its drones can reach Israel - some of them even capable of returning after they hit their target.
The introduction of advanced Russian fighter planes into the Iranian Air Force will pose a challenge to the IDF, as aside from the Russian anti-aircraft systems it disabled, it reportedly had little to fear from Iran's Air Force, whose planes date back to the previous century.
Russia has employed the Sukhoi-35 in Syria in support of now-deposed Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, as well as extensively in its war against Ukraine. Five Sukhoi-35 have been recorded as shot down by anti-aircraft missiles during the war.
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