Iran is preparing to operate Russian Su 35 fighters
The magazine says that Iran’s likelihood of operating the Russian aircraft comes after reports, in November 2024, that the Iranian Air Force had begun building new fortified facilities for aircraft at its third tactical air base, located 47 kilometers north of Hamedan, a facility known as “Hamedan Base.” “air”.
These developments also come a year after Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Mehdi Farahi confirmed, in 2023, that the country had completed its plans to receive Mi-28 attack helicopters, Su-35 fighter jets, and Yak-130 training fighters from Russia.
In mid-2022, reports emerged, for the first time, of an agreement for Moscow to supply Su-35 aircraft to Tehran.
The transfer of the aircraft is expected to help offset some of the enormous costs of the large quantities of Iranian weapons supplied to Russia for its war effort in Ukraine.
These supplies included major technology transfers and support to facilitate the licensed production of Iranian drones, most notably the Shahed-136, in Russia.
The dimensions of the new hangars at Hamedan Air Base, which are far larger than requirements for the Vietnam War-era F-4 fighters currently stationed there, have strengthened the consensus that the facility will host Su-35s.
The base is located in the west of the country, and is in a good position that allows the Su-35 squadron to respond quickly to potential air strike threats from Israel, or from NATO member Turkey.
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