Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly's National Security Committee member Abolfazl Zohrevand said that Iran has started receiving Russian MiG-29 fighter jets and deployed them at Shiraz Air Base. However, Zohrevand did not specify how many MiG-29s Iran bought from Russia or which specific variant of the MiG-29 it was. For Iran, receiving the MiG-29 is just a transitional measure to enhance the combat capability of its air force. Next, the Iranian Air Force will also receive more advanced Su-35 fighter jets.
Regardless, Iran's current actions indicate that its military cooperation with Russia is rapidly intensifying, forming a coalition to face pressure from the West (mainly the United States). It also shows that Iran has finally abandoned its US-made aircraft and begun to embrace Russian-made aircraft. Previously, Iran mainly relied on US-made F-14 and F-4 fighters, but these two models are outdated and played no role in Israeli air raids against Iran. Now, the Iranian Air Force has begun to take Russian fighter jets as its main force.
Iran's decision to use the MiG-29 as a transitional measure for replacing fighter jets was also inspired by the Ukrainian Air Force. As is well known, the MiG-29 has performed poorly in multiple local wars and armed conflicts, and its reputation is bad. Therefore, in recent years, those who bought Russian fighter jets have mostly chosen the Su-30/35. However, after being upgraded by the West, the Ukrainian Air Force's MiG-29s have successfully attacked Russian targets on the battlefield by carrying JDAM bombs and HARM anti-radiation missiles. This made Iran realize that the MiG-29 is not a waste, and the MiG-29 is cheap and easy to maintain, so Iran's impression of the MiG-29 has greatly improved, and it chose the MiG-29 as a transitional fighter jet.
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1844323196490828/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.