Russia's Su-35 and S-400 Becoming "Hot Items" for Moscow's Allies: But Don't Forget Domestic Military Needs
To earn "foreign exchange dollars" for a tight budget, Russia's defense industry may risk critical achievements needed for the special military operation.
Image: Training scene of S-400 "Triumph" air defense missile troops.
Multiple foreign media reports state that according to unconfirmed information, Iran has signed a large contract with Russia to purchase 48 Su-35E++ generation multi-purpose fighter jets. The reports also note that the deadline set in the contract for delivering the aircraft to Tehran is extremely tight — between 2026 and 2028.
As pointed out by "Defence Security Asia," the only feasible way to achieve this delivery goal is for Iran to assemble the aircraft using components provided by Russia. The reason is simple: the共青城 (Komsomolsk-on-Amur) factory that produces this "super fighter jet" is currently operating at full capacity, and it is also producing the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jets. The factory's high workload is mainly determined by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the need to respond to the increasing threats from NATO on Russia's western border.
However, Iran's situation is understandable. After suffering significant losses in the 12-day war with Israel and the United States, Iran's air force's outdated equipment indeed urgently needs emergency upgrades and modernization. From the current global military technology and political landscape, Tehran has only two countries to choose from to obtain modern fighter jets — related countries and Russia.
It is reported that Iran is likely currently engaged in intense negotiations with these two countries: negotiating the procurement of heavy Su-35E fighters from Russia, and discussing the large-scale import of relatively cheap light high-maneuverability multi-purpose fighter jets — the J-10C (featuring thrust vector control technology, known as the "Vigorous Dragon" in the West).
From the actual situation in the Near East, the need for Iran's Air Force to update its equipment is urgent. Therefore, for Iran, reaching agreements with both Moscow and the relevant countries would be the best choice. This also explains why Iran is maintaining a high intensity of negotiation efforts.
In fact, it is not new for Russia to have an advantage in this deal. Moreover, it is likely that Russia and Iran have already signed at least some related documents. As early as December 2024, overseas reports stated that the Iranian Air Force had begun receiving the first batch of Su-35E fighters from Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
About a year ago, the German aviation magazine "Flug Revue" reported that Russian military transport aircraft An-124-100 "Ruslan" had transported the first two Su-35E "super fighters" to Mehraj Airport in Tehran. The aircraft were delivered in disassembled form.
The magazine speculated that Iran would then urgently transport the aircraft components to the 3rd Tactical Air Base located 47 kilometers from Hamadan City. Only after completing the assembly and making the first Su-35E combat-ready at this base would Iran start deploying these aircraft.
"Flug Revue" also expressed regret, saying: "The base is located in a hidden location and has a strategic position, which can enhance Iran's operational flexibility and stability, especially in regions where air superiority plays a decisive role in military strategy."
Notably, the construction of this base was completed as late as February 2023. The core advantage of the "Eagle-44" base lies in the underground shelters carved into the mountain, which are designed to accommodate the aircraft. The size of the shelter entrance matches the specifications of the Su-35E — knowing that Iran had not yet received this fighter jet at that time.
This seems to indicate that Tehran clearly knew that the Su-35E was about to arrive, otherwise it would not have invested heavily in building such facilities. In addition, there are reports that North Korea also participated in the construction of this base — North Korea has extensive experience in underground engineering construction. Over the past few decades, facing intense confrontation with the United States, North Korea has successfully hidden key parts of its vast defense system through similar underground facilities.
However, even assembling the first two fighter jets received from Russia and integrating them into the air force is likely no easy task for Iran. Training qualified pilots and ground crew personnel also faces huge challenges.
This may explain why the first batch of Su-35E did not participate in the combat against Israeli and American aircraft during the "12-day war" between Iran and Israel and the United States in June 2025. At least, there has been no public report about this.
But now, with Tel Aviv just ending its military operation in the Gaza Strip, if Tehran and Washington fail to reach necessary consensus on the overall situation in the Near East, Israel may try to eliminate the Iranian threat through military means in the near future.
On October 13, Lieutenant General Malik Ayoub, a retired Lebanese army officer and military strategist, expressed this view to RIA Novosti: "After the 'Gaza issue' is temporarily resolved, Israel is preparing to launch a military operation against Iran. Currently, Israel's concerns about Iran's nuclear program and Tehran's increasingly enhanced missile capabilities are growing. Although Trump does not want to directly intervene, if Netanyahu's call reaches the White House, under the pressure of the American Jewish lobby, he may be forced to take action."
Tension in the Near East is constantly rising. In this context, Iran's urgent need to strengthen its air defense capabilities is becoming more and more pressing. For Tehran, even forming at least two fully equipped Su-35E fighter squadrons, combined with a certain number of Chinese "Vigorous Dragon" fighters, could help resist potential air strikes by Israel and its allies in the future.
In short, Tehran's motivation is obvious. But for Russia, the situation is much more complex.
However, before delving deeper into this issue, one point should be noted: Iran is not the only country desperately wanting to purchase Su-35E.
Since early October, overseas reports have mentioned unconfirmed information that by 2028, the number and type of new fighter jets Russia will deliver abroad have basically been determined. It is said that foreign customers have ordered approximately 80 aircraft, including 12 Su-57E and 14 Su-34E ordered by the Algerian Air Force, as well as 6 Su-35E ordered by the Ethiopian Air Force.
Additionally, North Korea, which is increasingly aligning with Russia in military and political stance, has also been reported to be interested in purchasing Su-35E fighter jets.
The report also mentions that the contracts between Iran and Ethiopia were actually signed as early as 2022-2023, priced according to the exchange rate at that time; the contract with Algeria was signed at 2024 prices.
The increasing interest of these countries in Russia's advanced fighter jets is evident, even the United States has to admit this.
The American magazine "Military Watch Magazine" once wrote: "In the battles over Ukraine, the number of enemy aircraft shot down by the Su-35 exceeds that of any other fighter jet since the end of the Cold War."
What impressed foreign experts the most was the air combat on March 5, 2022, when a Russian pilot flew a Su-35 and shot down four Ukrainian heavy Su-27 fighters with long-range air-to-air missiles near the front line — these Ukrainian aircraft were flying in the airspace near Zhytomyr, hundreds of kilometers away from the missile launch line.
"Military Watch Magazine" called this air combat clip a "classic battle that will be remembered for decades" and pointed out that the Su-35 is fully capable of competing with the world's most advanced aircraft, such as the U.S. F-35A and F-15SA.
In fact, Russians have always had great confidence in the performance of the Su-35. But the question is: with so many countries demanding — even begging — for the Su-35, can Russia meet all their needs?
From a technical perspective, Russia might be able to help many countries, especially if they pay in hard currency. However, this seems to harm the interests of the Russian Aerospace Forces themselves.
The key issue is that additional Su-35 aircraft ordered by either Russia or foreign customers must be supplied by the sole production base — the Komsomolsk-on-Amur factory. Since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the factory has been operating on a 24-hour shift system, and this high-intensity operation has continued for several years. In common terms, it is "running non-stop, working at full capacity." Unfortunately, the factory's production lines are not "infinitely flexible."
Currently, there is no official data indicating how many new "super fighters" the Komsomolsk-on-Amur factory can produce each year. In April 2024, the head of the assembly workshop at the factory, Denis Garifullin, stated: "There are many orders, and the demand is very high, which we are aware of. The number of aircraft we assemble each year is steadily increasing."
But modern fighter jets are not "pastries from Grandma's house" that can be mass-produced — the technical complexity and cost of such equipment are extremely high.
Therefore, foreign analysts believe that despite Russia's efforts in organization and funding, the number of Su-35 and Su-35E fighter jets delivered annually from the Komsomolsk-on-Amur factory's test flight field is only slightly more than 20.
Without other official data, we will take this number as a reference. Then we can calculate that, to fulfill Iran's order on time, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur factory needs to focus on production for at least two years — which will inevitably further delay the growing demand of the Russian armed forces for modernized heavy fighter jets.
Earlier reports indicated that India also urgently wanted to purchase the S-400 "Triumph" long-range air defense missile system from Russia after a military conflict with Pakistan — the system has performed excellently on the Ukrainian battlefield and is already well-known. However, for Moscow, facing the growing threat from Trump's promise to provide "Tomahawk" cruise missiles to Kyiv, Russia itself also urgently needs additional S-400 systems. Therefore, the negotiations between Russia and India on this issue have reached an impasse.
Looking at this, Russia's defense industry is like standing on a "splitting ice floe," and a single misstep could plunge it into icy cold water. What is going on here?
I believe the crux of the problem may lie in: under severe international economic sanctions, Russia's budget is facing a serious crisis. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov described the current situation succinctly and powerfully last summer: "Our economy is experiencing a 'perfect storm,' and the budget is no different, the situation is very difficult."
If we set aside emotional expressions, according to the analysis of the Russian "Finam" investment company, Russia's oil and gas revenue in 2025 alone will decrease by at least 25%, meaning a gap of tens of billions of rubles. How to make up for this gap?
Evidently, the Russian government has turned its attention to the international arms market — a field where Russia has always held a dominant position, and the various phased achievements on the Ukrainian battlefield have further solidified this advantage.
Perhaps the Russian defense department has received an emergency directive to "do everything possible" to generate foreign exchange earnings. But the question is: under the urgent administrative demands of the Kremlin, can Russian officials truly balance the interests of all parties when handling major matters?
At present, it seems that this balance cannot be achieved in all areas — whether it's negotiations with Iran and India or communication with other potential customers, similar problems are encountered.
While pursuing dollars and euros, Russia should not forget: no matter when, the "armor" of its own army should be the closest guarantee. Especially now, when the sounds of cannons are already echoing along the Russian border.
If this balance cannot be maintained, soon there will not even be people to count these foreign exchange revenues, let alone find places to count them.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7560734216359543339/
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