The Iranian Air Force is reportedly beginning to replace its F-14A Tomcats with the arrival of the first Su-35 fighter jets acquired from Russia

In mid-November, the Iranian Air Force reportedly received its first two Su-35 fighter jets acquired from Russia during a private ceremony held at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant. These jets were subsequently disassembled and transported aboard a Russian Aerospace Forces Antonov An-124-100 to Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. This delivery marks the beginning of a process to replace the aging U.S.-made F-14A Tomcats, following an acquisition confirmed earlier in 2023.

According to details provided by the specialized outlet Flug Revue, the initial units were transferred to the 3rd Tactical Air Base near the city of Hamadan, where they underwent reassembly. Once operational, these aircraft will be the first of the 50 Su-35 jets ultimately ordered by the Iranian Air Force, an increase from the initial batch of 25. Analysts suggest that Iran is also looking to replace its older F-4 Phantom II fighters, which operate alongside MiG-29s from the same base in Hamadan.

Moreover, the acquisition of the Su-35s came after a prolonged period of negotiation, during which Iran supported Russia’s war effort in Ukraine by supplying Shahed 131 and 136 drones, as well as locally manufactured Fateh-110 missiles. These exchanges were delayed until the United Nations eased sanctions on Iran. By October 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu visited Tehran to finalize the missile agreements and the Su-35 deal.

With this agreement in place, Iran abandoned its modernization program for the F-14 Tomcat, which relied on reverse engineering and cannibalization of older aircraft for parts. Iranian technicians had faced significant challenges maintaining the Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-412A engines due to the lack of spare parts. Reports indicate that the last squadron of F-14s will be retired in December, with another squadron already converted to operate Yak-130 trainers, also of Russian origin.

The arrival of the Su-35s not only highlights the strengthening defense partnership between Iran and Russia but also represents a significant leap in Iran’s aerial combat capabilities in a region marked by escalating tensions. In this regard, the transition from the F-14s undertaken by Iran is expected to provide significant additional capabilities to its fighter wings. This improvement is due to the vastly superior mobility and speed of the Russian replacement, attributed to its modern thrust-vectoring engines. Furthermore, the integration of advanced weaponry into its arsenal eliminates the need for the arduous negotiation processes that were previously required. The crowning feature of this upgrade is the installation of Irbis-E radars in the newly acquired aircraft, offering cutting-edge technological enhancements.

Images used for illustrative purposes.

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