Iran to receive Russian Su-35 fighter jets after US-Iran war ends, IRGC spokesman says - report

Iran is claiming that it had nearly completed a deal for Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets before fighting with the United States began at the end of February. The jets were expected to arrive before the war, but delivery did not happen. Iran says it will receive them after the war ends and use them to strengthen its air fleet.

Revolutionary Guards spokesman General Mohammad Akraminia said procurement work and contracts were complete. He also said pilot training and instruction had been completed, so Iran no longer faced problems in that area. He did not explain why the aircraft failed to arrive on schedule.

The claim is future-looking rather than confirmation of delivery. Iran has not stated how many aircraft it expects, and the article provides no delivery date. It says the Su-35s would bring access to advanced foreign technology while supporting further domestic development. Iran also plans stronger radar and satellite capabilities.

A Su-35 is a Russian-designed fighter aircraft made by Sukhoi, part of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation. It is an advanced combat aircraft intended to perform demanding air operations. The source identifies it as more advanced than the aircraft Iran currently wants to replace or supplement, but it does not provide technical specifications.

Compared with an ordinary fighter description, the Su-35 is generally understood to combine high performance, sophisticated onboard systems, and the ability to conduct more than one kind of mission. Those capabilities depend on sensors, weapons, maintenance, and trained crews. A jet alone does not create a complete air force.

The article’s key point is strategic rather than technical. Iran says buying Su-35s would give it access to advanced technology and help upgrade its air fleet. Russia is the only established manufacturer identified in the article. No delivery, quantity, or operational performance is confirmed.

The article does not say how many Su-35 fighter jets Iran is expected to receive. Without a quantity, it is impossible to measure the addition precisely or compare it with Iran’s existing air fleet. The delivery itself is also described as a future expectation, not a completed transfer.

The clearest indication of importance comes from Iran’s own wording. General Mohammad Akraminia said the aircraft would help upgrade Iran’s air fleet and described the Su-35 as an advanced aircraft. He also linked the purchase to access to foreign technology that could support domestic development. These claims suggest Iran considers the acquisition militarily significant.

Its actual effect would depend on numbers, delivery timing, pilot readiness, maintenance, weapons, and supporting sensors. The article confirms that pilot training and instruction had been prepared. It also says Iran is developing ground radar, airborne systems, and satellites. Until quantities and deliveries are confirmed, the fleet-wide impact cannot be judged.

Modern fighter aircraft work as parts of a larger military network. Ground radar can detect and track aircraft across broad areas, while airborne systems can observe from different positions or extend coverage. Satellites can support communications, navigation, and wider information sharing. Together, these systems help crews understand the air situation before and during a mission.

The article gives a direct example. General Mohammad Akraminia said that operating an advanced aircraft such as the Su-35 requires ground-based systems, airborne systems, and satellite capabilities. These supporting layers allow information to reach commanders and pilots, helping the aircraft use its sensors and weapons more effectively. The mechanism is connected detection and information flow, not simply buying a jet.

Iran says it is developing all three supporting areas. That could help the Su-35 reach its full operational potential if the aircraft are delivered. It also means the purchase would require investment beyond the airframe itself, including compatible networks, training, maintenance, and reliable communications.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, is a major Iranian military organization separate from the country’s regular armed forces. It also has important political influence within Iran. Its responsibilities include protecting the Islamic Republic and managing military capabilities assigned to it. These broader roles come from established knowledge; the article itself mainly identifies the IRGC and its spokesman.

A spokesman represents an organization in public communication. General Mohammad Akraminia told Iranian media that procurement preparations, contracts, and pilot training for the Su-35 were complete. He also described plans for radar, airborne systems, satellites, and domestic defense development. His statements therefore present the IRGC’s account of military planning and future capability.

The spokesman’s comments do not independently prove that the jets have been delivered. They establish what the IRGC claims will happen after the war. The article does not describe the exact chain of command, the IRGC’s wider political structure, or the final status of any Russian contract. Those details remain outside the report.

US sanctions make it harder for Iran to obtain foreign military equipment, technology, and related supplies. The article says sanctions affect trade, goods, and oil, but also defense and military technologies. Iran’s spokesman claims the United States has refused to allow new technologies into the country and imposed severe restrictions.

The effect is broader than preventing a single purchase. An air force needs aircraft, spare parts, weapons, training, maintenance, and technical support. If sanctions restrict those imports, replacing older aircraft or restoring damaged capabilities becomes more difficult. Iran says it has responded by developing capabilities through defense industries, universities, and knowledge-based companies.

The article presents the planned Su-35 deal as a possible exception or future breakthrough, not a completed delivery. It says procurement work, contracts, and pilot instruction had been prepared before the war. Yet the aircraft did not arrive before fighting began. Iran says it will receive them afterward while continuing domestic development.

Modern air power depends on several linked parts. Aircraft provide mobility and combat power. Sensors find and track targets. Communications move information between pilots, commanders, and other units. Training turns equipment into usable skill, while weapons and maintenance make missions possible. If one part fails, the aircraft may not perform as intended.

For example, a fighter can receive a warning from ground radar, compare it with information from airborne systems, and use communications to coordinate a response. A trained pilot then operates the aircraft and its weapons. Satellites can support wider connectivity and information sharing. The article uses this logic when it says Su-35s need ground, airborne, and satellite capabilities.

Iran’s plans reflect this systems approach. It says it is developing radar systems and satellites while seeking advanced aircraft. The future implication is that buying jets alone would not guarantee a stronger air force. Iran would also need dependable networks, trained personnel, technical support, weapons, and sustained domestic or foreign supply.