UNIPA News || 09 July-Russia has reportedly completed production of the first batch of 20 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets ordered by Iran, according to Military Watch Magazine, marking a significant milestone in Tehran’s long-term effort to modernize its aging air force.

The report said the aircraft were manufactured at Russia’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant. Although the fighters have not yet been transferred to Iran, the Iranian Ministry of Defense is reportedly covering maintenance and sustainment costs while the aircraft remain in Russia awaiting delivery.

The reported completion follows leaked Russian military-industrial correspondence from late 2025, which indicated that 16 Su-35 fighters were already in production for Iran at that time. Additional leaked Russian government documents published later in 2025 suggested that Tehran had placed an order for a total of 48 Su-35 aircraft, reinforcing earlier statements by Iranian officials that the country had acquired an unspecified number of the advanced fighters.

The Su-35 is a fourth-generation-plus multirole fighter with a reported combat radius of nearly 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles). It is designed for both air superiority and strike missions and is capable of operating from shorter or less-developed airfields, reducing dependence on major airbases.

While the aircraft is generally considered less advanced than fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and some newer Chinese platforms, it remains one of Russia’s most capable operational combat aircraft. The Su-35 has undergone continuous upgrades, including improvements to its air-to-air missile capabilities and avionics.

Russia has traditionally produced the Su-35 at a relatively limited rate of around 14 aircraft annually. However, officials have stated that production capacity is being expanded to meet growing export demand.

In May 2025, United Aircraft Corporation General Director Vadim Badekha confirmed that efforts were underway to increase manufacturing output. According to the report, prioritizing Iranian orders is expected to reduce deliveries of Su-35 fighters to Russia’s own Aerospace Forces over the next two tothree years.

The reported deliveries stem from a defense agreement reached between Russia and Iran in 2023. The package included Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainers, representing Iran’s first acquisition of new fighter aircraft since the 1990s.