Defense analysts warn that the multirole Su-35—designated by NATO as Flanker-M—introduces significant technical hurdles for Israel.
By Hezy Laing
The geopolitical balance of power in the Middle East faces a critical shift as Russia prepares the formal delivery of 20 advanced Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.
Manufactured at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant under Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, led by General Director Vadim Badekha, this initial batch represents the first wave of a larger 48-aircraft order valued at an estimated 6 billion euros.
For decades, Tehran relied on an obsolete fleet of American F-14 Tomcats and Soviet MiG-29s.
This massive modernization injection, confirmed by Iranian defense officials like Brigadier General Ali Shadmani, directly challenges the regional air superiority traditionally held by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
Defense analysts warn that the multirole Su-35—designated by NATO as Flanker-M—introduces significant technical hurdles for Israel.
The twin-engine, super-maneuverable jets feature a combat radius of 1,600 kilometers, putting Israeli airspace well within operational range.
Furthermore, leaked files indicate these aircraft are equipped with Khibiny-M electronic warfare systems designed to disrupt enemy tracking, alongside capabilities to launch ultra-long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles that threaten targets up to 320 kilometers away.
This burgeoning aerial threat forces the IAF to adjust its strategic calculations.
Under former Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar, Israel has relied heavily on its fifth-generation F-35I Adir stealth fighters to conduct unhindered operations.
The inclusion of the Su-35 into Iran’s military apparatus creates a far more contested airspace, potentially restricting the IAF’s freedom of maneuver over Lebanon, Syria, and western Iran.
Although an IAF F-35I successfully scored a historic air-to-air kill against an Iranian Yak-130 jet, the introduction of front-line Russian fighters elevates the risk.
As Moscow slows down deliveries to its own Aerospace Forces to prioritize Tehran’s order, Israel and its chief ally, the United States, are monitoring modifications to Iranian hangars and the training of its pilots.
The arrival of these 20 Sukhoi jets marks the end of an era where Western-aligned air forces operated without peer opposition in Middle Eastern skies.
