Russian warplanes are joining Iran's air force

Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and helicopters are going to join the Iranian Air Force. In the meantime such purchase agreement has been finalized.

Russian-made Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet. Reuters file photo

On Tuesday, Iran's Minister of State for Defense gave this information to the country's news agency Tasnim. Close military ties have developed between Tehran and Moscow.

Iran's Air Force has only a few fighter jets. These include Russian-made warplanes and some older American models (pre-Islamic Revolution).

Iranian State Minister of Defense Mehdi Farahi said that plans to add Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 model training jets to the combat unit of the Iranian army have been finalized.

However, Tasnim could not confirm any information that such an agreement was made by Russia in their report.

In 2018, Iran began developing a fighter jet of its own design, the Kawsar, for use in its air force.