Iran completes deal to buy Su-35 and Mi-28 from Russia

Iran's Deputy Defense Minister Mehdi Farahi said on November 28 that the country has completed a deal to purchase Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters from Russia.

“Plans have been finalized to bring Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters and Yak-130 jet trainers into the combat units of the Iranian Army,” Farahi told Tasnim news agency.

Tasnim's report did not mention any Russian confirmation of the deal. Moscow has not commented on it.

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter. (Photo: Reuters)

Iran's air force has just a few dozen attack aircraft, including Russian jets as well as older American models purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In 2018, Iran said it had begun production of its domestically designed Kowsar fighter jet for use in its air force. Military experts believe the jet is a copy of the F-5, which was first produced in the United States in the 1960s.

The Su-35 is a Russian 4++ generation fighter, combining the advantages of a modern fighter and a tactical aircraft. According to experts, the Su-35 has characteristics close to those of a 5th generation aircraft. It combines the qualities of a modern fighter and a tactical aircraft.

The maximum take-off weight of the Su-35 is 34.5 tons. The practical flight range without refueling is 3,600 km. The aircraft can be used to destroy a wide range of targets, including those protected by air defense systems, or located far from the base.

In addition to anti-radar ammunition and air-to-air missiles, the Su-35 is capable of bombing and using air-to-ground guided weapons and unguided ammunition of the S-8, S-13, and S-25 series. The combat capabilities of the Su-35 have been proven on the Syrian battlefield.

Russian Mi-28N attack helicopter. (Photo: Bulgarian Military)

The Mil Mi-28 is a Russian combat helicopter, designed for attack purposes, without transport functions and is considered to have better anti-tank capabilities than the Mi-24.

With complex technical specifications, the Mi-28 helicopter is truly a formidable machine when equipped with two VK-2500 turbine engines, each with a capacity of 2,200 horsepower, which can accelerate up to 2,700 horsepower in an emergency.

The Mi-28 is 17.01m long, has a propeller length of 8.6m, and a height of 3.82m. It weighs up to 8,000kg and can carry 2,300kg of weapons. It can hold 1,500l of fuel in the fuselage. The crew consists of 2 people.

The aircraft is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 300km/h, with an operating range of up to 450km (excluding auxiliary fuel tanks). When using auxiliary fuel tanks, the Mi-28 can increase its operating range to 1.08km, thereby significantly expanding its combat capabilities.

The Mi-28 is equipped with a formidable array of weapons such as the 30mm 2A42 cannon, with an ammunition load of 250 rounds. In addition, the Mi-28N is capable of using both guided and unguided missiles, bombs and additional weapons on its four hardpoints.

The Mi-28 is said to have successfully fulfilled its assigned roles in complex battlefields, especially in the current special military campaign in Ukraine.

Hoa Vu (Source: Reuters)

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