Moscow: The Russian fighter aircraft Sukhoi Su-35, which is a state-of-the-art multirole fighter jet, is rapidly strengthening its foothold in the global defense market.
Recently, this fighter jet has been delivered to Algeria, which is further deepening its military ties with Russia. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has confirmed that Algeria has inducted the Russian Sukhoi Su-35 into its air force.
The Su-35 is a 4.5 generation fighter jet equipped with advanced avionics, thrust-vectoring engines, and long-range radar systems. This aircraft is capable of carrying out both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Therefore, this fighter jet proves to be quite remarkable for the air force fleets of many countries. These aircraft have now been integrated into the Algerian Air Force, enhancing the country’s air power. Several sources suggest that Algeria has a deal with Russia to buy 24 Su-35 fighter aircraft.
Iran has also announced the purchase of Russian fighter jets. Since October 2020, Iran has rapidly developed military ties with Russia. Especially after the onset of the Ukraine war, Russia’s confidence in Iran has significantly increased. Several reports have stated that Iran has delivered large quantities of ammunition to Russia. Initially, Iran showed deep interest in purchasing the Sukhoi SU-30SM Flanker-H from Russia to replace its outdated Grumman F-14 Tomcats from its air force fleet. But later, Iran changed its mind and decided to buy the SU-35. The power and capabilities of the SU-35 have greatly impressed Iran. According to an investigative report from the German defense publication Flug Revue, Russia has secretly delivered two SU-35 fighter jets to Iran at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KNAAPO) facility in Russia’s Far East.
The Flug Revue report further stated that Iran has deployed these Su-35SE aircraft in Isfahan. There are reports that Iran has placed an order for at least 24 Su-35s from Russia to strengthen its air force fleet. The rising demand for the Su-35 has become a strategic opportunity for Russia. This aircraft has become an attractive option for countries looking to reduce dependence on Western weapon systems. The technical capabilities of the Su-35 and Russia’s easy sales system make it quite easy for countries to purchase this fighter jet.
The trust expressed by China, Iran and Algeria in the Su-35 indicates that this fighter jet is not only technically advanced, but has also become a tool for Russia to strengthen strategic partnerships.