Russia - Iran Military Cooperation

Cucumber Khan wrote:

medo wrote:Great news for both Russia and Iran. Interesting in this article is, that first Iranian crews are already trained and that they will send another group of crews for trainings. I think this could mean, that Iran could quite quickly receive their first Su-30 fighters, so they will be most probably Su-30MK2 from KNAAPO as Irkut is full with production for RuAF and they will also have to produce Su-30SM for Kazakhstan and Belarus. KNAAPO have free production line for Su-30MK2 as they will finish order for Vietnam as well as for RuAF.

Think these "crews" are actually S-300 crews, not Su-30s...

medo wrote:

OK, it make more sense. I was too quick in reading.

wilhelm wrote:

Cucumber Khan wrote:

Think these "crews" are actually S-300 crews, not Su-30s...

Actually, reading that again, it seems you are correct. It seems they are talking about the S-300 crews.
Nevertheless, it seems it is at least official that there is interest in the Su-30 now. This is the first official announcement of such an interest/announcement that I know of, and by the Defence Minister no less.

As for the major point about the Minister saying Iran needs to be involved in production, that should be a non-issue, as India were involved in the assembly/manufacture of their Su-30MKI.

Let's hope there is good news/confirmation soon. Iran can't keep those dwindling numbers of F-14's in the air forever, no matter how ingenious or smartly they apply themselves. The Su-30 is the perfect replacement, something that has been noted by observers for a while.

MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan will visit Moscow early next week, Iranian Embassy in Moscow told TASS on Wednesday.

"We confirm that our defense minister will visit Moscow at the beginning of next week," the embassy said adding that "a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu is planned."

According to TASS, the Iranian defense minister plans to visit the Russian capital on February 16.

More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/855780

George1 wrote:Source: Iran is interested in ~ 60 Su-30MKs (export version of Su-30SM)

https://twitter.com/KURYERSAT/status/698058784577622016

GarryB wrote:I would expect their production capacity for their Phoenix ripoff is limited and the missile itself is based on rather old technology.

If they are buying new Flankers I suspect a purchase of R-37Ms (ie RVV-BD) would make more sense as a much more modern and capable weapon.

I don't think any Su-30 variant is capable to carry R-37M missiles. I think only MiG-31BM, Su-35 and PAK-FA will be able to carry them as they have L-band radar capabilities, which are most probably connected with R-37 missile guidance. Also I don't think Russia will sell those missiles to anyone.

GunshipDemocracy wrote:Iran agrees to buy Russian T-90 only with the condition of technology transfer


http://www.interfax.ru/world/494612

Moscow. February 14. INTERFAX.RU - Iran has not abandoned plans to purchase from Russia tanks T-90, said on Sunday the Deputy commander of land forces of the Islamic Republic of General Kiomars heidari. But the condition of the deal have, according to him, to be the transfer of production technology.

In early February, the commander of land forces of the Iranian army Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan reported that the issue of Iran's purchase of these tanks was removed from the agenda.

"We still have interest in tanks T-90, but we have reached a level of production of their own tanks, which reduces the need to purchase such equipment abroad", - quoted the then commander of the Iranian media.

"Taking into account the volume of national production of battle tanks, the acquisition of T-90 removed from the agenda", - said Pourdastan, who in December last year reported that Iran was negotiating with Russia on the purchase of a batch of T-90 tanks.

As have explained today to journalists heidari, the Iranian side "is still not abandoned its intentions to get T-90, but ground forces were denied access to military equipment without transfer of the country the technology of its production".

This statement is made on the eve of planned on 15-16 February visit to Russia by Iranian defense Minister Hossein Dehgans. The Iranian defense Minister plans to discuss with the military-political leadership of Russia the bilateral, regional and international issues.

Shortly before the visit to Russia Dehghan expressed interest in equipping the Iranian air force Russian combat aircraft su-30.

"We also seek to sign with Russia the agreement on partnership in the development and production of fighter aircraft", - the Minister told Iranian media.

"If necessary we can purchase and complexes With-400", - he said.

Speaking about the contract on delivery to Iran ZRK With-300, the defense Minister said that "all Russian upgraded installation will be delivered in the first half of 2016".

They can't buy tanks so they will buy plants...Iranians being nice and cozy.

George1 wrote:Minutes ago, Iranian Min.of Def. Gen. Dehghan arrived Moscow (Below picture)to negotiate for 160 Su-30SMs    for IRIAF  

https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/699208670522036224

George1 wrote:Su-30SME new export variant? SGAirshow

George1 wrote:Minutes ago, Iranian Min.of Def. Gen. Dehghan arrived Moscow (Below picture)to negotiate for 160 Su-30SMs    for IRIAF  

https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/699208670522036224

The Middle East's Nightmare: Iran Is Buying Russia's Lethal Su-30

Dave Majumdar

February 15, 2016



Iran looks set to sign a deal to purchase Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker fighters as it upgrades its military forces following the nuclear deal, which cleared the way for sanctions to be lifted on Tehran. Iranian defense minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan is set to visit Moscow on February 16 to discuss the potential fighter buy, as well as to discuss deliveries of the Almaz-Antey S-300 air and missile defense system.

“Minister Dehgan will also discuss the delivery of Su-30 airplanes because the Defense Ministry believes the Iranian Air Force needs this type of plane. We’ve moved far in these discussions of purchases and I think that during the upcoming visit a contract will be signed,” an Iranian defense ministry source told the Russian state-run media outlet Sputnik.

Earlier, the Iranian Mehr News Agency had quoted Dehghan—who appeared on Iranian state TV—saying that Tehran needs to focus on modernizing its air force. To that end, Dehghan specifically cited the Su-30—but he did not indicate which version of Russian-built jet Tehran is interested in. “Today we need to pay attention to air force and aircraft and we seek to seal a deal with the Russians upon which we will have partnership in the construction and manufacturing of the jet fighter,” Dehghan said.

Presumably Iran would want one of the advanced variants similar to the aircraft operated by India, Malaysia, Algeria and Russia itself. However, it is also possible that Iran could opt for a variant of the more basic Su-30M2, which is also in service with the Russian Air Force. That variant is somewhat less expensive, which might make more sense considering Iran’s economic situation. Perhaps of note, Iran does not seem content with merely buying the Su-30; Tehran seems intent on license production of the aircraft.

The Su-30M2 variant, which is built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia’s far east, is missing the Su-30SM’s canards and thrust vectoring nozzles. It also has a less comprehensive avionics suite. Either way, the addition of any Su-30 variant would greatly increase the capabilities of the Iranian air force, which is mostly equipped with an antiquated mix of American-, Russian- and Chinese-built hardware.

The most advanced aircraft Iran currently has are a handful of American-built Grumman F-14A Tomcats and MiG-29s acquired either from the Soviet Union or aircraft that defected from Iraq. The rest of its arsenal is composed of geriatric F-4 Phantom IIs, locally modified F-5 Freedom Fighters and Chinese-build F-6 and F-7 aircraft—derivatives of the MiG-19 and the MiG-21 respectively. Most of Iran’s “indigenous” aircraft developments have been modifications to the Northrop F-5 airframe or ridiculous papier-mâché mockups like the Qaher-313 farce.

Dave Majumdar is the defense editor for the National Interest. You can follow him on Twitter: @davemajumdar.