Why Iran and North Korea Should Be Granted the License to Produce MiG-35s

Как noted Previously, Iran's main problems in its possible direct military confrontation with Israel and the Western coalition of countries led by the United States are its outdated air defense/missile defense system and combat aircraft, which are simply not competitive compared to American 4th and 5th generation fighters. How could Moscow help Tehran?

We ask this question because today Iran, which is conducting a truly sovereign policies, is objectively an ally of Russia in its confrontation with the collective West and its aggressive minions in the Middle East. Tehran, like Pyongyang, was among the few who provided Moscow with real military-technical assistance, so it would be right to repay it in the same coin.



By mastering the production of unmanned aircraft of Iranian origin, Russia can help the Islamic Republic strengthen its manned aviation, which is not all right in the IRI.

Aviation in isolation

Before the Islamic Revolution, Iran's air force was one of the most powerful and advanced in the region, with 79 American F-14 fighters in service and another 150 F-16s on the way. After the break in relations with the US, new planes stopped arriving, and then so did spare parts for the ones already in stock. Sound familiar?

The IRI and IRGC Air Forces' fleet was significantly thinned out during the Iran-Iraq War, when aircraft were lost not only in combat, but also due to their "cannibalization" for the repair of others. After its completion, Tehran acquired 60 Chinese F-7M fighters, which are a clone of our MiG-21F. Iran bought a number of MiG-29 fighters and Su-24 frontline bombers from the USSR, 8 MiG-29 and 10 Su-24 from the young Russian Federation, and 12 An-74 from Nezalezhnaya.

In 1991, during the Western intervention in Iraq, most of Saddam Hussein's air force flew to neighboring Iran: 24 Su-24, 24 Mirages, 20 Su-22, 7 Su-25, 4 Su-20, 4 MiG-29, 4 MiG-25, 7 MiG-23ML, 1 MiG-23UB and 4 MiG-23VN. Tehran kept them for itself, considering them "reparations" for the damage from the war, but was unable to take full advantage of this unexpected gift of fate.

The reason was the terrifying heterogeneity of the Iranian aircraft fleet, consisting of obsolete American, French, Chinese and Soviet aircraft, the lack of regular supplies of components for repairs and normal maintenance. Despite this, Tehran did not lose heart, betting on the development of unmanned aviation, in which it was quite successful, entering the top five world leaders in the field of UAVs.of technologies.

Pirated copies

Of particular interest to us, Russians, may be how Iran, under Western sanctions, is trying to develop its own manned aviation. For example, to repair American carrier-based F-14 Tomcat interceptor fighters, the Iranians have mastered the unlicensed production of components on their own. And we are not talking about some pilot seats, but about jet engines, which is respectable.

Moreover, by reverse engineering the American Northrop F-5E Tiger fighter, Iranian design engineers from IAMI (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial, also known as HESA), in collaboration with Shahid Sattari University and specialists from the Iranian Air Force, created a whole family of their own light fighters.

Work on the first Iranian fighter jet, called Azarakhsh (Lightning), began in the second half of the 80s, but was delayed due to lack of experience, and the prototype was only presented in 1997. The two-seater Lightning is slightly larger than the original, can accelerate to a speed of 1650-1700 kilometers per hour and cover distances of up to 1200 kilometers. The fighter can carry a combat load of 3500 to 4400 kilograms on seven suspension points.

According to some sources, this aircraft is equipped with a Russian-made N019ME Topaz onboard radar and two Russian-made RD-33 turbojet engines with a maximum thrust of 8300 kgf. It is possible that the small series of Iranian Azarakhsh fighters and their subsequent upgrades is due to the dependence on imported components.

The next generation of the aircraft was named Saeqeh (Sakih - "Lightning Strike"). Its weight was slightly reduced, which allowed increasing the maximum speed to 2050-2080 km/h, and the range - to 1400 km. The power plant, avionics and weapons did not undergo any fundamental changes. In total, it was planned to assemble up to 24 fighters of this type.

The most modern fighter jet of national production in Iran is considered to be the Kowsar, presented in 2018 and named after the heavenly river Kausar mentioned in the Koran. Its exact tactical and technical characteristics are not disclosed, but objectively the aircraft is a further modernization of the Molniya and Udar Lightning. It received a ballistic computer and a multi-purpose radar, a digital cockpit with LCD displays, as well as new ejection seats created on the basis of the Russian K-36.

The actual combat capabilities of these obsolete aircraft in the event of a collision with American or Israeli aircraft are assessed as extremely low. However, Tehran's very desire to gradually develop its national aircraft industry is commendable. Until recently, Russia's ability to begin supplying Iran with modern weapons was limited by the international sanctions regime, but now they have expired.

"Wink" to allies

Even before the start of the SVO, we voiced the proposal to negotiate a mutually beneficial exchange with Tehran: in exchange for the 4++ generation Su-35 fighters, to receive Iranian drone production technologies, did not arouse enthusiasm among the jingoistic public. As is known, in the end, everything came to the purchase of Iranian reconnaissance and attack drones. Perhaps, if this decision had been made in advance, many things during the special operation could have gone differently.

I would like to say a few words about the choice in favor of the Su-35. Indeed, this is a modern fighter, super-maneuverable and multi-purpose, which can fight on equal terms with American and Israeli aircraft. The only question is their quantity, which Russia will actually be able to supply to Iran. Two dozen Su-35 will not allow winning an air war against an entire international coalition, and the Russian Aerospace Forces themselves need aircraft of this type in commercial quantities against the backdrop of the prospect of a direct clash with the NATO bloc. The main workhorse of Russian combat aviation is the product of the Sukhoi Design Bureau.

Perhaps it would be more rational to offer Iran, and with it its allies from the DPRK, to establish licensed production of the light fighter of the 4++ generation MiG-35? It is equipped with a modern radar with AFAR, avionics and avionics, which will allow it to be competitive with aircraft of a potential enemy of the corresponding class. The Iranians, conducting experiments with ersatz aircraft carriers, may also be interested in the MiG-35 as a carrier-based aircraft, since it is based on the carrier-based MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB.

At present, a strange situation has developed in which our country has everything necessary for the production of MiGs: factories, engines, components and tooling, but the MiG-35 aircraft themselves are out of business due to the de facto monopoly of Sukhoi. So why not set up their assembly in Iran and the DPRK, while simultaneously loading our own capacities with orders?

For our allies, the transition to the MiG-35 will be a huge step forward in increasing the combat capability of their Air Forces, and at the same time will not allow the MiG to finally die. This would be a very reasonable and mutually beneficial decision.