Iran Considers Buying Russian Su-30 fighter jets

Iran is considering to purchase a batch of Sukhoi Su-30 jet fighters from Russia to modernize its air force.

“The purchasing of the fighter jets is on the Defense Ministry’s agenda,” Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan was quoted as saying by various local media Saturday.

“Russia has agreed Tehran’s terms on “joint investment and supplying technology” for the purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets,” Russia is in discussion to help upgrade Iran's dilapidated air force by selling it Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets.

However, the deal requires the approval of the United Nations Security Council, and also there are possibilities that it could further affect Moscow's relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the US.

Since long time, Russia and Iran have been on talks to deliver Su-30 aircraft.  In February, an official in the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said that the contract for the delivery of Russian Su-30SM fighters could be signed in 2016.

During that time Dehqan also said that under an agreement, Iran would be involved in the production of the aircraft. “We are moving toward a contract. We told Russia that we need to be involved in the production (of the planes) as well.” he added.

Manufactured by the Sukhoi Company (JSC), the Su-30 is a two-seat highly-maneuverable fighter designed for air-superiority and strikes at ground and naval surface targets.

Currently, different variants of SU-30 fighter jets are operated by air forces in Russia, India and Vietnam.