You may not know that the fighters of the Iranian Air Force have lagged behind for decades, and their main fighters are still the F-14A "Tomcat" and F-4D "Phantom" of the United States in the 70s of the last century. The Iranian Air Force is in dire need of updating its equipment, but due to US sanctions and blockades, it is difficult for them to buy new fighters from abroad. The Iranian Air Force has been looking for opportunities to procure advanced fighter jets, and recently they finally made a decision to choose the Russian Su-35 fighter jet and abandon the Chinese J-10C fighter. Why is that?Why didn't the Iranian Air Force buy the J-10C, but the Su-35?What are the underlying reasons and interests behind this?Let's unravel the mystery together!
1. What kind of fighter is the Su-35, and why does the Iranian Air Force fancy it?
The Su-35 is Russia's fourth-generation semi-heavy fighter, also known as the "Super Flanker", which is the "ultimate improved version" of the Su-27 fighter, with strong capabilities in air superiority, multi-purpose, long-range strike, etc. The maximum take-off weight of the Su-35 is 345 tons, the maximum range is 3600 km, the combat radius is 1500 km, it is equipped with two AL-41F-1S turbofan engines, with vector maneuvering capabilities, can perform difficult air combat maneuvers, such as Cobra, Nail, etc. The radar of the Su-35 is a passive phased array radar, which can track 30 targets at the same time and attack 8 targets, and it has 12 ** hardpoints, which can carry a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-ship missiles and bombs, such as R-77, R-27, R-73, X-31, X-59, etc., its firepower is very powerful, and it can perform a variety of tasks, and it is a very advanced fighter.
The Iranian Air Force chose the Su-35, mainly because the performance of the Su-35 can meet their needs, they need a fighter that can fight against the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries, and the Su-35 can compete with F-15, F-16, F-18, F-35 and other fighters, and even have an advantage. The Iranian Air Force also has experience in using Russian fighters, and their pilots can quickly adapt to the operation of the Su-35, and the maintenance and support of the Su-35 is relatively simple, does not require too complex system support, and can adapt to the actual situation in Iran. If the Iranian Air Force acquires the Su-35, it can greatly increase their air power, can demonstrate their military deterrence in the Middle East, and can also counterattack and retaliate if necessary.
2. What kind of fighter is the J-10C, and why did the Iranian Air Force abandon it?
J-10C is China's fourth-generation semi-medium fighter, also known as "Thunderbolt", it is the latest improvement of the J-10 fighter, with stealth coating, active phased array radar, high-thrust engine, advanced avionics system and other characteristics, its performance belongs to the first-class level in medium-sized fighters, comparable to European "Typhoon", "Rafale" and other fighters, its firepower is also very powerful, can perform a variety of tasks, is a very advanced fighter.
The Iranian Air Force gave up the J-10C, mainly because although the performance of the J-10C is very good, compared with the Su-35, there is still a certain gap, the J-10C is a medium-sized fighter, its range, bomb load, sustained combat capability and other aspects are inferior to the Su-35, and the Iranian Air Force is more inclined to heavy fighters, they believe that heavy fighters are more deterrent, more able to control larger areas, and more able to project power outside Iranian airspace. The Iranian Air Force also has some political concerns about the J-10C, they are worried that China will be under pressure from the United States and will not dare to ** the J-10C to them, or will limit the performance and number of the J-10C, or will have reservations about the maintenance and guarantee of the J-10C, which will affect the use of the J-10C. If the Iranian Air Force chooses the J-10C, it may offend their main oil customer, Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia is an important partner of China, and China will not easily offend Saudi Arabia, so the Iranian Air Force feels that the J-10C is not a reliable choice.
3. What impact does the Iranian Air Force's choice of Su-35 have on the situation in the Middle East?
The Iranian Air Force's choice of Su-35 undoubtedly has a significant impact on the situation in the Middle East, which means that the Iranian Air Force will have a force that can compete with the air forces of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries, which will bring Iran more sense of security and self-confidence, and will also bring more pressure and threats to Iran's opponents, which will exacerbate tension and conflict in the Middle East and may lead to a larger war. The choice of the Su-35 by the Iranian Air Force is also a provocation and distrust of China, which will affect the friendly relations between China and Iran, and will also damage China's interests and influence in the Middle East, which will force China to reconsider and adjust its policy and attitude towards Iran. The Iranian Air Force's choice of the Su-35 is still a challenge and resistance to the United States, which will anger the United States and will also stimulate the United States to increase sanctions and strikes against Iran, which will plunge Iran into a greater predicament and crisis, which will test Iran's resilience and wisdom.
Fourth, what should the Iranian Air Force do to truly guarantee its own security and interests?
The choice of the Su-35 by the Iranian Air Force may seem like a wise choice, but it is actually a wrong choice, because the Su-35 does not solve the fundamental problems of the Iranian Air Force, but only brings more trouble and risks to the Iranian Air Force. What they really need is not to have more fighters such as Su-35 and J-10C, but to have more missiles, drones, electronic warfare, etc., because these can effectively resist the threats and attacks of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries, effectively protect Iran's nuclear and missile programs, and effectively safeguard Iran's security and interests.
What should the Iranian Air Force do to truly guarantee its own safety and interests?In my opinion, the Iranian Air Force should do the following three things:
First, the Iranian Air Force should give up buying the Su-35 and should buy the J-10C, because the J-10C is a fighter more suitable for the Iranian Air Force, and its performance, quantity, reliability, compatibility and other aspects are more advantageous than the Su-35, and the J-10C can form a complete system with Iran's own fighters, missiles, UAVs, etc., which can improve the overall capability and efficiency of the Iranian Air Force, and can also enhance the independence and innovation of the Iranian Air Force. The purchase of the J-10C can also enhance the friendly relations between China and Iran, and can also obtain China's support and help, which is beneficial to the Iranian Air Force.
Second, the Iranian Air Force should increase investment and development in missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare, etc., because these are the core strength of the Iranian Air Force, the killer weapon of the Iranian Air Force, and the lifeline of the Iranian Air Force. The Iranian Air Force should continuously improve the quantity, quality, accuracy, stealth, anti-jamming, and countermeasures of these countries, so that they can effectively hit the targets of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries, so that they can effectively defend against the attacks of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries, and so that these countries can effectively deter the actions of the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Thirdly, the Iranian Air Force should take an active part in Iran's diplomacy and politics, because the security and interests of the Iranian Air Force depend not only on its own ** and capabilities, but also on Iran's diplomacy and politics. The Iranian Air Force should support Iran's peace and negotiations, Iran's cooperation and exchanges, Iran's stability and development, and Iran's reform and opening up, because all these are beneficial to the Iranian Air Force. The Iranian Air Force should oppose Iran's confrontation and conflict, Iran's isolation and closure, Iran's turmoil and recession, and Iran's conservatism and backwardness, because these are all unfavorable to the Iranian Air Force and are all unfavorable to Iran.