Russia has reportedly completed production of the first batch of 20 Su-35 fighters ordered by Iran, marking a major step in Tehran’s effort to modernize its aging air force. According to Military Watch Magazine, the aircraft were built at Russia’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant, with Iran’s Defense Ministry currently covering maintenance and sustainment costs while the jets remain in Russia ahead of transfer.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The development follows leaked Russian military-industrial correspondence from late 2025 indicating that 16 Su-35s were already in production for Iran at the time. With a combat radius of nearly 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), the Sukhoi Su-35 (NATO: Flanker-M, or “Super Flanker”) can strike targets deep inside enemy territory. Its ability to operate from short or improvised airfields also makes it less dependent on major airbases and harder to neutralize. While less advanced than aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II or China’s Shenyang J-16, the Su-35 remains one of the world’s most battle-tested modern fighters and has been steadily upgraded with newer air-to-air missile systems, the report added. Russia has historically produced Su-35s at a relatively modest pace of around 14 aircraft per year, though officials said production capacity was being expanded. In May 2025, Vadim Badekha, general director of United Aircraft Corporation, confirmed that efforts were underway to increase output. The ramp-up is expected to reduce deliveries of Su-35s to Russia’s own aerospace forces over the next two to three years as Iranian orders are prioritized.