Newly obtained documents confirm that Russia is secretly manufacturing Su-35 fighter jets for Iran, with deliveries expected by 2027. The internal documents, dating from 2024 to 2025, show coordinated efforts across Russian defense plants to fulfill the order, with parts being manufactured for export and explicitly marked for Iran (“K10”). This deal, which includes full prepayment, highlights the deepening military cooperation between Russia and Iran despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Such advanced technology may shift the balance of power in the region.
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A Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet, aided by a Swedish reconnaissance aircraft, reportedly shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet in northeastern Ukraine. This operation, described as a “historic first,” involved the Swedish plane providing targeting data for the F-16 to launch an AIM-120 missile. The downed Su-35 crashed in Russian territory, marking a significant advancement in Ukrainian air capabilities. Confirmation of this event awaits independent verification, but several sources, including military analysts, have highlighted the implications for future air combat.
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On June 7th, Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in Kursk Oblast, bringing the total number of Russian aircraft destroyed since the full-scale invasion to 414. This follows the June 1st launch of Operation Spiderweb, a large-scale drone attack on Russian air bases which, according to Ukrainian claims, significantly damaged Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. While independent verification is pending, open-source analysts have confirmed at least 21 aircraft damaged or destroyed. These events highlight the ongoing aerial conflict and Ukraine’s continued offensive capabilities.
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Russia’s Su-35 fighter jets are reportedly ‘dropping like flies’ in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and this brings to light several complex dynamics of military capability and combat effectiveness. Initial reports indicated that at least six Su-35s were downed in early 2023, adding to Russia’s already staggering aircraft losses. It has become increasingly clear that these aircraft, often heralded as powerful tools of aerial dominance, have encountered significant vulnerabilities that contribute to their rapid depreciation in the harsh theater of war.
My intrigue lies not just in the statistics but in the broader context of Russia’s military narrative. There is a remarkable contrast between the country’s proclamations about its military might and the grim realities faced on the battlefield.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker