With Su-35 deliveries limited, Iran turns to China for J-10C as primary fighter
Iran has apparently opened talks with China over a potential purchase of J-10C fighter jets. The jets could replace Russia's Su-35S, of which the Iranians have ordered just four in 2023, despite plans for at least 50.
Defense Express writes about this.
Analysts say Chinese fighters could be a good option for Iran because they have good performance and a low export price. In addition, the Iranians need aircraft lost in combat with Israel, such as the F-14 Tomcat.
The status of other aircraft in the Iranian Air Force, such as the MiG-29, remains uncertain.
Experts note that in late 2024, media reports emerged about Iran's possible interest in the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 as an alternative to the Russian Su-35S. This may indicate Iran's consistent attempts to find a replacement for Russian aircraft through cooperation with China.
The formal advantage of the J-10C is its low export price, which is stated to be in the range of 60 to 90 million dollars per unit. However, in the case of Iran, another factor seems more relevant – China's actual readiness to supply the required number of aircraft of this type,” experts note.
Defense Express points out that in 2015, Iran was in talks with China to supply 150 J-10C aircraft, but by 2020, due to Iran’s limited resources, the planned deliveries had been reduced to just 36 aircraft. The exact number of fighters that China and Iran are discussing is still unknown.
Analysts note that compared to the J-10C and Su-35S, the Russian aircraft has only a slight advantage in some technical parameters. For example:
Defense Express also notes that Iran will not be able to purchase the Su-35s it needs from Russia, since the Russians are likely planning to sell the “free” aircraft of this type to Algeria.
Experts believe that Iran is not simply making hasty purchases, but is making a strategic choice between further cooperation with Russia or switching to direct supplies from China.
Earlier, Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin refused to provide Tehran with new air defense systems, arguing that the conflict between Israel and Iran “can already be considered over.”
He also added that the end of the conflict opens up new prospects for the development of cooperation between the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the states of the region, including Iran.
