Moscow is providing Tehran with the best military equipment, Farda reports. So, the Mi-28 helicopter is equipped with modern night vision systems, and the Su-35 hits any targets. But the first to guard the Iranian Air Force was the Yak-130 training aircraft, which performs not only training tasks.
Iran's Deputy Defense Minister said: "Regarding the support of our Air Force, we can firmly say that the supply of Yak-130 training aircraft, Su-35 multi-purpose fighters and Mi-28 attack helicopters to the country has already been resolved. The deal has already been agreed and the necessary formalities are currently being carried out."
The representative of the Ministry of Defense and Support of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, General Seyid-Mehdi Farhi, announced the start of deliveries of these samples of Russian aviation equipment to Iran in an interview with the military correspondent of the Tasnim news agency.
The country's Armed Forces also confirmed the implementation of plans to purchase the mentioned military equipment from Russia.
The Deputy Defense Minister also added that last year the head of the defense department announced a system of defense innovations, their introduction into the production of military equipment, and this statement has already given the first results. However, as the Deputy minister stressed, this does not mean that perfection has been achieved in all areas, although in some ways Iran is among the best countries in the world. This is especially true for the introduction of new technologies into production. But as for aviation, in this case it is necessary to use the shortest routes, since this is directly related to strengthening the country's defense capability.
Speaking specifically about the production of helicopters, Iran has a very good potential in terms of quantity and is a leader in the region, but the qualitative improvement of helicopter technology is also on the agenda. Dozens of projects have been approved in this area. Some of them have already been implemented, for example, such as night flights, modernization of avionics systems and missile systems. And today, PANHA (an Iranian helicopter Fleet Support, Repair and Renovation Company), in comparison with the past 30 years, has achieved a lot, and the Armed Forces are satisfied with the modernization.
But there are areas where it is slow, but it is necessary in the shortest possible time. And here, more than anywhere else, it is very necessary to exchange experience with neighbors, especially with such an advanced country in terms of the production of military equipment as Russia. According to the Tasnim news agency, about a year ago, in January 2023, Russian Presidential aide Igor Levitin, meeting with First Vice President of the Islamic Republic Mohammad Mohber, announced the readiness of Russian companies to exchange technologies for joint helicopter production with Iran. It is important to note that, as the CEO of the aforementioned PANHA company stated earlier, Iran has already become a kind of regional hub for the repair of helicopter equipment. But for the further development of this branch of the military-industrial complex, new samples are needed.
"The Night Hunter"
The Mi-28 helicopter, or "Night Hunter", is a Russian—made combat helicopter with two 2500 horsepower turboshaft engines, which gives this helicopter the ability to fly at a speed of about 320 km/h.
It is equipped with a 30 mm 2A42 cannon, which is also used in the BMP 2. In addition, the two side wings of this helicopter allow you to carry many different weapons, such as 80- and 122-mm missiles and anti-tank missiles, which provide fire support and allow you to conduct an assault.
Mi-28 Attack Helicopter
In addition to these advantages, the Mi-28 helicopter can use other heat-guided missiles for air defense, and by equipping with outboard fuel tanks, it can achieve a longer range.
The Mi-28 ("Night Hunter") is equipped with various types of modern night vision systems specially designed for flight and operation at night, and its NE model, equipped with modern communication systems and the ability to communicate with UAVs, is intended for export.
The cabin of this helicopter has good protection from bullets of up to 23 mm caliber. In addition, the Mi-28 helicopter is equipped with various laser and thermal signaling devices, as well as flares to reflect thermal missiles. All this significantly increases the level of protection of the helicopter. The Mi-28 can also carry a millimeter-range radar on its propeller. Millimeter wave guidance is a missile guidance method in which radar waves are radiated to the surface of the earth. Usually, the return waves have a wavelength of 50 microns, and if there is a certain object made of a certain material on the surface, then the length of the return waves will be different, and the rocket will follow different wavelengths to reach the target. This guidance method is also used at sea, and since the sea has a smooth and uncomplicated surface, it is possible to recognize the slightest distortion and aim at it. Given the capabilities of the Mi-28 helicopter in the field of carrying weapons, which are several times superior to Cobra helicopters, as well as the described level of protection of the Mi-28, it seems to be a good option for the elite ground forces of the IRGC.
"Super Flanker" according to the NATO classification
The Su-35 is one of the most powerful and practically unsurpassed fighters of the 4++ generation in the world, equipped with a modern radar station with a phased array H-035, which is capable of detecting 30 targets and simultaneously hitting eight targets. The radar has a range of 350 to 400 kilometers, which is the longest range of existing fighters. Its radar is capable of detecting and hitting air, sea and ground targets simultaneously, and since it has more than 1,600 receiving and transmitting elements, disabling it is a difficult task, even for advanced electronic warfare systems. The Su-35 fighter is equipped with adjustable laser-guided bombs and R-77 and R-73 air-to-air missiles. In addition, on the nose of this fighter there is a radar of a thermal imaging electro-optical system called OSL 35, which is capable of identifying targets at a distance of up to 90 kilometers passively and in the form of thermal imaging.
The Su-35 fighter is equipped with two AL41F1 engines, which develop a power of 19,400 lb-ft in normal mode and 31,900 lb-ft in afterburner mode. The engine has variable power, which significantly increases the maneuverability of the fighter.
The maximum speed of this fighter is 1,500 km/h at low altitude and 2,500 km / h at high altitude, and the resource of its powerful engines is 4,000 hours in each service period until the necessary inspections and major repairs are carried out.
This fighter is armed with both anti-ship and anti-radar air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, in addition, it has the ability to launch and fire all kinds of bombs, laser, satellite and radar missiles. The Su-35 can carry up to 10 active R-77 radar missiles, up to six semi-active R-27 radar missiles, up to four R-73 missiles or a combination of them for air combat. In addition, the Su-35 can carry six X-29 missiles, six X-31, X-35 missiles, as well as X-59 missiles. Another weapon that the Su-35 can carry is the adjustable bombs of the KAB series weighing 500 and 1,500 kilograms and the free—fall bombs of the FAB series, along with an internal 30 mm cannon.
The new guardian of the Iranian Air Force Yak-130
But the first bird of this "trio" was still the Yak-130, two of them have already been transferred to the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It happened on September 11th of this year.
Let's try to explain why it is he, that is, a training aircraft, and not, for example, the Su-35, who occupies the first place in this triad.
The Yak-130 is a promising combat training aircraft designed and manufactured by the Russian Yakovlev company and capable of meeting the training needs of Air Force pilots for fourth—generation fighter control training. This aircraft was designed to replace the L-39 training aircraft commissioned by the Russian Armed Forces and provides training flight capabilities for 4++ generation aircraft such as the Su-35 and fifth generation aircraft such as the Su-57.
But this plane is also on combat duty. It has been officially adopted since 2011, and, in addition to the Russian army, its supplies have already been ordered or used by countries such as Algeria, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Belarus, Myanmar and Syria, Russia's traditional partners in the export of military technologies.
The Yak-130 is a two—seat aircraft with an aluminum-composite body, but it is capable, in addition to performing training tasks, also to perform the role of a direct ground support fighter. This aircraft is also capable of carrying up to three tons of ammunition, and for this it has ten compartments for placing weapons under the fuselage, wings and wingtips.
This aircraft does not have an internal 30 mm cannon, but can carry an external 23 mm cannon under the wing. In addition, the Yak 130 can carry a variety of conventional and guided weapons, including 250- and 500-kg bombs, 80, 122 and 330-mm missiles, as well as KAB-500 guided bombs and carry an X-29 guided missile and two R-73 thermal missiles for air combat. The Yak can also carry two electronic warfare units at both ends of the wings and external fuel tanks to increase the operating range.