Algeria and Iran remain loyal and are ordering Russian fighter jets as they confront Morocco and Israel in regional arms races. At the same time, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Malaysia diversified their arms procurement needs to Europe, South Korea, and America.
Black Mirror published 300 documents from Rostec. Of particular interest is what is alleged to be a list of contracts from KRET, which is an electronic warfare and avionics subsidiary of Rosetc.
That document shows 48 Su-35 fighter jet sales to Iran (listed as “364”), 12 Su-57 and 14 Su-34 fighter jet sales to Algeria (listed as “012”), and six Su-35s for Ethiopia (listed as “231”).
Iran and its dismal armed forces
Since the Revolution of 1979, Iran has been cut off from purchasing fighter jets on the international market, although it did receive around 100 Iraqi jets as they fled destruction in the Gulf War.
The Soviet Union also blocked the sale of weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran, fearing it would foment trouble in its Muslim-majority regions in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
In recent years, relations between Russia and Iran have warmed, a trend that accelerated following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In 2024 and 2025, Israel launched air attacks on Iran. Israel quickly destroyed the S-300 SAMs and BAVAR-373 that Iran had received, and with Iran lacking modern fighter jets, Israel quickly secured air dominance.
It had been rumoured for some time that Iran was receiving Russian Su-35s, but none were to be seen during Israel’s Operation Rising Lion. Following the campaign, there were signals that Iran might turn to China for fighter jets (like the J-10) and air defence.
More recently, The Jerusalem Post reported that Russia has rushed old legacy MiG-29s to Iran as a stopgap. It is unclear if or when those 48 Su-35s will be delivered to Iran and if circumstances have changed.
Iranian fighter jet acquisition
Alleged leaks from Rostec, Russia’s state defense conglomerate, suggest that Iran may be preparing to acquire dozens of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets in a landmark deal with Moscow—potentially marking one of Russia’s largest arms exports since its invasion of Ukraine.
The documents, which have surfaced online, indicate that Tehran intends to purchase 48 of the advanced aircraft. The move could significantly modernize its air force and deepen military cooperation between Iran and Russia as Tehran faces escalating confrontation with the United States and Israel, while Moscow continues its standoff with the West.
The possible Su-35 deal follows Iran’s 12-day war with Israel and subsequent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, which exposed the limits of Tehran’s aging air fleet. Upgrading to modern Su-35 fighters would greatly enhance Iran’s ability to deter future attacks and defend key sites.
If verified, the acquisition would not only strengthen Iran’s regional position but also highlight deepening defense ties between two heavily sanctioned states. For Russia, the deal would provide a crucial export success amid sanctions and wartime production strains.
The leaked Rostec files, reportedly released on October 2 by the hacker group Black Mirror, include over 300 internal documents detailing export contracts, pricing and delivery schedules.
Asia, have reported that customer code “364” in these documents corresponds to Iran, indicating a potential order of 48 Su-35 multirole fighter jets.
The documents suggest that this acquisition will be integrated with advanced electronic warfare and avionics packages developed by KRET, a major subsidiary of Russia’s Rostec Corporation.
One entry, labeled “Code 364,” outlined the $686 million program—with deliveries scheduled to occur in phases over 16 to 48 months, meaning the first aircraft could arrive as early as 2026 and the final batch by 2028. The program includes Khibiny-M electronic warfare systems to enhance defensive and countermeasure capabilities. Army Recognition said that while the materials remained unverified, their formatting and terminology closely resembled authentic Rostec documentation.
Ethiopian blunt assessment of Su-35
Ethiopia’s apparent order for six Su-35s is unclear, with an OSINT account, George N. , calling it an “outdated” fighter jet platform.
The Su-35 is a Russian twin-engine multirole fighter with thrust-vectoring engines for exceptional maneuverability. It features the Soviet-era PESA Irbis-E radar, can track multiple targets simultaneously, and carries up to 8,000 kilograms of missiles and bombs. Designed to compete with modern Western fourth-generation fighters, but repeatedly failing in the Ukraine war, Russia lost more than 28 Su-35s. Although it serves as a cornerstone of Russia’s air force and export programs, the Su-35 failed to achieve export success due to its 40-year-old radar design.
Russia-Iran Ties
Last month, Iran received a batch of second-hand Russian MiG-29 fighter jets, enhancing its aerial capabilities. These deals coincide with the recent Iranian–Russian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed earlier this year by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. This treaty, effective from this month, seeks to bolster bilateral ties across defense, energy and economic sectors.
Algeria’s Role
Algeria fought a long and bloody war for independence with France in the 1950s, and its relations with the West have been tense ever since. This is aggravated by its arms race with Western-supported Morocco. Spending around 8% of GDP on its military annually, Alergia is one of the most militarised countries in the world.
Military Africa in August 2025, said that Morocco could be the next country to sign a deal to order the advanced F-35 stealth fighter.
Algeria is one of the few customers that appears to remain loyal to Russia despite CAASTA sanctions. It is also the only export customer to have ordered Russia’s over-hyped and troubled Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet.
In April 2025, The War Zone (TWZ) reported that Su-35s that had been intended for Iran were instead in Algeria. According to the leaked document, Algeria has ordered 14 Su-34 fighter/bombers. It’s unclear if they are also receiving those Su-34s reported by TWZ.
A separate entry from the leaked documents, “Code 012,” appears to involve Algeria, listing 12 Su-57E fighters and Su-34 support kits valued at $414 million. If confirmed, Algeria would become the first African nation to operate fifth-generation fighters, strengthening its deterrence across the western Mediterranean.
Russia’s Export Struggles
The deliveries underscore Moscow’s role as a key military supplier at a time when Russia’s overall arms exports have fallen sharply by 92 percent. According to the Jamestown Foundation, a think tank in Washington, D.C., shipments dropped by 92 percent between 2021 and 2024, leaving only a dozen active buyers. With production focused on the war in Ukraine, contracts with countries like Iran and Algeria are increasingly vital to sustaining Moscow’s defense export business.
Neither Tehran nor Moscow has confirmed the alleged Su-35 deal. If authenticated, the agreement could redefine regional airpower, bolster Iran’s defenses against the United States and Israel, and mark a new phase in Russia-Iran strategic cooperation.
Russia no longer counts Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and India.
The assertion that Russia no longer counts Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and India as arms export customers is accurate. While India is diversifying its arms suppliers and its share of Russian imports has significantly decreased, India remains one of Russia’s largest, though not always its first, arms customers. Since the Ukraine war, Russia has failed to supply arms to India, and significant contracts are still not being fulfilled.
Western sanctions against Russia may strain its arms trade, but this has not led Russia to stop exporting to India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. Rostec and Rosoboronexport no longer expect major contracts from these countries as they shift arms procurement to Western nations.
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