Article Summary: Russia’s Su-57 Felon stealth fighter was recently spotted in Iran, fueling speculation about Tehran’s potential interest in acquiring the aircraft.
Key Point #1 – While some reports suggest it made a brief refueling stop after participating in Aero India 2025, others claim it remained on the ground due to engine issues.
Su-57 Felon. Image Credit: Screengrab from X.
Key Point #2 – Iran has already purchased Su-35s from Russia, and experts believe the Su-57 could be a follow-on acquisition to modernize the aging Iranian Air Force. If Iran secures the Su-57, it would mark a significant upgrade in its air capabilities, potentially altering the regional balance amid growing tensions with Israel and the U.S.
Russia’s Su-57 Spotted in Iran—Is a Major Arms Deal Coming?
What is Russia’s Su-57 Felon stealth fighter doing in Iran? And no, we aren’t talking about Top Gun: Maverick.
A mix of satellite imagery and images on the ground posted on websites in Iran show the Russian Sukhoi Su-57 on the ground in Bandar Abbas at the 9th Tactical Airbase.
Reports diverge at this point, with some saying that the latest Russian new-generation fighter made a landing just for a brief refueling stop.
Others claim that the aircraft stayed on the ground for several days due to engine problems.
It was the first known stop of a Su-57 Felon landing in Iran, which was a big deal.
There has been additional speculation that the Su-57, which was on its way back to Russia from having participated in the biennial India air show, Aero India. This event took place from 10-14 February 2025 and has become famous for being the first international event where the Russian 5th-generation jet and the US F-35 were located and flew from the same aerodrome.
Said speculation was prompted by rumors that Iran might be interested in acquiring the Su-57. This would be as a hedge against what is being discussed constantly as the near-certainty of an attack on Iran by Israel and the US.
The attack has been anticipated for years now and would be aimed at eliminating Iran’s facilities for the development and production of nuclear weapons.
A Follow-On Acquisition
Iran has been operating an air force with one of the oldest average age-per-aircraft numbers of any such force in the world.
This is due to the majority of its combat platforms having been acquired during the reign of the Shah of Iran, who was deposed in 1979
For almost half a century, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has continued to overhaul and refurbish this fleet of old US-made F-4, F-5, and F-14 aircraft.
The country has acquired a small number of Russian Mikoyan MiG-29 and Su-22 – a Soviet-era attack aircraft.
The latter has been modernized with the help of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) aerospace sector and carries some Chinese-made weaponry as well.
These and other efforts have kept older airframes relevant and capable of carrying some – but not all manner of – modern combat missions.
However, Iran has been forced to finally acquire a modern, heavy air combat platform in the form of the Su-35. Iran first announced in 2023 that it had finalized an agreement to acquire 12 of the Su-35 export models from Russia.
These fighter jets were originally to be delivered to Egypt, but their armed forces and called off the purchase at the last minute. Iran essentially became the back-up customer when these aircraft were “orphaned” with no buyer. The Su-35s
Is There an Su-57 Deal for Iran?
Su-35s have begun to arrive in Iran, but the internal configuration of these particular “export models” is unknown.
More than one outlet reports that the “Super Flanker” order could be expanded beyond the original 24 jets that were to have gone to Egypt to as many as 50 of the aircraft.
This again adds weight to the speculation that Iran could be considering a purchase of the Su-57 as well. Russian sources have stated on more than one occasion that the Su-57 would receive its first export orders beginning in 2025, but the customer most frequently mentioned was the Algerian Air Force.
Russia’s Su-57 Stealth Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
There have also been reports connected to the Aero India expo that Russia and India were discussing a major license production agreement to deliver the Su-57 to the Indian Air Force. These two developments have driven the narrative that these two sales would boost customer confidence in the aircraft and that the fighter may now be pitched to Iran as a follow-on acquisition after the Su-35.
The two aircraft have a commonality in the form of numerous on-board systems. The Su-57 radar is a development of the Su-35’s NIIP N035, so particular efficiencies would be achieved if the IRIAF were to acquire both types, said a Russia aerospace analyst close to Moscow’s combat aircraft business.
Su-57 artist rendering. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
About the Author: Reuben F. Johnson
Reuben F. Johnson is a survivor of the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and is now an Expert on Foreign Military Affairs with the Fundacja im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego in Warsaw. He has been a consultant to the Pentagon, several NATO governments and the Australian government in the fields of defense technology and weapon systems design. Over the past 30 years he has resided in and reported from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Brazil, the People’s Republic of China and Australia.
