MajesticPug
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SU30's techs are old and can easily be dismantled by Saudi Arabia's F15 or Turkey/Israel's F16's. China's decision to sell fighter jets will be politics and China needs to walk a tight rope with Iran on one end and Saudi/Israel on the other. That known, J10C would be a balanced political bet because J10C's are capable of defending Iran (China is much larger in land area and J10 was originally designed to engage invading enemy jets) but not enough to threaten Israel with its shorter range. So the US and Israel might be okay with this deal. As for Saudi, they will be getting some F35 and they are not interested in attacking Iran. If they did, they would have already with Iran's obsolete F14 fleets.That's true sir. They suggested it but Iran refused almost 3 years ago. Currently airforce is on second priority based on Iranian military doctrine which considers missile power as its top priority. Why J10 doesn't meet Iranian requirement is because of the fact that they have short range and to have a good punch with J10, you need at least 250 of them, something between 250 to 400 at maximum. Iran is not China to have such a Deep Pocket, we cannot afford it.
Therefor given Iranian doctrine, airforce plays defensive role. In fact we want them as a defensive layer which covers most of our coastlines along Persian Gulf. A fighter that can easily patrol Persian Gulf without needing refueling for multiple times. A fighter in the class of J16 and SU30. These capable fighters do have an eyecatching anti ground capability and given the license conditions of J16, the only available option is SU30 and that with TOT. Iran would refuse even SU30s without TOT and the defense ministry has already announced it. The plan is buying 3 to 5 squadrons directly from Russia and manufacturing similar number of them locally. Otherwise, without TOT, Iran better to spend that money on homemade platforms. It just needs time and we are capable of doing that.
Other than 5th-generation F35 and F22, J10C's are the best bet Iran could get (J16, Rafale, F22, and F35 are not on the menu for Iran). J10C has proven it could beat J16, Su30, and Su35. If properly deployed and used, J10C will be able to guard Iran's air space short of a mass invasion of Israel F35's. JF17 are under power and could not handle the region's F15 or upgraded F16's. Iran is not a poor 3rd-world country that needs to settle for JF17. Hell iran could buy F35 or F16V if they are on the menu.
I think China will sell J10C with the request that Iran tones down its war rhetorics against Israel. Afterall, Iran's primary objective is to develop its tattered economy.