Thank you for the technical reasoning and information. I dont disagree that there are better planes in the world than the su-35. I also dont see why Iran still can't make plenty of Kowsars alongside the fleet of 30-40 su-35s it has because I'd personally go for option 2. Iran should stick to putting their tech on the Kowsar instead of any foreign planes. Building a plane around your own parts and technology is better than making a frankenstein, which Iran only does out of desperation. Question, with regards to the radar issues of the su-35 in the face of its foreign competitors, are the Iranian radar systems used on Kowsar going to be better equipped to deal with these challenges?
I honestly don't see Russia realigning with the west and against Iranian interests for a very long time, maybe even ever...to fear otherwise is irrational, especially if youre keeping a watch of whats going on in the world right now especially to Russia and China.
Also, despite the comprehensive reply, you haven't really meanioned any other alternatives to the Su-35 except for purely indegenous and more inferior mig-29...we dont want false economy in the airforce. So when it comes to planes sourced abroad, the Su-35 is the better option.
Doesn't matter if they bought Rafale, it's still a western NATO state and had to be approved by US and their allies in the EU. Also it's ridiculous to think Russia should buy western tech for its airforce. I also doubt their electronic is that bad especially with allies like Iran and China. You must be going by some old propagandised data.
- It all depends upon what kind of doctrine you follow. Airforces traditionally are supposed to attack the enemy surface, aerial assets and defend your airspace. Having an assymetric doctrine our need for attacking the enemy through aircrafts is getting reduced with time. We now have a force of CM, ~HGV/MARV-MRBMs and worlds third largest fleet of loitering and MALE UCAVs for carrying out the attack task. The moment conflict starts IRGC will fire barrages of Missiles at forward FAB's bases of enemy (KSA+UAE+Kuwait+Israel and possibly against Turkey) countries to destroy their aerial fleets at ground. Whatever will be left will be the IADS (integrated air defence) and IRIAF's task to defend the airspace from. So the focus is on developing that A2A capable platforms that can integrate through datalink with the GWACs network on ground, Ambush Short range and long range SAMS. This system is something that got demonstrated recently and centered at Khatamal Anbiya base, thanks to Farzad Esmaeli.
To create such a force with strong interception capabilities you need fighters with following characterstics:
-Low RCS to make it harder for the enemy to get a track and force them to come closer for SAMs.
-Long-range radars with look up and look down/SAR capability. They also need to have ECM controls to save themselves from Jamming
-Avionics package of RWR/MAWS slaved chaff/flares, ECM Jammers
-Datalinking with other fighters, UCAVs, Air-defence network
-Longest possible ranged BVR missiles and all aspect WVR missiles
-Good to High maneuverability for putting up a fight with intruders
-Economical to operate/maintain with a large repository of spare parts.
- Low cost to bulk up numbers in case conflict gets elongated (Iran-Iraq war experience)
SU-35S or any Flanker like SU-27SM, or SU-30SM have the following characteristics.
-10-15 m2 RCS
-IRBIS-E PESA radar that tracks fighters at 100 m2
-Avionics package of RWR/MAWS slaved chaff/flares, ECM Jammers
-No Data linking
-100 KM bearing BVR missiles
-Super maneuverability, Multiaxis FBW
-Heavy maintenance with no infrastructure inside Iran
-Extremely costly at 85 million USD. What if enemy missile strike+Crashes takes out 10-15 of them during initial phase of conflict then you are left with 20-25 fighters.
Let's compare two platforms or options for IRIAF in the same framework,
MIG-29M2/MIG-35
- ~5 m2 RCS
- Zhuk-ME tracks fighter sized target at ~100 KM, Option for Zhuk AESA exists.
-Avionics package of RWR/MAWS slaved chaff/flares, ECM Jammers
-No Data linking
-100 KM bearing BVR missiles, Allaspect WVR
-Good maneuverability, Multiaxis FBW
-Infrastructure inside Iran
-Costs around 25-40 million USD. IRIAF already operates 23 airframes so an additional force of 50-55 will give a very sound boost to interception options.
Kowsar-I
- 1-3 m2 RCS
-IEI Bayyenat-II locally produced Grifo-346 tracks fighter sized target at 93 KM, has SAR, and ECCM control.
-Avionics package of RWR/MAWS slaved chaff/flares, ECM Jammers
-Data linking with UCAVS, Fighters, IADS
-Can integrate BVR, Allaspect WVR
-Good maneuverability, Customized FBW
-Local production and maintainance infrastructure from scratch exists inside Iran
-Costs 10 million USD. There will be 60-70 fighters.
Kowsar-I (Hypothetical radar and engine upgrade)
- 1-3 m2 RCS
-IEI Bayyenat-III locally produced Grifo-E equivalent AESA radar. Cant be jammed easily and tracks a fighter-sized target at 140 KM, with ECCM control.
-Avionics package of RWR/MAWS slaved chaff/flares, ECM/ECCM Jammers
-Data linking with UCAVs, Fighters, IADS
-PL-15/R-77 BVR, Allaspect WVR
-modern Turbofan with high maneuverability, multiaxis FBW
-Local production and maintenance infrastructure from scratch exists in Iran
-Costs 16-18 million USD.
So alternative to spending 5 billion on a token force of 40 SU-35S, IRIAF can get the following from Russia for 5 Billion USD:
- 23 MIG-29 of IRIAF MLued, upgraded to MIG-29SMT standard
- 50 MIG-29M2 airframes
- 300 R-77-1 + 300 R-74 for MIG and Kowsar fleet
- 200 RD-33M Turbofans for Kowsar-II
+ Sign (just sign) the future TOT of any fifth-generation fighter.