Reports: Iran to buy 250 advanced fighter jets from Russia

Above: The Sukhoi-30 is a two-seat multi-role fighter jet and bomber capable of operating at significant distances from home base and in poor weather conditions. The aircraft enjoys a wide range of combat capabilities and is used for air patrol, air defense, ground attacks, enemy air defense suppression and air-to-air combat.

Reports: Iran to buy jets from Russia

Israel is looking into reports that Russia plans to sell 250 advanced long-range Sukhoi-30 fighter jets to Iran in an unprecedented billion-dollar deal.

According to reports, in addition to the fighter jets, Teheran also plans to purchase a number of aerial fuel tankers that are compatible with the Sukhoi and capable of extending its range by thousands of kilometers. Defense officials said the Sukhoi sale would grant Iran long-range offensive capabilities...

Despite Israeli and US opposition, Russia recently supplied Iran with advanced antiaircraft systems used to protect Teheran's nuclear installations. At the time, Moscow said it reserved the right to sell Iran weapons, such as the antiaircraft system, that were of a defensive nature.

Read the rest at the Jerusalem Post

Iran buys 250 long-distance Sukhoi fighter-bombers, 20 fuel tankers, from Russia

Tehran and the Russian Rosoboronexport arms group are about to sign a mammoth arms deal running into tens of billions of dollars for the sale to Tehran of 250 Su-30MKM warplanes and 20 IL-78 MKI fuel tankers. DEBKAfile’s military sources report Iran has stipulated delivery of the first aircraft before the end of 2007.

The transaction, Russia’s largest arms deal in 30 years, will endow Iran with a long-range aerial assault capability. The Sukhoi can sustain a four-and-a-half hour raid at its maximum range of 3,000 km against long-distance, marine and low-lying ground targets across the Persian Gulf and Middle East, including Israel and Lebanon.

The fuel tankers extends the Su-30MKM’s assault sustainability to 10 hours and its range to 8,000 km at altitudes of 11-13 km. The closest comparable plane in the West is the American F-15E fighter bomber. Iran’s acquisition of an exceptionally large fleet of the Russian fighter-bomber will elevate its air force to one of the two largest and most advanced in the region, alongside the Israeli Air Force.

Iranian air crews are already training on the new Sukhoi aircraft, ready to start flying them early next year with only a short delay after delivery. DEBKAfile’s sources report that Moscow is selling Tehran the same Sukhoi model as India received earlier this year. The Iranians leaned hard on New Delhi to let them have the Israeli avionics and electronics the Indian Air Force had installed in the Russian craft. India refused.

Read the rest at Debka

Related Link:
Amphibious strike group leaves Monday for Middle East to 'deny terrorists use of the maritime environment'

Related Link:
Report: Stealth bombers to be fitted with 'bunker buster' bombs

Related Link:
Source: Cheney convinces Bush to strike Iran before end of term

Related Link:
Reports: Navy announces deployment of Enterprise strike group to Persian Gulf; Conflicting reports on if it will join or replace Stennis or Nimitz

Related Link:
Reports: USS Enterprise strike group to join Stennis, Nimitz

Related Link:
Reports: Riots in Iran over gas rationing; Rationing due to war fears; Revolutionary Guards in Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Israeli air force training for Iran strike

Related Link:
'Senior American Military Officers': Plan for Iran strike in place; Air Force, Navy to play primary roles

Related Link:
Kuwait says it won’t allow U.S. attack on Iran from territory

Related Link:
Iran threatens U.S. Mideast bases if attacked

Related Link:
Report: Joint U.S.-Israel exercises aimed at Iran

Related Link:
Perspective: Navy Works to Keep Lines Open to Iran

Related Link:
Sources: Iran planning large-scale retaliation if U.S. attacks

Related Link:
'Sources': Cheney senior aide promoting plan to provoke Iran into military response against U.S.

Related Link:
Nine US warships with 17,000 personnel enter Gulf in show of force

Related Link:
Security Analyst to UK Lawmakers: Iran drawing up plans to strike European nuclear plants

Related Link:
Report: Fallon vetoed increased Gulf presence, opposes Bush moves on Iran

Related Link:
Cheney 'warns' Iran on visit to USS Stennis

Related Link:
Official: Kuwait has built food stockpile, taken precautionary measures in event of U.S. attack on Iran

Related Link:
Rice: Military option still open on Iran

Related Link:
USS Nimitz strike group arrives in Persian Gulf

Related Link:
U.S.: Iran Can Target Missile at U.S., Europe in Less Than 8 Years

Related Link:
Eisenhower strike group heading home

Related Link:
Source: Larijani tells Maliki Iraq 'part of the United States' and 'part of the danger' to Iran

Related Link:
U.S.: Iran world's biggest sponsor of terrorism

Related Link:
Iran's top national security official in surprise visit to Iraq for talks with leaders, Maliki

Related Link:
Bahrain: Plans ready in event of U.S. attack on Iran

Related Link:
Bahrain, U.S. hold largest mass casualty drill ever

Related Link:
Report: Kuwait preparing contingency plan for U.S. attack on Iran

Related Link:
Guided missile destroyer USS Chafee leaves for Persian Gulf to join Nimitz

Related Link:
General Holmes: U.S. has military capability for war with Iran, but attack not 'a desired military activity right now'

Related Link:
Report: U.S. offered U.K. to conduct aggressive air patrols over Iran

Related Link:
Stennis group leaves Persian Gulf for Arabian Sea

Related Link:
Israeli Military Intelligence Chief: Iran preparing for U.S. attack in Summer

Related Link:
U.S. orders 3rd carrier to Persian Gulf, says Nimitz to 'replace' Eisenhower

Related Link:
U.S. launches Persian Gulf 'war games' aimed at Iran

Related Link:
Senior Commander: U.S. rules of engagement would have called for fighting in HMS Cornwall incident

Related Link:
Perspective: Iran can harass but not block Hormuz ships-experts

Related Link:
Perspective: Analysts say Iranian military obsolete

Related Link:
Report: Israel, U.S. hold large-scale joint missile defense exercise

Related Link:
Report: Iran poised to strike in wealthy Gulf states if U.S. attacks

Related Link:
Inelligence Chief McConnell: Iran training Iraqi insurgents in I.E.D. use at sites in Lebanon, Iran

Related Link:
Gulf countries deny giving air space for Israeli attack on Iran

Related Link:
Israel to hold nationwide nuclear attack drill

Related Link:
Report: 3 Gulf states agree to Israeli overflights en route to Iran; Turkey urged to allow U.S. overflights, ground attack

Related Link:
UK Defense Sources: Widespread Pentagon opposition to attack on Iran

Related Link:
Report: Pentagon panel plans for attack on Iran with 24-hour notice; Special op teams operating between Iraq and Iran

Related Link:
Report: Israel seeks U.S. okay for Iran attack

Related Link:
UK Military Sources: Massive attack on Iran could come 'any day'

Related Link:
Navy Commander Walsh: US Gulf buildup result of Iranian 'provocations'

Related Link:
USS Stennis joins Eisenhower in Gulf as 'warning' to Iran

Related Link:
Report: U.S. attack plans for Iran include destroying naval, air bases, most of 'military' infrastructure

Related Link:
Report: Pentagon panel plans for attack on Iran with 24-hour notice; Special op teams operating between Iraq and Iran

Related Link:
Officials: Iranian patrol boats probe Iraqi waters

Related Link:
Iran's Elite Guard to Hold 'Asymmetrical ' War Games

Related Link:
Sources: US in advanced stages of planning for attack on Iran; Able, ready to strike in the Spring

Related Link:
Iran's Top Authority: Iran will target U.S. interests world-wide if attacked

Related Link:
U.S. strike group transits Suez on way to buildup in Persian Gulf

Related Link:
Analysis: U.S. and Iran on the precipice

Related Link:
'Senior Pentagon Officials': Air force preparing for aggressive tactics against Iranians in Iraq

Related Link:
Analysis: Surging towards Iran