Russia Sells Iran Over 300 Air-to-Air Missiles, Likely for Future Su-35s

Russia has sold Iran at least 327 missiles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground types, likely intended for Iran’s future fleet of Su-35 fighter jets.

UNITED24 Media reported this based on documents obtained by its editorial team.

Since 2023, the two countries have been signing contracts for aviation weapons, likely to equip Iranian fighter jets to counter potential U.S. and Israeli attacks.

Missiles identified include:

• Kh-38 – guided air-to-surface missile with a range of up to 40 km
• K-73 (R-73) – short-range air-to-air missile
• K-77 (R-77) – medium-range air-to-air missile
• Kh-31 – anti-radar/anti-ship air-to-ground missile

Kh-38 Missiles

In 2023–2024, the Russian Iskra machine-building enterprise submitted a request to the federal state-owned Perm Powder Plant to manufacture and supply components designated 65DU.S-Sh, 65DU.M-Sh, 65DU.M-V, V-287, 65DU.S-Sh IN, and 65DU.M-Sh IN, as well as to assemble the 65DU.00 unit, a component of the Kh-38 missile, for a foreign customer identified as K-10. The order covered a total of 120 units.

K-73 Missiles

In 2023, Perm Powder Plant (PPZ) and Iskra signed contracts for the supply of Sh-295 Variant units – the warheads for K-73 missiles. The total order amounted to 123 units.

K-77 Missiles

The joint-stock company Iskra Machine-Building Design Bureau named after I.I. Kartukov submitted a request to PPZ for the production of Sh-328, ISH-328, and V-328 components, as well as assembly services for the 542.U-00 unit, which is part of the K-77 missile engine assembly. The order covers 42 units and is scheduled for 2025–2027.

Kh-31 Missiles

The Russian plant Radiopribor asked the electronics company Svetlana-Elektropribor to manufacture and supply RROP-5 and M31102 components in 2025. These are parts of the U505E unit, which is produced for Kh-31E missiles. Deliveries are planned quarterly, totaling 42 units.

Su-35s for Iran

In March 2023, Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations announced that it had finalized a contract with Russia to purchase Su-35 fighter jets.

The statement confirmed earlier U.S. intelligence reports that Russia planned to supply Su-35s to Iran in exchange for kamikaze drones, and that training for Iranian pilots was already underway.

At the time, it was believed that Iran was seeking 24 fighter jets that were originally intended for Egypt, which later canceled the order – likely due to the threat of U.S. sanctions.

However, thanks to leaked documents in November 2025, it became known that Iran had purchased 16 newly built fighter jets from Russia, with delivery expected around 2027. According to UNITED24 Media, this roughly coincides with the timeline for the delivery of the ordered aviation weapons.