Leaked Russian Documents Reveal Iran’s Secret US$6.5 Billion Deal for 48 Su-35 Fighter Jets

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

In a stunning development, leaked documents from Russia’s Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET) — a major subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec Corporation — have exposed Iran’s plans to purchase a massive fleet of 48 Su-35 multirole fighter jets.

The leaked files, which surfaced across social media platforms in early October 2025, provide detailed export documentation, including electronic warfare (EW) equipment manifests and radio-frequency (RF) systems designated for Iranian-bound aircraft.

The revelations confirm one of the most persistent rumours in defence circles: that Tehran and Moscow have quietly concluded a major airpower procurement deal that could transform Iran’s long-decaying air force into one of the region’s most formidable.

According to the documents, Iran’s Su-35 acquisition will be integrated with advanced EW and avionics packages developed by KRET, underscoring the scale of the project and the growing depth of military-technical cooperation between the two sanctioned states.

The leak represents not merely an arms deal revelation — but a profound indicator of a shifting global order where Moscow and Tehran are consolidating a defence partnership aimed squarely at counterbalancing Western air dominance across Eurasia and the Middle East.

The origin of the leak appears to trace back to a sophisticated cyberattack attributed to Ukrainian hackers targeting Rostec and its subsidiaries.

The attackers reportedly gained access to KRET’s internal export databases, releasing several internal summary tables that detailed avionics, radar systems, and electronic warfare suite contracts destined for foreign clients.

These documents were rapidly disseminated across X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and OSINT communities, sparking intense debate among defence analysts, journalists, and military intelligence observers.

While Russian authorities have not commented publicly, multiple independent experts have verified key identifiers — including supplier codes, procurement categories, and serial designations — that correspond closely with previously documented KRET export patterns.

In the leaked tables, Iran is believed to be represented by customer code “364”, which corresponds to an export package of 48 Su-35 units scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2028.