Iran Receives First New Fighter Jets in 30 Years as Russia Delivers MiG-29sFor the first time in more than three decades, Iran has received new fighter aircraft. According to Military Watch Magazine, Russia delivered MiG-29 jets to the Shiraz Air Base, renewing debates over the country’s future fighter procurement strategy. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Srđan Popović, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ MiGovi 29 - Takovo 2020 - 03Debate Between Russian and Chinese FightersIn January, Iranian officials confirmed placing orders for Russian Su-35 fighters, while observers had long expected Tehran to also purchase Chinese J-10C jets. While modern MiG-29Ms are produced in small batches, fewer than 20 per year, Russia can prioritize Iranian orders and also transfer over 100 stored jets from reserves. The ability to quickly receive and deploy MiG-29s is critical for Iran as it faces continued threats, analysts note.