Arrival of Russian MiG-29 Jets in Iran Sparks U.S. Gulf Strategy Rethink
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Iran announced on Sept. 23, 2025, the arrival of Russian MiG-29 fighter jets now stationed at Shiraz air base. The move signals closer Iran-Russia ties and raises new security stakes for the U.S. and its Gulf allies.
On September 23, 2025, as reported by Iran International, Tehran announced the arrival of Russian MiG-29 fighter jets, now deployed at Shiraz air base. This is the first tangible step in Iran’s long-stated plan to modernize an air force still dominated by aircraft bought from the United States before the 1979 revolution. The delivery is presented as a stopgap while more advanced Sukhoi Su-35s are gradually transferred, but even as an interim measure it carries weight. It comes just months after a sharp escalation with Israel, and it highlights how Russia, despite its own war in Ukraine, continues to strengthen military ties with Iran. These jets can’t be seen as relics, but as new instruments of deterrence in a volatile environment.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Iran’s move to field MiG-29s along with their Russian-made munitions changes the regional picture (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)
The MiG-29 may date back to the 1980s, yet in Iranian service its importance is tied less to the airframe itself than to the weapons it can field. Unlike the worn F-4 Phantoms or the handful of F-14s still kept flying, the MiG is designed to carry modern Russian missiles. The R-73, a highly maneuverable short-range weapon, gives Iranian pilots a much sharper edge in close engagements, while the R-27 introduces medium-range strike options using radar or infrared guidance. If Moscow goes further and supplies the R-77, often likened to the American AIM-120, Tehran would for the first time in decades possess a true beyond-visual-range capability. That alone would change how Israeli or Gulf aircraft approach any potential encounter. For Iran, this is less about catching up to rivals than about making the skies more dangerous for them to operate in.
Where the MiG-29 could alter the equation most visibly is in strike missions. The jet is compatible with the Kh-29 missile, a heavy air-to-surface weapon capable of destroying hardened bunkers or infrastructure. It can also carry the versatile Kh-31 series, including both anti-ship and anti-radar variants. Access to these munitions would give Iran tools to disrupt naval movements in the Persian Gulf or to suppress air defense networks during a confrontation with Israel. At present, Tehran relies heavily on ballistic missiles and drones to project power, but adding precision-guided munitions from the air would diversify its strike portfolio. Such a shift would not go unnoticed by regional militaries already adjusting to Iran’s growing drone capabilities.
The MiG-29 itself has an established record with air forces from Eastern Europe to South Asia. Known for its agility and reliability on rough airstrips, it is not a revolutionary aircraft by today’s standards. Yet what matters is the gap it fills for Iran: pairing a still-viable platform with contemporary Russian missiles. Against Israel’s F-35I Adir or the Gulf states’ Eurofighters, the MiG-29 is outclassed technologically, but with the right weapons it becomes a more credible opponent. Pilots flying out of Shiraz with R-73s or R-77s on their wings represent a different kind of challenge than the legacy jets Tehran has depended on. That added layer of uncertainty alone can influence adversaries’ planning in any air campaign.
Stationing the aircraft at Shiraz is a clear choice. From that base, Iranian fighters can cover the Persian Gulf, back operations in Iraq, and, with tanker support, reach farther west. Paired with discussions about acquiring S-400 or HQ-9 surface-to-air systems, the MiG-29s fit into a broader plan to make Israeli or U.S. strike options more complicated. For Israel, used to long-range sorties against targets in Syria or even inside Iran, the risk picture becomes more complex. Washington and Gulf capitals will also pay attention, since bringing Russian fighters into service deepens the practical ties between Tehran and Moscow beyond mere signaling. The intended audience is both domestic and regional: Iran is trying to rebuild deterrence after years of wear and losses.
Officials still present the MiG-29s as a temporary measure, with the Su-35 as the end state. Those deliveries have lagged, partly due to Russia’s focus on Ukraine, and Iran’s request for up to 50 aircraft remains far from fulfilled. Even so, a small number of MiGs armed with Russian missiles shifts Tehran’s posture. After Israeli strikes earlier this year damaged elements of Iran’s S-300 network, the pressure to restore air defenses and refresh combat aviation has increased. The arrival of these jets, regardless of age, signals that Iran does not intend to stay on the back foot. Each shipment from Moscow, however limited, becomes another piece in Tehran’s effort to narrow the gap with stronger regional air forces.
Iran’s move to field MiG-29s along with their Russian-made munitions changes the regional picture. The airframes may be a stopgap, but the weapons they carry, whether aimed at enemy aircraft, ships in the Gulf, or air-defense radars, raise the cost of any operation against Iran. For Israel, Gulf partners, and the United States, uncontested access to Iran’s airspace is now harder to assume. Tehran is not seeking parity so much as making its skies and its neighborhood more difficult to operate in than at any point in recent years.
The expected delivery of Su-35s would push this trend further. Unlike the MiG-29, the Su-35 can use a wider set of advanced weapons, including the longer-range R-77-1 air-to-air missile and Kh-59 precision strike variants. That combination would give Iran options for engagements at distance and stand-off strikes that it currently lacks. If integrated well, these aircraft would help Iran defend its airspace and project power across the Gulf and into the Levant. Taken together, MiG-29s as an interim measure and Su-35s as a more capable follow-on, the plan points to an air force that, while still limited, is becoming more capable and less predictable in the region.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
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Iran announced on Sept. 23, 2025, the arrival of Russian MiG-29 fighter jets now stationed at Shiraz air base. The move signals closer Iran-Russia ties and raises new security stakes for the U.S. and its Gulf allies.
On September 23, 2025, as reported by Iran International, Tehran announced the arrival of Russian MiG-29 fighter jets, now deployed at Shiraz air base. This is the first tangible step in Iran’s long-stated plan to modernize an air force still dominated by aircraft bought from the United States before the 1979 revolution. The delivery is presented as a stopgap while more advanced Sukhoi Su-35s are gradually transferred, but even as an interim measure it carries weight. It comes just months after a sharp escalation with Israel, and it highlights how Russia, despite its own war in Ukraine, continues to strengthen military ties with Iran. These jets can’t be seen as relics, but as new instruments of deterrence in a volatile environment.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Iran’s move to field MiG-29s along with their Russian-made munitions changes the regional picture (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)
The MiG-29 may date back to the 1980s, yet in Iranian service its importance is tied less to the airframe itself than to the weapons it can field. Unlike the worn F-4 Phantoms or the handful of F-14s still kept flying, the MiG is designed to carry modern Russian missiles. The R-73, a highly maneuverable short-range weapon, gives Iranian pilots a much sharper edge in close engagements, while the R-27 introduces medium-range strike options using radar or infrared guidance. If Moscow goes further and supplies the R-77, often likened to the American AIM-120, Tehran would for the first time in decades possess a true beyond-visual-range capability. That alone would change how Israeli or Gulf aircraft approach any potential encounter. For Iran, this is less about catching up to rivals than about making the skies more dangerous for them to operate in.
Where the MiG-29 could alter the equation most visibly is in strike missions. The jet is compatible with the Kh-29 missile, a heavy air-to-surface weapon capable of destroying hardened bunkers or infrastructure. It can also carry the versatile Kh-31 series, including both anti-ship and anti-radar variants. Access to these munitions would give Iran tools to disrupt naval movements in the Persian Gulf or to suppress air defense networks during a confrontation with Israel. At present, Tehran relies heavily on ballistic missiles and drones to project power, but adding precision-guided munitions from the air would diversify its strike portfolio. Such a shift would not go unnoticed by regional militaries already adjusting to Iran’s growing drone capabilities.
The MiG-29 itself has an established record with air forces from Eastern Europe to South Asia. Known for its agility and reliability on rough airstrips, it is not a revolutionary aircraft by today’s standards. Yet what matters is the gap it fills for Iran: pairing a still-viable platform with contemporary Russian missiles. Against Israel’s F-35I Adir or the Gulf states’ Eurofighters, the MiG-29 is outclassed technologically, but with the right weapons it becomes a more credible opponent. Pilots flying out of Shiraz with R-73s or R-77s on their wings represent a different kind of challenge than the legacy jets Tehran has depended on. That added layer of uncertainty alone can influence adversaries’ planning in any air campaign.
Stationing the aircraft at Shiraz is a clear choice. From that base, Iranian fighters can cover the Persian Gulf, back operations in Iraq, and, with tanker support, reach farther west. Paired with discussions about acquiring S-400 or HQ-9 surface-to-air systems, the MiG-29s fit into a broader plan to make Israeli or U.S. strike options more complicated. For Israel, used to long-range sorties against targets in Syria or even inside Iran, the risk picture becomes more complex. Washington and Gulf capitals will also pay attention, since bringing Russian fighters into service deepens the practical ties between Tehran and Moscow beyond mere signaling. The intended audience is both domestic and regional: Iran is trying to rebuild deterrence after years of wear and losses.
Officials still present the MiG-29s as a temporary measure, with the Su-35 as the end state. Those deliveries have lagged, partly due to Russia’s focus on Ukraine, and Iran’s request for up to 50 aircraft remains far from fulfilled. Even so, a small number of MiGs armed with Russian missiles shifts Tehran’s posture. After Israeli strikes earlier this year damaged elements of Iran’s S-300 network, the pressure to restore air defenses and refresh combat aviation has increased. The arrival of these jets, regardless of age, signals that Iran does not intend to stay on the back foot. Each shipment from Moscow, however limited, becomes another piece in Tehran’s effort to narrow the gap with stronger regional air forces.
Iran’s move to field MiG-29s along with their Russian-made munitions changes the regional picture. The airframes may be a stopgap, but the weapons they carry, whether aimed at enemy aircraft, ships in the Gulf, or air-defense radars, raise the cost of any operation against Iran. For Israel, Gulf partners, and the United States, uncontested access to Iran’s airspace is now harder to assume. Tehran is not seeking parity so much as making its skies and its neighborhood more difficult to operate in than at any point in recent years.
The expected delivery of Su-35s would push this trend further. Unlike the MiG-29, the Su-35 can use a wider set of advanced weapons, including the longer-range R-77-1 air-to-air missile and Kh-59 precision strike variants. That combination would give Iran options for engagements at distance and stand-off strikes that it currently lacks. If integrated well, these aircraft would help Iran defend its airspace and project power across the Gulf and into the Levant. Taken together, MiG-29s as an interim measure and Su-35s as a more capable follow-on, the plan points to an air force that, while still limited, is becoming more capable and less predictable in the region.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.
