On February 10, 2026, in Tehran, the military attaché of the Chinese Embassy presented Brigadier General Bahman Behmard, commander of the Iranian Air Force, with a large-scale model of the fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 "Mighty Dragon" fighter. The gesture, made during a ceremony dedicated to Iranian Air Force Day, sparked active speculation about Tehran's possible purchase of Chinese stealth machines instead of the expected Russian Su-57E.
Iran has long been looking for ways to radically modernize its aging aircraft fleet, which is dominated by aircraft from the 1970s and 1980s — F-14 Tomcat, F-4 Phantom, and MiG-29. Delays in the delivery of Russian Su-35 and Su-57 fighters, due to Moscow's priorities in providing its own Aerospace Forces amid tensions with NATO, are forcing Tehran to look for alternative partners. China, which is strengthening strategic cooperation with Iran, is actively using this moment.
J-20 is one of the most modern Chinese fighters, possessing stealth characteristics, high maneuverability, and the ability to conduct long-range air combat. The delivery of even one regiment of such machines (tentatively by 2027–2028) would allow the Iranian Air Force to confront American F-22A and F-35C aircraft in the region on an equal footing or even with an advantage. So far, there are no official contracts for the export of the J-20 — Beijing is traditionally extremely cautious about transferring its top technologies abroad — but the symbolic gift of the model is interpreted as a hint of readiness for more serious cooperation.
For the Russian Su-57, this turn of events creates serious risks in the export market. The production facilities of the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ) are fully loaded with orders for the Russian Aerospace Forces. Additionally, resources may be occupied by the execution of the Algerian contract.
It should be noted that the Algerian authorities have never officially confirmed the purchase of fifth-generation fighters from Russia, however, the state television channel of the African country showed a report a year ago about the purchase of the Su-57E. Rosoboronexport spoke about the first foreign contract for the latest aircraft, but did not name the customer country. If Iran ultimately prefers the Chinese platform, this will significantly weaken the position of the Su-57 in the Middle East and Near Asia — key regions for the Russian export of fifth-generation combat aircraft.
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