Loading...
Before reading this article, please click "Follow", which is not only convenient for you to discuss and share, but also can bring you a different sense of participation, thank you for your support!
Recently, the Iranian government resolutely announced that it would no longer consider the introduction of Russian Su-35SE fighters, a wise move that finally put a successful end to the long-standing controversy over whether Iran will purchase the fighter on a large scale.
In the vast factory site of Komsomolsk, Russia, more than 20 Su-35SE fighters originally scheduled to be delivered to Egypt are arranged neatly but lonely, like abandoned orphans.
However, due to the decisive intervention of the United States, the batch of fighters could not be traded smoothly, forcing Egypt to cancel the order.
Since the lifting of the U.N. arms embargo on Iran in October 2020, Russia has been hopeful that it will sell the warplanes to Iran.
However, the Iranian government has shown rare caution in the face of a possible new round of tough sanctions from Western countries, and they have solemnly pledged not to make large-scale military purchases immediately after the embargo is lifted.
While Iran's decision may seem sudden, many shrewd analysts have long been aware of the opportunity.
Before 2020, especially during the period when Egypt planned to make large purchases, the Su-35SE fighter was still relatively well-known in the market, and was even touted by the Russian media.
At that time, Russia's leaders and defense officials frequently boasted about the aircraft's excellent performance, which led to high expectations for it.
However, the good times did not last long, and the sudden outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 completely shattered this beautiful illusion.
On that battlefield filled with gunpowder, Russian-made fighters such as the Su-34 and Su-35S suffered heavy losses, and the rate of loss was jaw-dropping, even far beyond the speed of their replenishment.
These warplanes have been repeatedly shot down in the bitter conflict with Ukraine, leading to a sharp decline in its international reputation.
This embarrassing situation has aroused widespread heated discussions on Chinese forums and international social media, especially the topic of "why the PLA did not purchase additional Su-35SK fighters", which has aroused heated discussions among netizens.
The reason why the PLA did not purchase more Su-35SK fighters is mainly because the performance of this fighter in internal confrontation exercises is not excellent, and it fails to meet the strict combat needs of the PLA.
And this wise decision of the People's Liberation Army also indirectly reflects that the performance of the Su-35SK is not as good as people expected.
This embarrassing fact has seriously affected the potential deal between Russia and Iran, so that India, which originally had a strong interest in the Su-35 fighter, also chose to withdraw.
This series of incidents has ruthlessly revealed the poor performance of Russian-made fighters in actual combat, and has also directly affected their sales prospects in the international arms market.
Now, in the huge manufacturing plant of Komsomolsk, more than 20 Su-35SE fighters that no one cares about are forced to sit idle for a long time on the wide airfield, gradually covered with dust.
However, this awkward situation is not unique to the Su-35 fighter, and other once-sought-after Russian-made weapon systems, such as the S-400 air defense system, the T-90S main battle tank, and the BMP series of infantry fighting vehicles, are also facing sales difficulties.
Due to the lack of innovation, the backwardness of basic industrial capacity and the serious shortage of production capacity, the reputation of Russian military products in the international market has plummeted.
Some long-time loyal customers, including India, have begun to turn their attention to advanced weapons systems from other countries.
This shift in India has undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to Russia, which has always been one of the important purchasers of Russian weapons.
The struggling sales of Su-35SE fighters and other Russian-made armaments underscore the indisputable fact that even staunch supporters of the past now have deep doubts about the actual capabilities of Russian-made weapons systems.
This awkward situation should perhaps be seen as a wake-up call that real military power should never be confined to flashy pamphlets.
At the same time, it is a profound irony of weapons suppliers who rely too much on exaggerated marketing to ignore the actual performance of their products.
By contrast, China's military strategy and procurement decisions appear to be more sensible and pragmatic.
China not only focuses on the practicality and forward-looking nature of its weapons, but also on their effectiveness in actual combat rather than just pursuing their reputation.