Iran to buy Russian jet engines

Tehran is negotiating a deal with Moscow to purchase helicopters and, fighter jet engines in a bid to help balance power in the region.
Tehran is negotiating a deal with Moscow to purchase helicopters and, fighter jet engines in a bid to help balance power in the region.
Following a meeting between Russian and Iranian military officials in Tehran last week, the intergovernmental commission is discussing a deal on Russian helicopters and deliveries of modified RD-33 engines for a new fleet of Iranian fighter jets.

The engines will power multipurpose supersonic Iran made fighter jets called the Azarakhsh (Lightening) to replace American F-5 models.

Modifying the Ka-32 helicopter has also been taken into consideration.

Head of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriev stated that 'Russia and Iran are promoting regional stability.'

Dmitriev said that all arms sold to Iran are and will be for 'defensive' purposes adding that Tehran had never asked for offensive weapons.