Leaked Files Suggest Russia in Fighter Jet Talks With Iran, Algeria, and Ethiopia

Leaked documents allegedly from Russia’s state defense conglomerate Rostec suggest Moscow is negotiating multi-billion-dollar fighter jet sales with Iran, Ethiopia, and Algeria, signaling one of its largest weapons export pushes in years.

The files, published online on October 3 by hacker group Black Mirror, reportedly contain over 300 internal Rostec papers detailing export contracts, prices, and delivery schedules for Sukhoi aircraft.

The materials have not been independently verified, but the layout and phrasing resemble authentic company records, Ukrainian state-run news agency UNITED24 reported.

Iran’s $6 Billion Jet Purchase

According to the leaked data, Iran appears under a customer code tied to a deal worth about 6 billion euros ($6.9 billion) for 48 Su-35 fighter jets.

Deliveries are said to be planned between 2026 and 2028, with each plane fitted with advanced radar and electronic warfare systems.

Additional updates reference cockpit displays and targeting components, indicating full production planning. Some documents also suggest partial assembly in Iran, with Russian engineers already stationed there.

Iranian lawmaker Abolfazl Zohrevand said Russian MiG-29s have already arrived and that “Su-35s will gradually enter” as part of a longer-term upgrade.

Algeria and Ethiopia Jet Deals

Ethiopia appeared in the files under a separate code tied to six Su-35s, which would mark its biggest air force upgrade in decades.

Component production reportedly began in early 2024 through Rostec’s KRET division, which builds radar and avionics systems.

The same leak lists Algeria as a buyer of 12 Su-57E stealth fighters and Su-34 strike aircraft kits — reinforcing earlier indications that it could become the first African nation to acquire fifth-generation combat jets.

Unverified but Credible

Neither Russia nor the governments named have confirmed the deals.

However, the information matches earlier reports that Moscow is seeking new defense customers after Western sanctions and a sharp drop in exports — down 92 percent since 2021, according to the Washington DC-based think tank Jamestown Foundation.

Analysts caution the leaks remain unverified, but if accurate, they would represent Russia’s most significant fighter export surge in over a decade.