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Iranian Su-24 jets
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Iranian Su-24 jets

Soviet-era swing-wing strike jets Iran operates, two shot down by Qatar in 2026.

Iran's air force flies roughly 24 to 30 of these ageing Soviet-era swing-wing strike jets, delivered after the 1979 revolution. Qatar's air force shot two down in March 2026, the first time a Gulf state destroyed Iranian military aircraft in combat.

Last refreshed: 17 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can Iran’s ageing Su-24s survive against the Gulf’s modern air defences?

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Background

The Su-24 Fencer is a Soviet-era, swing-wing strike jet delivered to Iran after the 1979 revolution. Iran operates roughly 24 to 30 airframes, a core part of an ageing fixed-wing strike fleet alongside F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcats.

Shahid Nojeh Air Base near Hamedan, a principal Su-24 base and the launch site for Iran's April 2024 strike on Israel, became a focus of concentrated Israeli strikes in March 2026.

Qatar's shootdown of two Su-24s in March 2026 exposed the limits of Iran's conventional airpower: the jets are decades old, starved of spares under sanctions, and outmatched by modern air defence. Their loss suggested Iran's manned strike capacity could degrade faster than its missile or drone inventory.

Common Questions
What are Iran’s Su-24 jets?
The Su-24 Fencer is a Soviet-designed supersonic swing-wing strike aircraft. Iran operates roughly 24-30 airframes acquired after the 1979 revolution, using them as a primary fixed-wing ground-attack platform alongside ageing F-4 and F-14 jets.
Were Iranian Su-24 jets shot down in 2026?
Yes. Qatar’s air force shot down two Iranian Su-24 attack aircraft during Gulf defensive operations in March 2026, the first time a Gulf state has destroyed Iranian military aircraft in combat.Source: Lowdown
Where does Iran base its Su-24 aircraft?
Iran’s Su-24s are primarily based at Shahid Nojeh Air Base near Hamedan in western Iran. That base was one of the launch sites for Iran’s April 2024 attack on Israel and was subsequently targeted in concentrated IDF strikes.Source: Lowdown
How does Iran’s Su-24 compare to its missiles and drones?
The Su-24 is Iran’s most vulnerable strike platform: it is decades old, spares-starved under sanctions, and requires trained pilots who face modern air defence. Iran’s ballistic missiles and drones are cheaper, harder to intercept, and do not risk trained crew.
Can Iran replace the Su-24s it lost?
Replacement is extremely difficult. US and EU sanctions have blocked aircraft imports and spares since 1979. Iran has no domestic equivalent and no access to current-generation strike aircraft. The fleet will continue to shrink as combat losses and attrition accumulate.
Does Qatar still hold captured Iranian pilots from the Su-24 shootdown?
Disputed. An Iranian general said on 16 August 2026 that Qatar has held aircrew alive since the March 2026 Su-24 shootdown. Qatar's foreign ministry denies holding anyone and says it recovered the remains of one person.Source: Lowdown
Source Material
How Iran absorbed Iraq's air force in 1991Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer Attack Aircraft — Air Force TechnologySukhoi Su-24 — Wikipedia