On February 7, Iran unveiled a new underground Air Force base called “Eagle 44” in a glossy propaganda videotapes. On the wall was a clue hidden in plain sight: a poster with the silhouette of a fighter jet. One particularly stands out. It is front and center, and takes the form of a state-of-the-art military jet that Iran does not currently own, but officials say Russia is in the process of selling to them.
Analysis of satellite images also revealed what appeared to be a scale model – what experts call a mock-up – of the same type of fighter jet at the base. Taken together, the details reveal two things about Iran’s plans: Officials are optimistic about the delivery of these planes, and they may intend to use the airbase to house some. among them.
Since September 2022, Iranian military and political officials have public offering plans to buy 24 Su-35s, one of Russia’s most advanced fighter jets.
Russia has not confirmed the deal, but details in video and satellite images suggest Iran is at least preparing for the arrival of the planes, which officials say will happen. later this year. It will be the country’s most significant upgrade to its aging fighter fleet in decades.
Military cooperation between Russia and Iran has been boosted by Russia’s international isolation and military supply needs after the invasion of Ukraine.
The Biden administration has described the closer ties as “harmful,” and said they believe the Iranians have been trained in the new aircraft. John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House, said at a December press conference that “these fighters will significantly strengthen Iran’s Air Force relative to its neighbors in the region.” area”.
Chris Biggers is a former U.S. government image analyst and senior director of Mission Applications at 360 . Hawk Eyea company that tracks radio frequency emissions around the world. In his analysis of the establishment, which he provided to The Times Visual investigation In the group, Mr. Biggers identified two models of fighter aircraft, including one suitable for the size of a Russian Su-35, in a pre-construction area. “These could potentially be used to assess distances to maneuver aircraft in an underground facility and could suggest that they would be located here,” he said. Mr. Biggers wrote.
The other aircraft model is the one currently in stock of the Iranian Air Force. “The Su-35 is not, but is expected to launch in early 2023 as Tehran continues to support Russia’s war in Ukraine,” Biggers added.
Both models likely appeared at their current locations in January while base construction was still underway. They have not been moved since, according to satellite images reviewed by The Times. The airbase may still be being upgraded in preparation for the transfer. The entrance to the existing tunnel in the video may be too narrow to accommodate the vast Russian jets. But The Times’ analysis of the site suggests another tunnel, presumably for larger planes, is still under construction.
How The Times uses images to investigate news. Our Visual Investigations team consists of more than a dozen journalists who combine digital investigation and forensic analysis with traditional reporting to decipher news events. They uncovered important details about drone attacks, police shootings and the Capitol riots.
The Iranian propaganda video was assessed by The Times and Mr. Biggers as part of an inventory of Eagle 44 advertising releases released by Iran last week. It shows senior military officials touring the base.
Mr. Biggers said the silhouette of the main fighter plane seen on the poster in the video matches the so-called series-wing jet – a term that describes modern Russian fighters such as the Su- 35. Iran currently has no aircraft of that line. Other silhouettes pictured are from existing – and older – aircraft in Iran’s inventory.
Ukraine war brings closer military cooperation
Next battlefield defeatRussia has increasingly turned to Iran for military supplies, including Unmanned aircraft often used to launch attacks against major cities such as Kiev. The sale of the Su-35 could be a way to return the favor.
“Iran’s support for Russia in Ukraine appears to be part of a larger defense cooperation pact,” Dr. Afshon Ostovar, an associate professor of national security affairs at the Naval Graduate School, told The Times. “Iran can benefit from Russian cooperation and arms transfers in a number of ways, but the two main areas where cooperation could be an impetus for Iran are through the delivery of aircraft and air defense systems. Russian advanced, such as S-400.”
Dr Ostovar said the new underground facility could be an effective investment in building fortified defenses, but could be overkill if it were merely to house a fleet of US aircraft and Iran’s current Cold War Russia.
“I wanted it to be like a brand new, really luxurious garage for Grandpa’s old Trans Am,” says Dr. Ostovar. “If Iran buys more advanced air platforms from Russia, as has been rumored as part of Iran’s support for Russia in Ukraine, or from China in the future, the underground base will make more sense. “
Ten years of formation
The Air Force Base is located in a mountainous area in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, just 100 miles north of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway known as the Strait of Hormuz. very important to the global oil supply.
A Times review of historic satellite imagery of the area shows that activity began in August 2013, with excavation work of the underground facility visible in early 2014. 2 in 2023, one can see five tunnel entrances leading to underground shelters.
It is unclear whether the intended use of the underground facility is an Air Force base. Construction of the runway did not begin until May 2021, nearly eight years after the first activity observed at the site and is ongoing.
