Russian classified documents leaked, exposing Moscow's recent foreign arms sales plans.The two major allies are about to get a large number of four-generation and five-generation aircraft, but the most iron-knit North Korea is not on the list.
Recently, Russian officials again experienced important document leakage issues, Moscow's foreign army sale of detailed exposure.
Documents show that Russia plans to export several batches of advanced fighter jets to its two major allies-Algeria and Iran-within the year.
It has also signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with Russia and sent troops to help fight North Korea in Ukraine, but there is no shadow on the list.
Let's talk about the leak itself first. Russia seems to have been failing in its confidentiality recently. Previously, 2 million nuclear missile position documents were accidentally exposed. This time, it leaked the details of foreign arms sales, and it can still see directly. The core content of the door. The document clearly states that a "fighter gift package" will be issued to Algeria and Iran this year: Algeria will receive two Su-57E stealth fighters early next year. These are the most advanced fifth-generation aircraft Russia can offer. The export models all carry hard power. Coupled with the addition of 14 Su-34M fighter bombers, there are a total of 16 advanced fighter jets, which is enough to add fire to the military layout of North Africa. Iran is more practical. First, it will take a batch of MiG- 29SMT for emergency response, and there are still 48 Su-35S waiting for delivery. This quantity can directly replace the main equipment of the Iranian Air Force.
The authenticity of this document is not blurred, there is a clue that can be corrected for a long time. It is said that Iran's Su-35S paper, Zohrevand of the Iranian parliament in late September sent news, that MiG-29SMT is a "short-term solution", Su-35S is a "long-term plan", when people still thought that Iran was blowing off Israel, now see this is clearly a negotiated hammer. On the other hand, before the Internet there was a photo of the desert painted Su-34M in the Russian territory, all over Algeria is desert terrain, which is not right for the needs of people?
The most surprising thing is the absence of North Korea. You know, the National Intelligence Agency of South Korea had previously stated that Russia would send Su-34M to North Korea. As a result, as soon as the list is exposed, this information of the Koreans is a complete joke. However, this is not surprising. When the intelligence department collects information, it often pieces together. For a while, it hears that Russia is going to give North Korea fighter planes, and for a while, it sees that a new Su-34M is being built. If there is no other information to support it, it is easy to piece together. This leaked document can also be regarded as a mistake for the South Korean intelligence department. As for whether North Korea can get the fighter plane, it's really uncertain now.
But then again, North Korea is Russia's most ironclad ally. It just signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in June 2024, stipulating that one party should give full support when the other party was beaten. After that, North Korea directly sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Kursk to help Russia fight, with more than 3000 casualties. Putin also issued a special statement to thank him. With such a strong relationship, why is it not on the list of fighter jets? In fact, this is all realistic considerations, not that Russia does not attach importance to North Korea.
Let's first look at how urgent the needs of Algeria and Iran are. Algeria has always had to maintain regional influence in North Africa, and its fighter jets should have been updated long ago. The fifth-generation capability of the Su-57E has helped it directly open the equipment gap with neighboring countries. The Su-34M's ground-to-sea strike capability is even more difficult to deal with border threats. Not to mention Iran, arm wrestling with Israel every day. Israel has F-35 stealth aircraft, but the old fighter jets in Iran's hands cannot withstand it. The fourth-generation and half-half fighter jets such as the Su-35S can just form a check and balance, and the number of 48 is just enough to fill the front line. These two countries can either help Russia consolidate its circle of regional allies, or directly contain the US and Western forces. Giving fighter jets is naturally the priority.
Looking at the situation in North Korea, it is now the most lacking is not advanced aircraft. North Korea has long been sanctioned, food and oil are tight, to help Russia fight back in exchange for cash, crude oil, wheat and fertilizer, in 2024 the sale of arms will earn at least $ 2 billion, the economic growth to 3.7%, which is much more than a few aircraft. And North Korean soldiers in the Ukrainian front learned drone tactics, modern battlefields combined with these real-world experience, Russia also shared the technical map of missiles, nuclear submarines, these “soft power” improved than just taking a few aircraft pipe.
More importantly, Russia’s support for North Korea has long jumped out of the category of “selling warplanes”. Putin personally provided security guarantees to North Korea, in the Security Council helped North Korea block sanctions, and also helped access to the global financial system, these are more precious support than warplanes. North Korea now needs to stabilize people’s livelihoods, improve real warfare capabilities, that is exactly what Russia gives; while Algeria, Iran needs to support the scene with advanced equipment, Russia naturally follows the demand.
Therefore, on the surface, Russia gave advanced fighter planes to Algeria and Iran, seemingly neglecting North Korea, but in fact, it used its resources where they should be used most. For Algeria and Iran, it is "equipment blood transfusion" to consolidate the strategic fulcrum; For North Korea, it is "ability to make blood" and helps to lay a solid foundation. The two ways of support are different, but the core is to deepen the alliance. Now that the document has just been leaked, there may be supplementary plans in the follow-up. After all, the cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is still deepening. Putin has invited Kim Jong-un to visit Russia. Maybe one day there will be news that North Korea will take fighter planes.
After all, Russia's arms sales list is a strategic table, each step counts for geographic interests. Give whom warplanes, don't give whom warplanes, never look close to the relationship, but look at the real needs of allies, the strategic pattern of the region, and its own resource distribution. North Korea did not appear in the list this time, it does not mean being cooled down, instead it shows that Russian cooperation has reached the deep stage of "on demand supply", which can be more than just sending a few warplanes.