Russia and Iran are exploring whether Moscow could provide its most advanced attack helicopters to Tehran, according to new reports.
Writing in its daily update on the war in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War think tank referenced an editorial published by the Tasnim news agency in Tehran, which is linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The ISW said the media outlet discussed how a "Russo-Iranian joint production deal could allow Iran to receive Russian Mi-28 and Ka-52 attack helicopters."
Both Russia and Iran would look to such agreements as a way to relieve the pressure of U.S. sanctions against them, the ISW added.
The chairman of Russia's Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, visited Tehran on Monday and was quoted by the Tasnim news agency as terming increased trade between Russia and Iran as being "extremely important" in the context of sanctions.
The upgraded variants of the Russian Mi-28 and Ka-52 have been previously described by the Russian state media as the "cutting edge" of Moscow's attack helicopter arsenal. The Ka-52 is Russia's "most advanced attack helicopter," Forbes wrote in 2020 as Russia tested out its upgraded Ka-52M.
