When it comes to Russian arms, the Russians have decent hardware. Allegedly a Russia SU-30 recently snuck up on a F-35 by using it's Khibiny electronic warfare suite to jam the F-35s sensors. The F-35 allegedly left the area after being confronted.
Specifically the Russians use of IR sensors actually allow a jet like the SU-30 to spot, track and target stealth jets from long distances with relative ease.
On the other hand, the Egyptians recently conducted an exercise where they had one of their SU-35s go head to head against a Rafale. The Rafales electronic warfare capabilities were too much for the SU-35
"Word is the Egyptians tested an Irbis-E radar (from the Su-35) against Rafale’s ECM-system, and the latter easily overpowered the former."
Here’s why Egypt will never receive Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets (and why there's no confirmation for any of reports about Algeria or Iran)
theaviationgeekclub.com
The Rafale is quite formidable though. I believe it was last year, an Egyptian Rafale snuck up on and destroyed 3 Turkish HAWK batteries at Watiya airbase, Libya. Turkey had spent millions modernizing their HAWK batteries yet they had no clue the Rafale was coming.
Anyways my point is that Russia possesses and produces good hardware. The question is what are they willing to sell on the export market ?
Regardless, Iran will not accept anything less than the best export variant Russia has to offer. They're very picky about specifics and will not accept an inferior product.
Iran is also looking for technology transfers, production license and software codes are mandatory for Iran.
This is one of the reasons why Iran said no to the S-400 when the S-300 deal finally went through. Look at how Turkey is stuck now, with Russia refusing to hand over the software codes.
Iran working with Turkey to build a jet ? I'm sorry but is this some kind of a joke ? LOL
If they do give it to Iran, they'll probably replace the radar with a garbage one, downgrade the avionics, and probably add a kill switch too if they could.
No wonder IRAIF keep rejecting their offers, probably because they are offering nothing that can compete with a F-15E, or Eurofighter. Not to mention, future Rafale.
This might sound crazy, but even doing a joint project with Turkey would yield much better results, but I'm sure their access to electronics from NATO would be rejected even if they would be hypothetically interested because they don't want NATO equipment in Iranian hands, but my point essentially is that IRAIF can't trust them not to give useless aircraft for billions.