Posted on 09/14/2011 4:27:18 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Iran Uses F-14 Squadrons for Air Defense
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran uses its F-14 fighter jets for air-defense missions, a senior Iranian air defense commander said, adding that the aircraft has gone under a relevant set of tests in the ongoing air drills in Northwestern Iran.
Speaking to FNA, Deputy Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base for Inspection Colonel Abolfazl Farmahini said that F-14 fighter jets participated in the 'Fadaeeyan-e Harim-e Vellayat III' air drills as part of the country's integrated air defense plan, "and that's why they are operating under the Khatam ol-Anbia base".
"These planes are used as part of a mobile aerial weapon in an integrated air defense network, given the specific defense conditions and techniques and tactics in battlefield," Farmahini stated.
The commander further noted that Iran's F-14 fighters have been equipped with modern cannons and missile systems to be able to push back any kind of aggressive plane.
The large offensive air drills started in Northwestern Iran last week.
Different tests on plane equipments, ammunitions and tactics are underway in several phases during the 10-day exercises.
An array of fighter jets, fighter bombers, cargo and transportation planes, including F-4, F-5, Sukhoi SU-24 fighter-bombers, Mig-29 and the logistic C-130 planes, and the home-made Saeqeh fighter jets have carried out missions in the drills.
Thought these were all grounded because of lack of spare parts?
Did Maverick switch sides?
I guess they fabricate the parts needed out of bubble gum and camel dung
after all it has been since the late 70s that they have had these planes...perhaps the Ruskies helped them make the parts needed....
Mike
The sole foreign customer for the Tomcat was the Imperial Iranian Air Force, during the reign of the last Shah (King) of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
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The first F-14 arrived in January 1976, modified only by the removal of classified avionics components, but fitted with the TF-30-414 engines. The following year 12 more were delivered. Meanwhile, training of the first groups of Iranian crews by the U.S. Navy, was underway in the USA; and one of these conducted a successful shoot-down with a Phoenix missile of a target drone flying at 50,000 ft (15 km).
Following the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, the air force was re-named the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and the post-revolution interim government of Iran canceled most Western arms orders. Knowledge about F-14 use by Iran is limited; deteriorating relations led to an arms embargo being imposed on Iran, including the last Tomcat built for Iran, which was embargoed and eventually turned over to the United States Navy. Large shipments of spares were held back, and many aircraft were cannibalized for their spare parts.
In January 2007, it was announced by the US Department of Defense that sales of spare parts for F-14s would be suspended, due to concerns that they could end up in Iran. It announced that the decision was taken “given the current situation in Iran”.[51] On 2 July 2007, the remaining American F-14s were being shredded to ensure that F-14 spare parts would not be acquired by governments considered hostile to the US.[50] Iran had an estimated 44 F-14s,[52] with some 20 operational by 2009.[53] However, Iranian military sources say that, through building of spare parts and refurbishment, they now have 60 operational F-14s.[citation needed]
In summer of 2010, Iran requested that the United States deliver the 80th F-14 it had purchased in 1974, but delivery was denied after the Islamic Revolution.[54][55] In October 2010, an Iranian Air Force commander claimed that the country overhauls and optimizes different types of military aircraft, mentioning that Air Force has even installed Iran-made radar systems on the F-14.[56
Picture shows 1 F14, 1 F4 and 1 Mig 29.
I remember reading back more then a decade ago that Iran (with foreign help) was able to reverse engineer many of the F14 “keep it in the air” parts.
Be that as it may, its a 30 year old design and I would be pretty sure that it really can’t use the F14’s signature stand-off capabilities with the AWG 9, Phoenix missile system and is stuck with Sparrows or Sidewinders.
So close in it’s *cked compared to more contemporary designs and long range it’s possibly ineffective.
They only have about six or seven 35-year old air frames that are operational, largely due to cannibalizing the other 73 that were delivered before the Shah fell.
You mean, Tovarish Northsky and Tovarish Pointdekstersky?
Oliver North and Buster Poindexter????
First flight 21 December 1970 -- almost 41 years ago. The design must precede that by a few years.
I worked for Hughes Radar Systems in the late 70's and early 80's. We developed and maintained the APG-71 radar for this bird.
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