Posted on 07/25/2017 9:19:04 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
More than 40 years after Iran acquired the F-14 Tomcat from the United States, there are still plenty of misconceptions about the deal. Most published accounts offer a simple explanation — that Iran needed F-14s to counter over-flights by Soviet-operated MiG-25R Foxbat reconnaissance aircraft.
The truth is a bit more complicated. The Soviet overflights were actually a response to Iran’s own increasing belligerence, which dovetailed with the country’s determined acquisition of better and better U.S.-made warplanes.
Bear in mind that after the CIA staged a coup against the Iranian government in 1953, Tehran was a close U.S. ally.
In the years that followed, the U.S. and Iranian militaries worked closely together, and – since Iran shared a border with the USSR – various U.S. military and intelligence services established bases in Iran.
Iran-based U.S. reconnaissance operations targeting the USSR explored routes along which bombers could penetrate Soviet air space. In the late 1960s, American pilots flying Iranian RF-5A recon planes flew over the former USSR in order to find and photograph newly-constructed military installations.
In 1971, the United States sold a batch of McDonnell Douglas RF-4 Phantoms to Iran. The RF-4’s advanced reconnaissance capabilities were a true eye-opener for the Iranians. The RF-4 was faster and longer-ranged than any other comparable combat aircraft in that part of the world at that time. In following years Iranian RF-4s flew hundreds of clandestine reconnaissance sorties deep over Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Yemen and the Soviet Union.
Iranian operations over the former USSR were undertaken in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force apparently under the code name Operation Dark Genie – and, at least initially, were flown by mixed Iranian-U.S. crews.
Indeed, when one of the Iranian RF-4s was shot down by a Soviet MiG in November 1973, its crew consisted of an American pilot and an Iranian back-seater. Despite that mishap, such operations continued. By 1978, some Iranian RF-4 pilots had logged more flight time inside Soviet air space than most of the Soviet air force’s pilots had in total.
When the Soviets attempted to retaliate by sending MiG-25s on a recon overflight of Iran in 1978, a pair of brand-new Iranian F-14s painted the MiGs with their radars. As far as is known, the Soviets attempted no similar adventure over Iran for at least the next 10 years.
According to legend, in July 1973 — following two detailed briefings in Iran — the U.S. government had organized a fly-off for Iranian shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi that pitted an F-14 against an F-15. The U.S. Navy F-14 crew put up such a stunning performance that the Shah promptly placed an order for the Tomcat.
While there can be no doubt about the Navy’s crew’s skills, stories of this kind make it appear as if the Shah of Iran, his government and the entire Iranian air force were a bunch of gamblers. In fact, the Iranian decision to buy F-14s can be traced back to the early 1960s, when the Iranians – emboldened by steadily increasing earnings from sales of oil and gas – decided to equip their air force with the best combat aircraft available.
The Mach 2.4-capable MiG-25Rs of the Soviet air force were fast but no major threat to the Iranians – and thus no true reason for Tehran placing its massive order for F-14s. Tom Cooper Collection
At the time it was very unusual for the Pentagon and the Congress to receive a letter of intent for an arms buy from a “Third World country.” Few took seriously Iran’s requests for General Dynamics F-111 fighter-bombers starting in 1964. Instead, the Iranian air force had to make do with 100 much-less-powerful Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighters.
However, the Iranians persisted – and learned to exploit the influence of their ruler to achieve their objectives. As a fully qualified pilot with strong connections to several U.S. aerospace companies – not to mention to the U.S. intelligence establishment — the Shah was able to personally negotiate arms deals with American politicians. In 1967 he managed to secure a deal for 32 F-4Ds, a few of which remain in Iranian service in 2017.
At the time, Great Britain was in the process of withdrawing from its possessions east of the Suez. The Shah skillfully presented himself to the U.S. public as a protector of peace and stability in the Middle East who could fill the vacuum the British were creating. In 1969, the Shah successfully negotiated another deal — this time for 130 F-4Es, then the latest variant of that type.
The Iranians kept on pushing. After a major study about future air-defense requirements, the Iranian air force concluded that Iran’s rugged terrain dictated the acquisition of airborne early warning platforms and interceptors equipped with long-range radars and weaponry.
The Shah flew into action again. Sometime between 1970 and 1972, he even requested a briefing on the Lockheed YF-12 – the stillborn interceptor variant of the famous SR-71 Blackbird, a Mach-three-capable strategic reconnaissance aircraft.
That deal never materialized, but the two next did. One was the Iranian order for 80 F-14 Tomcats. The other was for seven Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS. While the E-3 was still in development as of 1973, the Tomcat was ready … sort of.
In fact, the F-14 and E-3 both faced fierce resistance in the U.S. Congress owing to their cost and complexity. The Shah ordered the Iranian bank Mehli to credit Grumman so that the company could build the 80 F-14s for Iran.
Encouraged by this step, other investors followed and Congress was left with little choice but to continue financing the U.S. Navy’s own acquisition of the F-14. After all, the Navy couldn’t let some Third World country get the world’s best interceptor while it bought none for itself.
The Iranians were perfectly aware that they weren’t just buying aircraft. They insisted on acquiring the entire weapon system including aircraft, avionics, weapons and support infrastructure. That’s why Iran remains capable of operating its surviving F-14s today.
Thank you Jimmy Carter
And they have been able to keep those things flying? Maintenance and costs were a big reason we got rid of them.
One thing: don’t put too much trust in narratives which don’t recognize that the Soviets had for a long time had ambitions in Persia.
Well before WW2 the Soviets were trying to take an entire province away from Persia with no provocation as well as destabilize the whole country. The later overflights were just them staying true to form. Soviet, like ChiCom, aggression was rooted in you not being under their thumb, or sufficiently under their thumb, and daring to be independent. They deemed your independence from them to be an aggression ... expect double speak from communists.
A lot more happened than just the 1953 coup and it all began with the Soviets and what happened as Persia, later known as Iran, sought to keep its territories.
The Shah flew into action again. Sometime between 1970 and 1972, he even requested a briefing on the Lockheed YF-12 – the stillborn interceptor variant of the famous SR-71 Blackbird, a Mach-three-capable strategic reconnaissance aircraft.
That deal never materialized, but the two next did. One was the Iranian order for 80 F-14 Tomcats. The other was for seven Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS. While the E-3 was still in development as of 1973, the Tomcat was ready … sort of.
The yf-12 was a long-range Interceptorand guess what was developed for it? the Phoenix missile system
when the yf12 didn’t come to fruition what’s the only other aircraft that carried the long-range Phoenix missile system? the F-14 Tomcat
the Tomcat was a long-range Interceptor with the Phoenix missile system that could also function as an air superiority fighter versus the F-15 which is just an air superiority fighter that did not carry the Phoenix missile system
Where have they been getting parts? Export controls don’t allow for after market parts to be sold to countries like Iran..
I forgot to add there were some other aircrafy that we’re going to carry the Phoenix system
The F111b which was a flop and that’s what the Tomcat was developed to replace
Douglas it had the F6D missile on the drawing board again that was also a Navy aircraft that was basically just a missile hauler ..a sub sonic aircraft ...it was the missile system the Phoenix that could reach out to a hundred miles that was really the driving force
Yep. Like Hitler giving Iran to Stalin as part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
By far, one of the best I have ever seen. And I have seen a few...:)
>>Where have they been getting parts? Export controls don’t allow for after market parts to be sold to countries like Iran.<<
The way Cuba gets auto parts I guess — string, bailing wire, etc. You wouldn’t think that would work on a high-performance jet but you wouldn’t think a car could run on a motor transplanted from an air conditioner either.
The jets haven’t been tested in combat since the hostage crisis. I suspect a stiff breeze would knock them down.
***Bear in mind that after the CIA staged a coup against the Iranian government in 1953,***
Wasn’t this just disproved not long ago when the USA released documents about this “coup”?
Good conclusion. Also, the Phoenix missile system included a radar that could independently track and engage multiple targets. That is a very powerful BVR strategic air defense system as opposed to a shaky Sparrow missile and the short range Sidewinder.
Rumor is that the Iranians were using them as AWACs platforms.
The Russians have had designs on Iran (Persia) for more than two hundred years.
Aren’t they just so much junk now that there’s no spare parts?
Iran is unlikely to be able to purchase anything remotely as capable.
"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
It’s not about communism, it’s about russia’s geopolitical interests - they were sparring with the british in persia and Afghanistan since the 19th century.
Russian imperialism in eastern europe and near east has been a constant for the last few centuries. It’s only the flag and ideological justification for it which gets a new coat of paint when there’s a regime change.
The REAL Real reason:
Chick magnets.
Funny that the two stars of that movie both turned out to be gay.
I was at Andrews AFB during this demonstration, standing about 20 yards from the Shaw of Iran. It wasn't really a fly-off. There was no doubt which aircraft we wanted him to buy. The Navy F-14 pilot put on a magnificent display of its capabilities. The Air Force pilot flew the F-15 like it was a crate of eggs and did not show any of its capabilities.
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