|
1st Annual Iranian Airshow and Firepower Demonstration
 Tensions continue to rise between Iran and U.S. forces based in Iraq. According to the Iranian media, a U.S. fighter violated Iranian air space on Dec. 30, along the country's border near Afghanistan in Razavi Khorassan eastern province. The intrusion is the latest in a series of U.S. overflights reported by the press. The U.S. fighter entered Iranian air space over Iran's Mousa-Abad region for several minutes before returning to Afghanistan. Earlier U.S. overflights occurred over the southwestern cities of Khorramshahr and Abadan near the Iraqi border. An Iranian military source who was not identified said, "The three warplanes, of F-18 Hornets and F-16 Tomcat types held overflights at high altitudes near the Khorramshahr and Abadan air borders. | Memo to Iranian military, F-16 is a Fighting Falcon, the F-14 is the Tomcat. |
The circular maneuvering of the two American fighters indicated them as carrying out spying sorties and controlling the borders." Less than a week earlier, Iranian Air Force chief Brigadier Karim Qavami was quoted as having ordered his forces to open fire and shoot down any unidentified aircraft violating the country's airspace, commenting: "Given that the intrusion of enemy aircraft over Iran's airspace is possible, all fighter jets of the country have been ordered by the Army chief to shoot them down in the event of sighting them."
| Memo from Iranian Air Force to Army Chief: "Are you nuts?" |
| He could just tell the Chief that none of the Iranian F-14's can fly for want of spare parts, which has the virtue of also being true. |
In August five U.S. warplanes entered Iranian airspace from the southwestern Shalamcheh border and overflew Khorramshahr. Iranian military specialists believe the intrusions are designed to assess the capabilities of Iran's anti-aircraft defenses.
Posted by: Steve 2005-01-03 |
