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2006-02-03 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iranian Defense Minister: Air Force fully ready to defend country
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Posted by Besoeker 2006-02-03 09:49|| || Front Page|| [11128 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Headline shoudl read "Iran Air Force prepared to meet Allan" They have few aircraft, they barely fly them, and they aint getting any new ones. At this point I bet the Mexican Air Force could take them in a straight up fight.
Posted by Cyber Sarge 2006-02-03 11:35||   2006-02-03 11:35|| Front Page Top

#2 I bet the Mexican Air Force could take them

Ouch. Funny, 'cus it is true...
Posted by mmurray821 2006-02-03 11:51||   2006-02-03 11:51|| Front Page Top

#3 Background:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce.htm

As of 2000 it was estimated that only 40 of the 132 F-4Ds, 177 F-4Es and 16 RF-4E. Phantoms delivered before 1979 remained in service. At that time, approximately 45 of the 169 F-5E/Fs delivered are still flying, while perhaps 20 F-14A Tomcats of the 79 initially delivered were airworthy. Another 30 F-4s, 30 F-5s and 35 F-14s have been cannibalized for spare parts. One report suggested that the IRIAF can get no more than seven F-14s airborne at any one time. Iran claims to have fitted F-14s with I-Hawk missiles adapted to the air-to-air role.
Russia and Iran enjoy a close military sales relationship, and have taken steps for the Russians to sell modernized air defense systems to Iran. In February 2001 a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry stated that "Iran hopes for ongoing military-technical cooperation with Russia. Our country plans to modernize Iranian Air Defense and it will ask Russia to sell some air defense systems in support of that."
An unknown number of "new" Su-25s were delivered to the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps Air Force (IRGCAF) in 2003. Where these Frogfoots originate from is unclear.
In July 2003 Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation (CAIC) unveiled the new ‘Super-7’ or Chao Qi fighter plane to the public. The new Super-7 is “an all-purpose light fighter, required to have all-weather operation capabilities, be capable of performing the dual tasks of dogfight and air-to-ground attack, and have the ability to launch medium-range missiles. Mass production of the fighter will not begin until two and a half years of research are completed. The plane is being produced to be sold abroad to developing nations. China already has received orders from Iran and some African countries.
There have been reports of some 10 F-8Ms "Finback", 7 Tu-22Ms, 19 MIG-27s, and several MIG-31s (Russia's most modern fighter aircraft, US$40 million ) being present in Iran, but these are not confirmed.
Posted by tu3031 2006-02-03 12:00||   2006-02-03 12:00|| Front Page Top

#4 fitted F-14s with I-Hawk missiles
Kinda heavy for an AAM.
Posted by 6 2006-02-03 12:45||   2006-02-03 12:45|| Front Page Top

#5 heavy
Not really. The Phoenix weighed 1000 lbs each and the F-14 carried 6 of them. A Hawk weighs 1400 lbs. I bet the range sucked compared to a Phoenix.
Posted by ed 2006-02-03 12:56||   2006-02-03 12:56|| Front Page Top

#6 I still say the Mexicans can take em.
Posted by Cyber Sarge 2006-02-03 16:51||   2006-02-03 16:51|| Front Page Top

#7 40% more than the heaviest AAM ever. I call heavy. :>
Posted by 6 2006-02-03 17:45||   2006-02-03 17:45|| Front Page Top

#8 ...Against crack air superiority units like the 1st and 33rd Fighter Wings, (and the 1st will have at least two squadrons of F-22s within a few months) the survival time of the IRAF will be measured in minutes. The vast majority of the aircraft will never leave the ground - they will die in their shelters or on their ramps, possibly with just enough warning to die very, very terrified. Those that somehow do get airborne will be in uncoordinated groups with no command and control, with no idea where the USAF is or where they are coming from.
Their only warning will be the Slammers and Sidewinders that kill them.

Mike
Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2006-02-03 19:11||   2006-02-03 19:11|| Front Page Top

#9 Mexico has an Air Force?

(Other than their drug smuggling plane, I mean.)
Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut  2006-02-03 19:53|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]  2006-02-03 19:53|| Front Page Top

#10 As the Iranian father of asymetric warfare, I challenge the Mexican flying infidels to a dual at 20,000 feet! Bring your stinkin' badges.
Posted by General Salami 2006-02-03 20:23||   2006-02-03 20:23|| Front Page Top

12:58 CaziFarkus
13:09 CaziFarkus
11:06 SOP35/Rat
23:58 Rafael
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23:51 Hupomoger Clans9827
23:39 Zenster
23:37 ed
23:33 JosephMendiola
23:30 Frank G
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23:23 Barbara Skolaut
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