Iran Airforce Capabilities - Analysis by Iranian Aviation Analyst

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Discussion Overview

This discussion centers on the capabilities of the Iranian Air Force (IRIAF), including its historical context, current inventory, and operational status. Participants explore various aspects of the air force, including aircraft types, readiness, and the implications of political factors on military capabilities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant provides a historical overview of the IRIAF, noting its past strength and the types of aircraft acquired before the Islamic Revolution.
  • Another participant questions the current operational status of the F-14s, suggesting they have not been in service for years and that the air force primarily consists of Soviet-built aircraft.
  • Concerns are raised about the challenges of working in a scientific capacity under a fundamentalist regime, while also acknowledging the distinction between the Iranian people and their government.
  • Some participants argue about the current capabilities of the F-14s, with one asserting that they remain operational and equipped with advanced missiles, while another counters that the engagement ranges and capabilities of modern aircraft like the F/A-18 are not accurately represented.
  • Discussion includes the operational status of aircraft acquired from Iraq during the Gulf War, with claims about the number of operational aircraft and the availability of spare parts.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the current state of the IRIAF and the implications of political and technical limitations on its capabilities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the current capabilities and operational status of the IRIAF. Multiple competing views remain regarding the effectiveness and readiness of its aircraft.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying assumptions about the availability of technical support and parts for the aircraft, as well as the implications of political factors on military readiness. The discussion reflects a lack of clarity on the current operational status of the IRIAF's inventory.

  • #31
Jet-designer said:
http://f-14tomcat.persiangig.com/phpNwVmt5AM.jpg

An Iranian F-14 equipped with MIM-23B SAM Missle
Just curious -- does the F-14 have to land in order to launch its SAM missles? :rolleyes:
 
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  • #32
No, No... Not at all, this is an """""Air Launched"""" version of MIM-23B Hawk SAM Missile...
 
  • #33
This is all very well and good I guess. However, you seem to be really lacking any of the in depth knowledge we were hoping. You mention a lot of superficial things, but don't really get into the real workings. What are the average flight hours flown per aircraft type? What are the force capabilities? What kind of maintenance infrastructure does the air force have? How/where does the air force get help with spare parts? These are the type of questions I was hoping to discuss. Not hey...look at this missile on an old Tomcat.

What is it that you actually analize for the Iranian Air Force?
 
  • #34
Jet-designer said:
Hello, this topic is about Iran Airforce and its capabilities. I am an aviation analyst from Iran and I will provide you any information you need...

Thanks,

waiting for replis...:biggrin:
But why on Earth would you decide to do that? As an Iranian I myself think I don't have enough information about our own Airforce. So if you really want to do something useful, I guess you better give more information about our own airforce to Iranians!
BTW, I guess you get to know that discussions regarded to some topic like Iran and Iranians is sort of wasting of time here.:wink:
Clausius2 said:
Oh my Godness! (or may I say Oh my Allah in this thread).
Allah is Arabic! You should say "khoda" which is persian.
 
  • #35
Jet-designer said:
No, No... Not at all, this is an """""Air Launched"""" version of MIM-23B Hawk SAM Missile...

I find this a truly fascinating innovation. What is the range on this veriation? Is that the weapon with the 120-mile range you mentioned earlier?

Also, do you know anything about the engineering challenges involved in adapting a SAM for air-to-air usage? I bet it was fairly challenging.
 
  • #36
I don't mean to be completely rude, but this thread is really setting off my propaganda-radar... or at least my "fake-o-meter." An Iranian "aviation analyst" volunteering to answer any questions we have about their air-force's capabilities? It seems to me people can get far more credible information with a quick search on Google.

It seems to me that the only information being presented here is a series of pictures of F14's with "missiles" bolted to them. Just because the missile is physically bolted to the plane says nothing about its ability to hit a target or even be fired (other than kamikaze style)... F-14 Tomcats, in the past were an incredibly advanced airplane, but are now obsolete in every sense of the term, and their so called "hi-tech deadliness" (paraphrased from the "Ramjet Topic!" thread) has passed.

However, as Fred pointed out I do find the point of view from someone in Iran quite interesting. Is it a widely held opinion in Iran that the IIAF's F-14's are technologically superior to any planes flown by western countries? Where did you determine that the "US Navy has limited its engagement range to 30 miles by retiring its F-14's"? Why is it you refer to the F-18 as a "dummy"? the fact is that the US Navy has retired the F-14's because it has planes that outperform the Tomcat.
 
  • #37
Mech_Engineer said:
... F-14 Tomcats, in the past were an incredibly advanced airplane, but are now obsolete in every sense of the term, and their so called "hi-tech deadliness" (paraphrased from the "Ramjet Topic!" thread) has passed.

However, as Fred pointed out I do find the point of view from someone in Iran quite interesting. Is it a widely held opinion in Iran that the IIAF's F-14's are technologically superior to any planes flown by western countries? Where did you determine that the "US Navy has limited its engagement range to 30 miles by retiring its F-14's"? Why is it you refer to the F-18 as a "dummy"? the fact is that the US Navy has retired the F-14's because it has planes that outperform the Tomcat.

I don't agree (personally, I think the retirement of the Tomcat was a bad idea). Although the Hornet does have superior versatility, it is not even close to being a match for the Tomcat in a fight. The Tomcat was a dedicated air superiority fighter, the Hornet is a jack-of-all-trades. The Navy retired the Tomcat because it's cheaper to use the Hornet and get everything you need in one package; interceptor, air superiority platform, and ground attack all in one airframe. I suspect that they also anticipate being able to use a naval version of the F-22 (or the JSF) soon.

But many in the Navy agree that the Hornet should not be relied upon to do everything. "One man, one bomb, one hour" is the slogan you'll hear sailors using to describe the F-18, it just doesn't have the tools for bombing like a true ground-attack aircraft, or for fighting like a dedicated air-to-air specialist. It does many jobs adequately, but excels at none.
 
  • #38
LURCH said:
I suspect that they also anticipate being able to use a naval version of the F-22 (or the JSF) soon.

BINGO! The F-22 is indeed a formidable aircraft, but I think the Navy is planning on using the F-35 Lightning II (A.K.A. X-35 JSF) to take over strike-fighter duties of the F/A 18.
 
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  • #39
Here's a pretty good article
http://www.flightjournal.com/articles/f14f18/f14f18_1.asp

I had no idea of the aero problems they had with the wing.

It has always been a contention that the Hornet would have range issues when compared to the F14. However, the issues raised with the F-18 E/F especially in regards to acceleration and turn radius are more than pretty significant. This does appear to be all politics and bean counting. Is Macnamara running the DoD again?
 
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  • #40
Thanks for the article, Fred. Very interesting indeed.
 
  • #41
Mech_engeenier, what I mention here is somthing the aviation experts also say. please don't defend your opposition when you don't know well about the subject we're talkin' about.
 
  • #42
Jet-designer said:
Mech_engeenier, what I mention here is somthing the aviation experts also say. please don't defend your opposition when you don't know well about the subject we're talkin' about.
Well, perhaps you could provide something to back up your position? Are you referring to the notion that usually, visual contact has to be made prior to any engagement?
 
  • #44
russ_watters said:
Boy, that's a depressing article. I had no idea the E/F was that bad.
Yeah. They really make it sound like a sick pig, don't they?
 
  • #45
OK, so you knew that I was right. Please collect enough information for the discussion first then come here and give a "right" opinion.
 
  • #46
Jet-designer said:
OK, so you knew that I was right. Please collect enough information for the discussion first then come here and give a "right" opinion.
Mellow out, JD. You aren't really in a position to be saying things like that. At least not based on your posts so far in the two threads.
 
  • #47
Besides, J-d - very little of that article applies to the Iranian Air force.
 
  • #48
Anyways...

Where did you get the range of 120 miles for the Iranian Tomcat, JD? Was it the range of the MIM-23B?
 
  • #49
Mech_Engineer said:
I don't mean to be completely rude, but this thread is really setting off my propaganda-radar... or at least my "fake-o-meter." An Iranian "aviation analyst" volunteering to answer any questions we have about their air-force's capabilities? It seems to me people can get far more credible information with a quick search on Google.
I am unfortunately starting to agree here. Originally I thought troll, but I held out hope that this could be an opportunity to get a different viewpoint on a usually heavily slanted topic. This thread is nothing more than a huge disappointment. JD started off (and still says according to his bio) that he is a jet engine designer. He definitely is not, especially when he doesn't even know what a diffuser is. He then changes his tune and says that he is an Iranian Air Force analyst from Iran, but his bio says he lives in the US. His linked website is in arabic, so there is no way to tell if it his work or not. I have a sneaky suspicion that JD is really a young kid or teen that likes aviation, but has absolutely no idea what he is talking about and no analysis or engineering knowledge to his name. It appears his analyses are simply pictures collected from various places on the net.

I would suggest to the mentors that this thread be axed unless JD can come in here and provide some kind of relevant information or anything other than "hey...here's a picture of an F-14." Plenty of questions have been presented by myself and others which has not even acknowledged, let alone answered.
 
  • #50
FredGarvin said:
He then changes his tune and says that he is an Iranian Air Force analyst from Iran, but his bio says he lives in the US. His linked website is in arabic, so there is no way to tell if it his work or not.
:smile:
No comment on other part of your post since I'm not an expert in this area so I can't say whether he's wasting our time or not, but I just want to say that's persian not arabic!:rolleyes:
Hmmm..he's not replied my own question too. I still don't know what's made him to start this thread!:confused:
 
  • #51
Lisa! said:
...but I just want to say that's persian not arabic!:rolleyes:
I stand corrected. I hope my slip up wasn't too grievous.
 
  • #52
:smile: Yes, my crap-o-meter went off the scale when I saw that old foto of an f-14 he took from some guys website.
 
  • #53
I've been keeping an eye on this thread and I have gotten a couple of pm's about it. I was pretty ambivalent about it, but yeah, I'd have to agree that it is a pretty useless thread.

Thread closed.
 

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