Iranian F14's vs USA "UFO's"

[sunfan1121]

Woodbridge and Bentwaters any body? This seems oddly similar .

[GScholz]

We all know the Nazis invented anti-gravity. It's just taken the US this long to get it working propery!



 

[cpxxx]

You have to remember the Iranian F14s are far from state of the art. They wouldn't match the capabilities of the later model F14s in USN service. The Iranians have had to make do and mend for years. So it's not a huge leap to imagine they would have difficulty in detecting drones. Particularly the stealthy models which aren't exactly a secret. Reading the article there is also mention of disruption to the radar of the fighters which in the article was attributed to the 'high magnetic energy of the object'.  More like ECM jamming from any number of sources, including satellites. It's not as if the US is going to allow it's drones fly in there unsupported. I'm quite sure that as soon as the Iranian crew switch on their radar, it'll be detected and neutralised.

I fear certain people's imagination is being allowed to run away with itself. The truth as I'm sure those of you who have been involved with them is that most 'black' projects are rather dull even if they're important and often exist in area of communications, jamming etc. I suspect working in Area 51 is far less interesting that many believe.

Which of course isn't to say there haven't been developments in air vehicles and propulsion which remain a secret.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

The Iranian F-14s got their last spare parts 20 years ago AFAIK. They're flying with duct tape and home brew parts.

[Megalodon]

Sell, not give.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-14_Tomcat

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. In the early 1970s, the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) was searching for an advanced fighter, specifically one capable of intercepting Soviet MiG-25 "Foxbat" reconnaissance flights. After a visit of U.S. President Richard Nixon to Iran in 1972, during which Iran was offered the latest in American military technology, the IIAF narrowed its choice to the F-14 Tomcat or McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. Grumman Corporation arranged a competitive demonstration of the Eagle against the Tomcat before the Shah, and in January 1974, Iran ordered 30 F-14s and 424 AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, initiating Project Persian King, worth US$300 million. A few months later, this order was increased to a total of 80 Tomcats and 714 Phoenix missiles as well as spare parts and replacement engines for 10 years, complete armament package, and support infrastructure (including construction of the huge Khatami Air Base in the desert near Esfahan).

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 renamed the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and the post-revolution interim government of Iran canceled most Western arms orders. In 1980 an Iranian F-14 shot down an Iraqi Mil Mi-25 helicopter for its first air-to-air kill during the Iran-Iraq conflict.[55]
Flight formation of Iranian Tomcats, 2008

According to research by Tom Cooper, within the first six months of the war Iranian F-14s scored over 50 air-to-air victories, mainly against Iraqi MiG-21s and MiG-23s, but some also against Su-20/22s. In exchange, only a single F-14A was destroyed by a MiG-21.[55]

Between 1982 and 1986 Iranian Tomcats were to see use in a series of slowly developing campaigns: mainly tasked with patrolling the skies over objects vital for the survival of Iranian regime and economy, like Tehran, or Kharg Island. Most of these patrols were supported by the fleet of Boeing 707-3J9C tankers, and some lasted as long as 10 hours, thanks to up to four successive in-flight refuelings. Time and again, they were involved in new air battles, and had scored heavily, but their main role was that of intimidating the Iraqi Air Force. Cognizant of previous heavy losses in battles against Iranian F-14s, the Iraqis avoided any engagement with them, so that the sole presence of a Tomcat over the target area was enough to force Iraqi formations to abort their attacks. Because of this, and because of the precision and effectiveness of the Tomcat's AWG-9 weapons system and AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-to-air missiles, the F-14 maintained air control over a lengthy period of time.[citation needed]

(Iranian ace Jalil Zandi is credited with shooting down 11 Iraqi aircraft during Iran–Iraq War and is the most successful F-14 pilot.[56])

By 1987, the Iraqis had suffered such heavy losses to Iranian Tomcats that they were forced to find a solution with which they could engage them under equal circumstances. In early 1988 France delivered Mirage F.1EQ-6 fighters, equipped with Super 530D and Magic Mk.2 missiles, to Iraq. In July 1988, after a series of air battles through February, March, and May 1988, in which the Iraqis suffered additional heavy losses to IRIAF Tomcats, the new IrAF Mirages finally managed to shoot down two Iranian F-14s in a single engagement.[citation needed]

Overall, Tom Cooper claims that Iranian F-14s shot down at least 160 Iraqi aircraft during the Iran-Iraq War, which include 58 MiG-23s, 23 MiG-21s, nine MiG-25s, 33 Dassault Mirage F1s, 23 Su-17s, one Mil Mi-24, five Tu-22s, two MiG-27s, one Dassault Mirage 5, one B-6D, one Aérospatiale Super Frelon, and two unknown aircraft. Despite the circumstances under which the F-14s and their crews had to operate in Iran during the eight-year long war against Iraq, it is still the premier fighter in the Iranian Air Force. The aircraft continued to operate without any support from AWACS or AEW aircraft, without even a proper support from the Ground Control Intercept(GCI). It faced an enemy that was repeatedly introducing new and more capable fighters, radars, weapons and ECM systems in combat and was supported by no less than three "superpowers" (France, the USA, and the USSR). Their crews were also permanently under heavy pressure from the regime in Tehran. That it proved as successful in combat is a result of strenuous efforts of IRIAF personnel and immense investment of the Iranian economy.[55]

Iran had an estimated 44 F-14s in 2009;[57] It has 19 F-14s in operation in January 2013, according to estimate by Aviation Week.[58]

In January 2007, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that sales of spare F-14 parts would be suspended over concerns of the parts ending up in Iran.[59] In July 2007, the remaining American F-14s were shredded to ensure that any parts could not be acquired.[54] 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.[60][61] 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.[62]

On 26 January 2012, an Iranian F-14 crashed three minutes after takeoff. Both crew members were killed.[63]

Back when they bought those F-14's... four pilots came to Miramar to train in them and the use of the Phoenix from Hughes(which at that time was  secret or top secret..I don't remember) their names were Mohamed, Alli, Mede and Kazem. My Pops worked for Hughes at the time and was involved with their training. Kazem and I used to play tennis at the neighbors house. When they returned to Iran, Kazem left me his car that he purchased for his time here, it was a 65 Olds Delta 98. . The pilot that made that sucsessful shoot down in practice with the phoenix was Mohamed. I remember that day we went to their arpartments in Mira Mesa for a celabration party afterwards.

I would imagine they are all either top Generals by now or were shot  

[Rich46yo]

I remember the Iranians at Lackland back in '77 when I was training. They were far and above the Arab trainees and had a far better reputation amongst the USAF Trainers. At the time the Shah had the best equipped armed force in the region. Most of all Air Force. Now that title would go to the Turks.

[cpxxx]

Actually the Iranians are not Arabs, Rich. They're Persian, quite different in language and culture and in other ways as you noticed. I have experience of working with both Arabs and Iranians. It's somewhat analogous to the difference between say the Germans and the Spanish.

It's one of life's ironies that they have such a hostile relationship with the west as in fact we have more in common with them than the Arab allies. Perhaps the recent easing of tensions is finally a recognition by the leadership that it's not in their interest to keep up the hostility.

Time will tell.

[mthrockmor]

The F-14 remains the sexiest bird even to put to flight!

Boo

[Arlo]

Actually the Iranians are not Arabs, Rich.

Rich didn't say the Iranians were Arabs.

They were far and above the Arab trainees ...

[Arlo]

The F-14 remains the sexiest bird ever to put to flight!

One of the top ten if not top 5. 

[Rich46yo]

Actually the Iranians are not Arabs, Rich. They're Persian, quite different in language and culture and in other ways as you noticed. I have experience of working with both Arabs and Iranians. It's somewhat analogous to the difference between say the Germans and the Spanish.

Yes I well know. The traditions and culture of Iran has far more in common with eastern cultures then Arab ones. I made it a point to read a few books back in Nov. '77 while I was stuck in the Dorm, a few hundred miles from Tehran, waiting for Carter to give us the "go" to invade.

[Rino]

I remember the Iranians at Lackland back in '77 when I was training. They were far and above the Arab trainees and had a far better reputation amongst the USAF Trainers. At the time the Shah had the best equipped armed force in the region. Most of all Air Force. Now that title would go to the Turks.

     I went to Lackland in 81, didn't see any foreign trainees until I got to advanced training at Lowery
in Denver.  I went to radar mech school with a couple of Mexicans.  They were great guys, but we
were a tad confused because they were first Lts in the Mexican air force.  Evidently the mechanics in
Mexico were officers and the enlisted basically wrench wranglers for them.  When they graduated
with us, a bunch of senior Mexican AF officers came to the "ceremony".  Looked like a constellation!
First time I ever saw a seven star colonel    Of course the first lts had captain's bars turned 90
degrees to the way we wear them and the captains have 3 parallel bars instead of two.

     

[mtnman]

The F-14 remains the sexiest bird even to put to flight!

Boo

Bah!  Nope, not even close.  

For cripes sake, it doesn't even have a propeller!  Immediate disqualification (like a firearm with a non-wood stock)...

Now, if we created a "pity class" so that the hair dryer-driven planes could be judged in sexiness; well then maybe...

[Shifty]

I remember the Iranians at Lackland back in '77 when I was training. They were far and above the Arab trainees and had a far better reputation amongst the USAF Trainers. At the time the Shah had the best equipped armed force in the region. Most of all Air Force. Now that title would go to the Turks.

I remember them at Shepard AFB TX in early 1978, they were going through pilot training there.
They seemed okay by me, I was an Airman basic then going through Tech School they were one
of the few groups not giving us ABs grief at every turn.