I noticed that in the discussion thread on a possible air-war incolving western air forces against Iran, very little mention was actually made on the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force's (IRIAF) aircraft and capabilities.
This has made me quite curious - what are the exact combat capabilities of the IRIAF? Note that Iran is the world's 4th largest oil exporter, and in theory, should be well able to procure new combat aircraft, including advanced types, from Russia and China.
Yet all the limited information that I can garner from the web seems to indicate a limited IRIAF operating a mix of mainly very old airframes with conjectual upgrades, unverified new purchases and local designs of unknown quality.
Specifically:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce-equipment.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/weapons.htm
http://www.scramble.nl/ir.htm
The inventory that the IRIAF has is also subject to conjecture, with most sources seem to agree on:
F-14 10-15 flyable - local upgrades include Russian avionics and the ability to fire HAWK SAMs?
F-4 approximately 40 flyable - modified with Russian avionics?
F-5E approximately 60 flyable - local Iranian upgrades?
MiG-29 possibily 25, includes new buy and ex Iraqi AF
Mirage F1 - 24, all ex Iraqi AF - modified with Russian avionics?
Su-25 - 10, includes new buy and ex Iraqi AF
Su-24 - 30, includes new buy and ex Iraqi AF
I have left out Su-17 Fitters and Chinese F-6, as they aren't as interesting as those listed above.
In addition, Iran seems to have developed two F-5 derivatives and 1 trainer:
Azarakhsh (Lightning) - an enlarged F-5 design with possibily MiG-29 engines and radar
Sa'eqeh (Thunderbolt) - an updated F-5 design with canted tail stabilizers
Shafaq (Before the Dawn) - a trainer/light strike aircraft that closely resembles the YAK-130
As I mentioned, Iran has the currency to buy the latest Russian and Chinese fighters like the Su-27 series, but it has primairly tried to develop it's own indigenous aircraft programs, complemented with the purchase of Russian electronic systems and engines.
Does anyone have non-classified information that can shed light on the current status of the IRIAF?
In an effort to inject some new topics into FBS, let's discuss the following questions:
1. Just how good is the IRIAF today in terms of training and pilot quality?
2. Are the upgraded F-series aircraft still potent? I'm especially curious of the F-14 upgrade, can anyone shed some light on it's likely upgrades? (for example, it's possible that the Iranians could have replaced the AWG-9 with a Russian Phazotron radar)
3. Will Iran buy SU27/30s?
4. Is it possible that Iran has collaborated with China and to some extent Pakistan in military development? (recall that even though they have differing views on Islam, Pakistan did pass Iran some nuclear research material in the mid-1990s) Is it possible that this may lead to an Iranian produced FC-1/JF-17 or J-10?
5. Or, if Iran is increasingly concerned with Pakistan's ties to the US, will they seek to cooperate with India on military aircraft development, such as the Indian LCA?
6. Why did Iran choose to develop F-5 derivatives instead of buying new MiGs or SUs? Apart from wanting to be self-reliant in defense matters, Iran still lacks the capability to produce current engine and avionics systems, and has to buy these, mainly from Russia.
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