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Friday, August 14, 2009

IRIAF F-14 overhauled after 12 Years



Impressive maintenance and manufacturing of spare parts have shown just how capable Iran is of keeping it's aging F-14 fleet in service, some 25 Tomcats remain in service with the IRIAF after a lengthy 30 year embargo which started not long before an eight year war with Iraq!

7 comments:

  1. Very impressive. I believe that the avionics have been upgraded too. I understand that at the end of jange Tahmili around 60 airframes were left, so with regular refurbishment, IRIAF should have around 55 operational F-14A. This is indeed a remarkable achievement for Iranian engineers, technicians and Iran Aircraft Industries. WELL DONE.

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  2. Actually all the remaining 59 plus F-14A have been upgraded and their air worthiness is now extended for IRIAF beyond 2020. They are also armed with a mix of locally produced AAMs like the Fattar (AIM 9X) to Vympel R-77's. The avionics, ECM and HUD are all new with much longer BVR radars.

    Iran shows off upgraded F-14 A fleet with new weapons and avionics

    The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) says it currently owns a new generation of F-14 fighter aircraft with domestically-built radars and improved engines.

    The Iranian fleet of Grumman F-14 Tomcat aircraft was purchased from the United States during the late 1970's. Iran received 79 jets and used them extensively in the war with Iraq, losing only a few and achieving a kill ratio of 1:6. IRIAF started the F-14A upgrade progam in 2002 under project Khorshid. The current fleet with over 50 operational jets boasts Iranian made Fatter (AIM 9X) and Phoenix AIM 54 BVR missiles.

    Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the US has placed an arms embargo on Iran, which includes the sale of new F-14 aircraft to the country.

    Aziz Nasirzadeh, a top IRIAF official, described the current Iranian fleet of F-14 as “completely overhauled” aircraft.

    He also said the aircraft have been improved so that they now own a new generation of bombers which could not be installed before. The fleet life has been prolonged to well beyond 2020.

    The US announced in January 2007 that sales of spare parts for F-14s would be suspended due to concerns that they could end up in Iran.

    Nasirzadeh said Iran was now capable of producing radars for the F-14s and improving the aircraft's engine without dependence on imports.

    He added that Iran was now moving on the road to “independence” in producing aircraft parts as the country does not expect foreign countries to provide it with supplies.

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  3. RE comments I quote "The US announced in January 2007 that sales of spare parts for F-14s would be suspended due to concerns that they could end up in Iran." unquote.

    Very strange, since only two countries ever had f14 in thier arsenals. USA & Iran.

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  4. but US couldn't practically suspend the sale of spare parts for F-14s and Iranian could receive the spare parts through black market. even they could receive some retired F-14 of Us and Phenix missiles.

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  5. but US couldn't practically suspend the sale of spare parts for F-14s and Iranian could receive the spare parts through black market. even they could receive some retired F-14 of Us and Phenix missiles.

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  6. The Iranian air force a former shadow of itself.

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  7. Anon 8:02 AM

    Sadly you are very correct about the air force.
    Like everything else the mullahs touch it turns into s**t.
    The air force is truly a shadow of its self.Even UAE has a more modern air force than Iran,let alone Saudi Arabia.
    It's funny how the terrorist theocracy drags the carcass of the F14 around as its ultimate airplane (an F22 Raptor of its day 35 years ago)but alas the US and its proxies have far more advanced fighters now with better trained pilots that can fly rings around the Iranian air force with their AWACS and F15s,Typhoons and F22 Raptors,sad really.
    As for the Islamic terrorists missile force.Yet again the US has better and more powerful and accurate and in larger quantity than the Islamic terrorist regime will ever have.
    Basically the mullah driven Islamic terrorist lying regime is all belly with a big mouth that terrorizes its own citizens with its primitive barbarity and stupidity.
    Poor Iranian people,what did they do to deserve these utterly useless plates of cheloo kabab eating fat smelly bearded ignorant and uneducated fanatic mullahs?

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