Social media video emerged 20NOV15 depicting Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) F-14A and F-4E combat aircraft rendering allied fighter escort for Russian Air Force (RuAF) strategic aviation over Iranian airspace. The Russian video depicts RuAF strategic aviation comprised of Tu-22M3 “Blinder’, Tu-95MS “Bear” and Tu-160 “Blackjack" combat aircraft. Video stills and complete video provided below:
IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighter accompanying RuAF Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile platform over Iranian airspace.
Detail of IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighter, as filmed by RuAF crewman while traversing Iranian airspace.
IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighters accompanying RuAF Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile platform over Iranian airspace.
What appears to be an IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E fighter-bomber accompanying RuAF Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile platform, emerging in Russian cameraman's LOS immediately following the drop-launch of ALCM. Next ALCM is now visible on rotated launcher.
COMMENTARY: IRIAF can now claim to have participated in the war against ISIL on two theaters: the Iraqi theater and now the Syrian theaters of war.
The Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Iranian Commander-in-Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 23NOV15 in Tehran.
IRIAF Commander Brig. Gen. Hassan Shah-Safi (L) with PLAAF Commander Gen. Ma Xiaotian (R), on 01NOV15 in Beijing, China.
IRIAF Commander Brig. Gen. Hassan Shah-Safi on 01NOV15 arrived with an Iranian military delegation at Beijing, China, upon invitation of PLAAF Commander General Ma Xiaotian.
During his four-day visit Shah-Safi will reportedly tour China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), as well as Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET).
Shah-Safi on 04NOV15 is scheduled to meet with PLAAF Gen. Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China.
The Iranian delegation on 05NOV15 plans to tour PLAAF 19th Fighter Division at Jinan, and the Air Force Engineering Faculty at Xi'an. Additionally, there are plans to tour Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) and Xi'an Flight Automatic Control Research Institute (FACRI).
COMMENTARY: There are indications PRC and IRI are to engage in renewed military hardware and technology transfers, following the implementation of JCPOA and subsequent repeal of sanctions.
It is further expected Iran will become a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), that includes a military dimension. From the perspective of SCO members, current challenges include conflict at Ukraine, and a territorial dispute on the South China Sea. Iran, as a regional power, may be seen in this context as potentially contributing towards a balance of power relative to the U.S.-led security order.
Members of the Iranian military delegation with their Chinese counterparts, on 01NOV15 in Beijing
IRIAF Commander Brig. Gen. Hassan Shah-Safi with military delegation upon their arrival at Beijing. By the setting and personal appearance, it's likely they travelled by means of Iranian commercial carrier flight.
Above: banner showing image of IRIAF Major General Javad Fakoori
Iran's military on 29SEP15 remembered it's fallen commanders lost in an air crash thirty-four years ago to the day, during the Iran-Iraq War.
On 29SEP81, IRIAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules, serial 5-8552 en route from Ahvaz to Mehrabad crashed near Kahrizak, 20 kilometers south of Tehran, killing 80 on board including wounded from the front and the following Iranian top ranking military commanders:
- IRIA Major General Valiollah Fallahi, commander joint chief of staff
- IRIAF Major General Javad Fakouri, IRIAF commander and deputy commander joint chief of staff
(IRIAF Tactical Fighter Base 2 at Tabriz is named "Shahid Fakhouri" in his honor)
- IRIA Brigadier General Seyed Mousa Namjoo, minister of defense
- IRGC Brigadier General Yousef Kolahdouz, acting IRGC commander
- IRGC Major General Mohammad Ali Jahanara
(Hero during the Abadan siege and combat commander during Battles of Khoramshahr)
IRIAF Brigadier General 2C Hossein Khalili speaking at the commemoration ceremony
Seated in the audience, far right: IRIAF Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Alireza Barkhour
IRIAF Brigadier General 2C Farajollah Baratpour. An IRIAF F-4 Phantom pilot, Baratpour flew combat in the celebrated H-3 airstrike during the Iran-Iraq War.
Brig. Gen. Alireza Barkhour distributes honor plaques to family members of military commanders lost in the 1981 air tragedy.
Group of IRIAF colonels seated at the commemoration ceremony
IRGC brigadier general 2C breaks ground onsite of planned monument for those military servicemen lost in the 1981 air tragedy.
Iran media imagery of the Sacred Defense Week exhibition held by Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) at Mehrabad International Airport, commemorating the onset of the Iran-Iraq War that took place 35 years ago.
Collection of IRIAF aircraft assembled for exhibition during Sacred Defense Week 2015
Newly unveiled Mohajem 92 ("Attacker 92") unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Claimed specifications include 6-hour flight endurance, 200 kph speed at the sea level, a weight of 80 kilograms and operating radius of 100 km. [source: Tasnim News Agency]
Displayed aircraft, in order:
- IRIAF Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer tandem-seat training aircraft
- IRIAF Bell 214C Isfahan medium-lift helicopter
- IRIAF Boeing (Elicotteri Meridionali) CH-47C Chinook (219) heavy-lift helicopter
- IRIAF Fokker F-27-400M Troopship transport aircraft
- IRIAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules (L-382) transport aircraft
Far left: IRIAF Dassault Mirage F1EQ, serial 3-6202
Detail of IRIAF Dassault Mirage F1EQ, serial 3-6202
Photo: Mehrad Watson
Foreground: IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat, serial 3-6030 / 160328 (H-30) from Isfahan/Shahid Babaei TFB-8
Detail of IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat, serial 3-6030 / 160328 (H-30)
Photo: Mehrad Watson
Foreground: IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter bomber of 91st TFS from Bandar Abbas/Shahid Abdulkarimimi TFB-9.
Detail of IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter bomber of 91st TFS from Bandar Abbas/Shahid Abdulkarimimi TFB-9. [photo: Erfan Arabzadeh]
Pair of Owj JT2-2 Tazarve (“Pheasant”) prototype jet training aircraft
IRIAF Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 “Fulcrum” of 11th TFS from Tehran/Shahid Lashkari TFB-1
IRIAF Chengdu FT-7N Airguard, serial 3-7723 of 85th TFS from Isfahan/Shahid Babaei TFB-8
Detail of IRIAF Chengdu FT-7N Airguard, serial 3-7723 of 85th TFS from Isfahan/Shahid Babaei TFB-8
Photo: Erfan Arabzadeh
Foreground, left: IRIAF Northrop F-5F Tiger II, serial 3-7167 / 50694 (cn Z1014) of 21st TFS from Tabriz/Shahid Fakoori TFB-2.
Background, right: IRIAF Northrop (HESA) F-5F Saeghe II ("Thunderbolt II"), serial 3-7182 of 23rd TFS from Tabriz/Shahid Fakoori TFB-2.
Detail of IRIAF Northrop F-5F Tiger II, serial 3-7167 / 50694 (cn Z1014)
Photo: Mehrad Watson
IRIAF Boeing 747-131(SF) from Transport Wing at Tehran/Mehrabad
IRIAF Boeing (Elicotteri Meridionali) CH-47C Chinook (219), serial 5-9307
IRIAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules (L-382), possible serial 5-8501 (cn 382-4115) of 11th TAS from Transport Wing at Tehran/Mehrabad.
Saha Air Boeing 707-3J9C, reg. EP-SHV (cn 21125/912)
Note: vintage aircraft currently used for cabin crew training at Saha Air training center
IRIAF Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 8, serial 5-9001
Photo: Mehrad Watson
IRIAF display of air-launched weapons (1)
IRIAF display of air-launched weapons (2)
General Electric J79 axial-flow turbojet engine from F-4 Phantom II aircraft
IRIAF display of air crew flight gear
Left to right:
- Unidentified IRIAF major, TFB-1 base security
- Unidentified cleric
- IRIAF colonel, F-5 Tiger II pilot "Agressor Squadron" flight instructor
- IRIAF Deputy Commander Brigadier General Alireza Barkhour
- IRIAF Brigadier General 2C Mohammed Tasviyehchi, commander of TFB-1
- Unidentified IRIAF Brigadier General 2C
Photos: F. Samadi at Islamic Republic News Agency, Mehrad Watson and Erfan Arabzadeh
Iran media imagery of the Sacred Defense Parade held in Tehran on 22SEP15, commemorating the onset of the Iran-Iraq War that took place 35 years ago.
IRGC-ASF Ghadr-H ("Intensity-H) medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), using TEL variant with canted trailer mounting arm and four rearward compartments.
IRGC-ASF Ghadr-H ("Intensity-H) medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), using TEL variant with straight trailer mounting arm and three rearward compartments.
IRGC-N Khalij Fars (“Persian Gulf”) anti-ship ballistic missile on launch control vehicle
Zelzal-1 ("Earthquake-1") heavy artillery rocket using launcher vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz 2631 Actros series platform.
NEZAJA Naze'at 10-H artillery rocket using using launcher vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz 2624 platform
IRGC-ASF 3rd Khordad ("Third of Khordad") TELAR equipped with Taer-2 ("Bird") type missiles
Note: The Third of Khordad refers to the date Khorramshar was liberated from Baathist-Iraqi military occupation during the Iran-Iraq War.
IRGC-ASF Tabas TELAR with Taer-2 ("Bird") type missiles
Note: Tabas is the historical site and Iranian military operation ("amaliat tabas") against the failed Operation Eagle Claw rescue mission of 1980.
IRIADF 5Yu24M transporter/transloader carrying an S-200VE/SA-5 Gammon 5V28 round
IRIADF 5T53M type transport containers, 5V28 type missile of S-200 type SAM system
IRGC Kupol 9K331M1 TLAR, Tor M1 (NATO: SA-15C Gauntlet) self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) system
IRIADF Mersad ("Ambush") air defense system Ghader self-propelled SAM vehicle on Mercedes-Benz 2624 6x6 truck platform, with three Shahin ("Hawk") or Shalamche missiles.
Note: the town of Shalamche was one of the main sites of invasion into Iran during the Baathist-Iraqi launching of Iran-Iraq War.
IRIADF Mersad ("Ambush") air defense system Shalamche missiles and M192 type launcher, transported on Mercedes-Benz 2624 6x6 truck platform.
IRIADF MIM-23 HAWK type surface-to-air missile transport canisters
IRIADF Rapier surface-to-air missile system towed launcher
IRIADF Sepehr tactical vehicle equipped with top-mounted ZU-23-2 "Sergey" 23 mm anti- aircraft twin-barreled autocannon
IRGC-GF T-72S main battle tank, of a type recently provided to Iraq military forces in the war against ISIL
NEZAJA FV4204 Chieftain Mk 5 ARV Armored Recovery Vehicle
IRIAF Qassed ("Messenger") type electro-optically guided 2000 lb bomb
IRIAF "Cruise Missile" land attack cruise missile (LACM)
Nasr AGM variant and Fakur-90 AAM
IRIAF Asre-67 air-to-ground missile
NEZAJA special ground forces equipped with Misagh ("Covenant") type MANPADS, aboard Banihashem ATV 500s
NEZAJA special ground forces equipped with 9M113 Konkurs (“Contest”) anti-tank guided missile systems
NEZAJA Toyota Land Cruiser (J70) fitted with Moharram 6-barrel 12.7 mm Gatling-type machine gun
Arab-Iranian Tribal Basij members from Khuzestan province
Baluch-Iranian Tribal Basij members from Sistan and Baluchistan province
Qashqai-Iranian Tribal Basij members from southern or central Iran
Front row, left to right: Major General Ataollah Salehi, Major General Seyed Hassan Firuzabadi, President Hassan Rouhani, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan and Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari.
Foreign military observers present at Sacred Defense Parade 2015 in Tehran
IRIB VIDEOS:
Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency, Majid Haghdoust and Hossein Razaqnejad at Mehr News Agency, Meghdad Madadi at Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Hossein Velayati at Fars News Agency
