U.S. official: 'Iranian flights manned by Iranian pilots' against Islamic State

By Mark Pyruz

Above: file image of IRGC-AF Su-25 aircraft, now in Iraq for combat missions against "Islamic State" 

According to The Hill:

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday that Iran and Russia were helping Iraq battle a Sunni extremist insurgency but that the U.S. was not coordinating its own assistance with either country.

"We are aware of the Iranian and Russian efforts to help the Iraqis, but we are not involved in coordinating any missions," Hagel said.

Hagel’s comments came after reports quoted Iraqi military officials saying that Iran and Russia were conducting airstrikes in their country, hitting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) targets. A Pentagon official said the U.S. believes Iranian pilots are in the air in Iraq but not Russian pilots.

"We believe that there are some manned Iranian flights manned by Iranian pilots," the official said. "There's nothing that indicates there are Russian pilots flying around."

Commentary: This appears to serve as a form of cooroboration for open source rumors regarding less than operational condition of ex-RuAF Su-25 aircraft (as well as a lack of required technical resources) Russia recently airlifted to Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Air Base; while at least three operational IRGC-AF Su-25s have been successfully flown to al-Muthanna Air Base at Baghdad.

This further serves to validate this writer's impression that IRGC-AF air and ground crews are functioning in Iraq, in ways similar to American armed forces Farm Gate operations during early U.S. efforts in the Vietnam War.

Ex-Iranian Su-25 aircraft in IqAF service - video analysis

Stills from Iraqi Ministry of Defense promotional video of former IRGC-AS Su-25 aircraft seen in IqAF service:

IqAF (former IRGC-AF) Su-25 close air support aircraft fitted with PTB-800 external fuel tanks and OFAB-250-270 high explosive fragmentation bombs, using BD3-25 universal pylons.

Background: IqAF (former IRGC-AF) Su-25UBK close air support aircraft; former serial 15-2458 seen retaining last two digits "58." Aircraft fitted with four OFAB-250-270 high explosive fragmentation bombs using BD3-25 universal pylons.

Ground crew wearing IqAF type BDU pushing carrier loaded with FAB-500M-62 high explosive bomb

Detail of OFAB-250-270 high explosive fragmentation bombs attached to Su-25 using BD3-25 universal pylons.

IqAF (former IRGC-AF) Su-25 close air support aircraft fitted with four OFAB-250-270 high explosive fragmentation bombs, using BD3-25 universal pylons.

IqAF (former IRGC-AF) Su-25K close air support aircraft; former serial 15-2456 seen retaining last two digits "56." Aircraft fitted with four OFAB-250-270 high explosive fragmentation bombs using BD3-25 universal pylons. Note crudely stenciled Iraqi national flag emblem.

Flight deck detail of IqAF (former IRGC-AF) Su-25 close air support aircraft

Su-25 aircrew bearing shoulderboard insignia of what appears to be an IqAF major

IqAF (former IRGC-AF) Su-25K close air support aircraft taxiing on runway, fitted with two PTB-800 external fuel tanks using BD3-25 universal pylons.

Complete Iraqi MoD promotional video:

*Note: 06JUL14, IqAF Su-25 aircraft targeted a bridge connecting Zab, south of Kirkuk, to an area north of Salah ad-Din. Precision airstrike suggests indicative of Russian or Iranian aircrew.

IRGC-AF intervention in the 2014 Northern Iraq Offensive

 

Above: IRGC-AF Sukhoi Su-25 type "Frogfoot" seen upon transfer to Iraq 

IRGC-AF has transfered all it's operational Su-25 type close air support aircraft to Iraq to be employed against ISIL and it's allies during the ongoing 2014 Northern Iraq Offensive.

The seven Su-25 type aircraft are now deployed at Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Air Force Base (ICAO: ORTL / LID: TAL), along with recently delivered ex-RuAF Su-25 type aircraft.

 Video of IRGC-AF delivery to Iraq (Iraqi media): 

Three of the seven IRGC-AF aircraft are 15-2459 (Su-25UBK delivered from Ulan-Udeh Aviation Plant and serviced by Georgian technicians in January 2003), 15-2451 (overhauled and updated by Pars Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility in 2011) and 15-2456 (overhauled and updated by Pars in 2012). One additional Su-25K (15-2450) is said to be scheduled for future delivery to Iraq following overhaul and update by Pars. [sources: Airliners.net and ACIG.org member]

It is said IRGC-AF transferred aircraft (three two-seater Su-25UBK and four single-seat Su-25KM) are operated by four IqAF and ten IRGC-AF pilots. It is further said combat operations commenced 01JUL14. [source: ACIG.org member]

The aircraft transfer and support contract is said to provide Iran's IRGC-AF with six Sukhoi Su-30K multirole combat aircraft previously designated for Iraq. It has been further speculated future IRGC-AF Su-30 aircraft will be deployed at BuMusa ("Abu Musa") Island. [source: ACIG.org member]

The aircraft transfer deal appears in effect with American acquiescence or approval.

There are also indications reported by Aviationist blog and "Jassem Al Salami" at WIB blog that Iranian combat aviation forces have possibly conducted bombing missions at Baiji on 21JUN14.

COMMENTARY: IRGC-AF participation may appear similar in ways to American Farm Gate operations during early U.S. military efforts in the Vietnam War. As such, it's possible these IRGC-AF flown and/or assisted combat missions could likewise be the harbinger of ever greater commitments by Iran, as occurred with American military involvement in Vietnam following the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident.

File photos of IRGC-AF Su-25 type aircraft:

IRGC-AF Sukhoi Su-24UBK, serial 15-2459  (MAY09 / Reza Hajari)

IRGC-AF Sukhoi Su-24K, serial 15-2454  (09OCT03 / Arash-Naghib-Lahoufi)

IRGC-AF Sukhoi Su-24K, serial 15-2455  (22MAR12 / Hamid Reza Jafari)

IRGC-AF Sukhoi Su-24K, serial 15-2456  (08FEB12 / Amir Mahdavi)

IRGC-AF Sukhoi Su-24UBK, serial 15-2457  (04DEC10 / Babak T) 

IRGC-AF Sukhoi Su-24UBK, serial 15-2458  (18AUG11 / Omid Farhat)

RuAF delivery of Su-25 combat aircraft to IqAF

RuAF delivery of Sukhoi Su-25 "Frogfoot" close air support aircraft to IqAF on 29JUN14

IqAF Su-25 combat aircraft presently undergoing assembly at Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Air Force Base (ICAO: ORTL / LID: TAL), located 20 kilometers southwest of Nasiriyah

Russian sources claim initial five Su-25s rushed through ‘routine maintenance’ at ARZ 121 / Kubinka before shipment to IqAF. Also it's rumored Iraq's previous request for Iran to return Su-25 aircraft now in IRGC-AF inventory was declined, presumably based on Iranian defense needs and possibly operational condition.

It's said current IqAF pilot roster includes four individuals with experience flying the Sukhoi Su-25, however it's also said IqAF currently lacks trained ground crew personnel for this type.

Claim indicates number of Su-25 aircraft to be delivered to IqAF at twelve. Above 29 RED prior to delivery at ARZ 121 / Kubinka. Russian sources claim above aircraft of Su-25K specification.

Iraqi sources are also claiming a forthcoming delivery of two Sukhoi Su-24 "Fencer" all-weather attack aircraft.

Iran Issues Warning on Drones

Joint IRGC-Artesh Air Defense Drills This Week

Iran said it would deal decisively with any foreign encroachment into its airspace. The warning came after the Pentagon confirmed media reports that two SU-25 fighter jets attached to IRGC-AF had fired on a U.S. MQ1 Predator drone on November 1 in the Persian Gulf. The aircraft was not hit.

“The defenders of the Islamic Republic will respond decisively to any form of encroachment by air, sea or on the ground,” said Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri, a senior IRGC commander. “If any foreign aircraft attempts to enter our airspace our armed forces will deal with them,” he added. (Fars News Agency, 9 November)

Meanwhile, Iran has announced that it will conduct large-scale air defense drills, codenamed ‘Velayat 4,’ across several eastern provinces this week. Velayat 4 will be a joint exercise by the IRGC and the regular army, the Artesh, and will involve testing new radar and surveillance equipment.

Iranian Jets Fire on U.S. Drone - CNN

Two Iranian Su-25 fighter jets attached to IRGC air force fired on an unarmed U.S. Air Force Predator drone in the Persian Gulf last week, CNN’s Barbara Starr reported today.

U.S. officials have said the drone was in international airspace east of Kuwait. The drone's still and video cameras captured the incident showing two SU-25s approaching the Predator and firing its onboard guns. Although the drone was not hit, the Pentagon is concerned. (CNN, 8 November)

File photo: IRGC’s SU-25 (Hossein Fatemi/FNA)

UPDATE: The Pentagon confirmed that Iran did fire on an unarmed U.S. drone. A Pentagon spokesman told Fox News that the incident occurred Nov. 1 at 4:50 a.m. ET. The spokesman said the MQ1 Predator drone, which was not hit, was flying 16 nautical miles off the coast of Kuwait in international waters, and never entered the 12-mile limit that would constitute Iranian territory.