Iran: Satellites and Tomcats

[Surenas]

Along with a new photograph of a previously unknown new "three-tone-edged" paint scheme, Iran's F-14s have been documented in a recent series of escort-flight photographs.

IRIAF F-14 Tomcats have apparently also been very active in downing numerous foreign drones operating in and near Iranian airspace (including Khark island) since 2006.

Leaked IDF document surfaced that the Netanyahu government intends to go to war with Iran:
15-Aug, 2012: Leaked IDF document that Israel intends to go to war with Iran.

History tells us the question is not will (will) Iran retaliate for an Israeli attack - but simply - in what manner will Iran retaliate. The Iranians did not sit back and absorb Iraqi air strikes during the Iran-Iraq War. Iran went on the offensive. Within hours of the first Iraqi strikes on 22-Sept 1980, the IRIAF launched coordinated retaliatory strikes to hit Iraqi airfields near Baghdad and Basrah. The Iranian hit these targets so hard - Iraqi MiG-23 and MiG-25 units based there were pulled back to al-Wallid AB (H3) near Jordan and would not reappear over Iran for several weeks. The IRIAF were to fly countless strike and reconnaissance sorties deep into Iraq, supported by its own in-flight refueling. It is no accident that the IRIAF’s tactical response, target selection, combat-tactics, and order of battle - would be consistent with an American air arm. No accident.

[Above] Iranian F-14AM painted in a new edged-three-tone Asian Minor II color scheme. The photograph appeared around mid-March 2013. Remarkable.

Indeed, IRIAF F-4E Phantoms conducted the first (the first) successful attack on the Iraqi nuclear reactor (Osirak), on 30-Sept 1980. This was followed eight (8) months later by Israeli jets on 06-Jun 1981. The Iranians did not target the main reactor (hitting other key buildings at the site) because of radiation release concerns. This successful IRIAF deep-penetration strike on the Iraqi nuclear facility has been all but forgotten by Western analysts, historians, and defense press. And another reason to remain wary of neoconservative assertions from those in Israel and America of "acceptable risk(s)" in strikes or in a War with Iran.

Diversionary War Theory is a time-tested, well understood, clumsy, and reprehensible political stunt to divert attention from problems at home.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) 16-Jun 2011: Iran sent its second domestically made satellite into orbit. Their first satellite was launched in 2009. With that event, in 2009 we wrote then about Iran's very-much-still-alive Grumman F-14 Tomcats.

[Above] Excellent images of Iranian Tomcats in new blue-gray color schemes. Iranian F-14s have spent most of their lives out of public view - even in Iran.

With the retirement of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat from US Navy service, Iran is now the sole operator of this powerful fighter-interceptor.

 

[Surenas]

Iran still operates approximately forty (40) F-14A-GR Tomcats (possibly new designation 'F-14AM' in IRIAF service, F-14AM = F-14A Modernization), and reports suggest Iran has over one-hundred, (100) new reverse-engineered (re-engineered) indigenous AIM-54 "Phoenix" air-to-air missile rounds to arm them.

Reportedly F-14AM has new ECM (electronic counter measures) system, new RWR (radar warning receiver), new INS (Inertial navigation system integrated w/ GPS), and Multifunction Liquid Crystal Displays for pilot and the WSO. Also it can reportedly can carry a wide range of US, Iranian, Chinese, and Russian air-to-air missile rounds - including R-73E, AIM-54A+ "Fakkur", AIM-54A, AIM-7E-4, AIM-9J, and MIM-23C.

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The AIM-54 Phoenix missile weighs over 1,000 lb (454 kg) each, and Tomcat can theoretically direct six (6) of these massive Phoenix rounds (launched nearly simultaneously) at six separate aerial targets. After launch the Phoenix climbs to ~80,000 feet and accelerates to Mach 4+ then drives down on its target using kinetic energy, activates it own terminal-phase ‘active-radar' seeker to find and then detonate its enormous warhead near the target.

After 30 years, the aircraft seem to be in fine shape.

Due to this climbing, high altitude, acceleration "kinetic" launch profile, with respect to engagement ranges of current U.S. air-to-air missiles, the AIM-54 is today still - without equal.

The resourcefulness of the Iranians to keep their Tomcats airworthy (since the mid-1980s), can no longer be a subject of speculation by the Western defense community.

 

[somebozo]

The question is how long they can keep these birds flying with every shrinking grey market of spares and engines?

 

[Surenas]

We would simply add that most (if not all) in the Western and American intelligence establishment, had for the last 25-30 years, insisted that Iran could not (could never) maintain her Tomcat fleet and its complex systems and weapons. In 2004 material published out of the United Kingdom (authors Tom Cooper / Farzad Bishop) would shatter these Western assertions - and their research has stood the test of time without issue, despite a ceaseless barrage of American attempts at dismissal since publication. It is now clear that those in the West who clung to erroneous analysis, are party to one of the greatest military intelligence failures in modern history.

[Above] Iranian F-14As with functional ‘glove vanes.’ These ‘vanes’ were deleted on later versions of USN Tomcats (F-14B and D models), citing excessive complexity and maintenance issues. Functioning F-14A ‘vanes’ on Iranian aircraft is consistent with research conducted by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop, chronicling that Iran has since mastered the many technologies that come together in the Grumman F-14A Tomcat, particularly after the Iran-Contra scandal.

Iranian F-14s with functional vanes should give IRIAF Tomcats enough control authority (as the vanes unload the tailplanes at higher Mach numbers) to pull 7.5 g at Mach 2+. How this translates into militarily useful capability in a confrontation with United States - is unknown.

[Below] Another remarkable series of photographs of IRIAF F-14s escorting the ‘Russian Knights’ display team across Iranian airspace. The Russian Su-27 display team returning from the 2012 Bahrain Air Show.

 

[Surenas]

In late 1986, the Pentagon’s Joint Intelligence Group, the CIA, Grumman engineers, the US-Navy, and the FTD (the Pentagons Foreign Technologies Division) conducted an evaluation of 132 F-14 parts, along with nine (9) cases of Iranian Tomcat parts – the goal being to determine if Iran was capable of manufacturing F-14 parts; or was paying someone to do so; and if so - who? The results of the meeting concluded that Iran was in fact manufacturing replacement parts for its F-14A-fleet.

It is important to remember that since IRIAF F-14s operate from runways. Iranian Tomcat airframes were never subjected to the pounding of US-Navy catapult-launches and arrester-hook landings. This can dramatically extend airframe lifetime(s) - particularly for a naval aircraft designed for such punishment - as Grumman F-14 Tomcat indeed was.

Iran would have little use for tired ex-US-Navy F-14A or F-14B Tomcat airframe parts?

[Above] This retired USN F-14D likely has many more years of useful service life?

Iranian F-14s in the foreground and F-4E Phantom IIs beyond.

During the Bush II administration, the US Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Fools Gold” agents posed as “Iranian arms-buyers” trying to purchase items on US commodity control list(s). US-DHS claimed to have intercepted illegal attempts to ship aircraft (F-14, F-4, F-5) parts to Iran. Whether Iran has (had) any use for such items appears at best - dubious. Judging from the functional ‘glove vanes' on Iranian F-14A Tomcats, and the fact that Navy F-14 variants ('B' and later 'D') without (without) functional glove vanes appeared as early (as early) as 1988, it would appear that Iran - did not.

[Above] A sea of retired American F-4 Phantom IIs which Iran also operates. No F-4 (or F-5) manufacturing dies are destroyed or aircraft shredded. Why?

"Fools Gold” therefore is relegated to an internal U.S. matter – not a geopolitical national security issue. While we are no friend of the Iranian regime, unfortunately the bulk of national security assertions by the Bush II administration has proven (the Office of Special Plans, WMD 2003 Iraq Invasion, Abu Ghraib), an endless series of falsehoods, and recklessness.

[Above] The sheer size of the AIM-54 Phoenix missile is apparent (USN)

Iranians were originally offered the F-15A Eagle as well, but Iran recognized early that the F-15 was simply no match for the F-14s combination of AWG-9 radar and Phoenix missile.

[Above] Another remarkable photo showing extended (and functional) glove vanes of this F-14A-GR just ahead of wing roots.

 

[KS]

Nice pictures, but anything in the air, if it comes to that, is just turkey shoot for USAF.

 

[Surenas]

With the fall of the Shah the United States Navy instructed its Naval Test Research Center at Point Mugu, California to develop ECM (electronic counter measures) aimed at defeating the AIM-54As sold to Iran. The USN also pushed hard for an upgraded AIM-54B and it was rushed into USN service to subsequently suffer from poor build quality. Reports of departing U.S. technicians sabotaging the bulk of the Iranian F-14 fleet and her AIM-54s – is not accurate - and only a few Phoenix rounds were degraded - and all were eventually repaired.

The first (the first) AIM-54 kill under actual combat conditions (in the world) occurred on 13-Sept 1980 against an Iraqi MiG-23MS - this after the IRIAF High Command authorized commanders of the 81st TFS at FTB 8 to use the Tomcat and AIM-54 Phoenix in combat to demonstrate the effectiveness of the aircraft to the clerical leadership in Tehran – who at the time was considering selling the entire Tomcat fleet (back to the Americans). The Iraqi fighter crashed a few kilometers inside the Iranian border.

Best available research using non-American sources (as American and Israeli Air Force sources can be unreliable), have concluded that over 130 Iraqi aircraft were downed (with an additional 23 probable) by Iranian F-14 Tomcats during the Iran-Iraq war; with over forty (40) of these using the AIM-54 Phoenix missile.

This means the twenty (20) year air-combat record of the F-15 'Eagle' was exceeded in eight (8) years by the F-14. Iranian Tomcats literally faced thousands of Iraqi air strikes during the Iran-Iraq War. Indeed, Iranian F-14 crews were to fight more aerial engagements than both the USAF and US-Navy combined during Vietnam.

IRIAF aircrews would not hesitate to take the Tomcat into combat even if the aircraft's AWG-9 had broken down. They would simply use the F-14s Vulcan 20mm gun and arm the aircraft with AIM-9P Sidewinders. Many victories during the Iran-Iraq War were scored this way.

Iranian F-14 pilots would also become highly proficient at properly employing the Tomcat high-AOA (high Alpha) maneuver (considered too dangerous by the USN) which enabled Iranian F-14s to survive and down Iraqi aircraft, even if heavily (heavily) outnumbered. Just as often IRIAF Tomcat crews would simply enter the tightest turn possible at near stall speeds, force Iraqi aircraft to overshoot, then throttle-up in behind their opponent and make the kill. Remarkable.

Note that Iranian F-14A-GR Tomcats do not have the chin IR sensor like their USN brethren. Iran did not order the then available AN/ALR-23 IR sensor, electing to wait for the improved Northrop AAX-1 (TCS). However, after the 1979 Iranian revolution all F-14 support was halted by the U.S.

Iran was to get a reprieve in F-14 support during the Iran–Contra scandal in the mid-1980s under the Reagan Administration. Iran was able to acquire all manner of advanced Tomcat, AWG-9 and AIM-54 Phoenix missile part and systems support. The Iranians seized at this opportunity to reverse engineer this windfall of functional components and sub-systems, so that after the early 1990s, Iran reportedly had “resolved permanently” their Tomcat-fleet parts and maintenance issues.

Here is rare (four part) 1977 Grumman promotional film during Project Persian King - the delivery and training to Iran of their F-14A-GR Tomcats:

 

[Kompromat]

Tomcats are a thing of the past, Iran needs an immediate air arm replacement with some high tech solution like the Su-35/J-10B etc.

 

[Surenas]

[Below] When these photo first appeared in Western press, there was surprise and bewilderment. Iranian F-14A-GR with two MIM-23B ‘I-Hawk’ missiles (foreground) during 'Project Sky Hawk' trials. Oddly this program had Israeli assistance (as the US supported Iraq during the war), although Israeli personnel were allowed only limited access to one aircraft and were barred from live fire tests.

Interestingly, Iranian RF-4 and F-4E Phantom IIs participated in "joint" Iranian-Israeli operations which would lead to successful attacks on the Iraqi nuclear reactor, first by Iranian jets from TFB-3 on 30-Sept 1980, and then by Israeli jets on 06-Jun 1981. The Iranians did not target the main reactor (hitting other key buildings at the site) because of radiation release concerns. This successful IRIAF penetration strike of the Iraqi nuclear facility has been all but forgotten by Western analysts and the Western press. Another reason to remain wary of Israeli and American neoconservative assertions of "acceptable risk(s)" in striking Iran.

As of 2012 (since the time of the original writing) IRIAF Tomcats are known to operate with MIM-23B rounds or MIM-23 bodies with unknown internals called "Sedjil". Both MIM-23 and 'Sedjil' may have hand-off-to-ground-station targeting capability after weapon release.

There has been (further) speculation that Russia was assisting Iran in upgrading its F-14 fleet with new radars, engines, missiles and canopies, however these reports appear erroneous.Considering the fact that during Iran’s purchase of MiG-29 and Su-24, Iran did not allow Russian personal anywhere near their F-5s, not to mention their F-14s. There is no evidence to support Western claims that airworthy Iranian Tomcats were handed over to Russia after the 1979 revolution for evaluation and testing.

During the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq did ship two (2) American AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles rounds off a defecting Iranian F-5 to Russia for analysis - and may be the source of the F-14 rumors. However, during the war some wreckage of one or two Iranian F-14s may have found their way to the Soviets.

The F-14 was not without its problems. The TF30 engines were prone to compressor stall under curtain conditions and pilots had to "fly the engines." Iran opened private negotiations with Pratt and Whitney in 1976 to address or replace, but after 1979 Iran has had to make due with the TF30 to this day. Also its AWG-9 radar was designed for over-water operation, radar performance was not optimum for ultra-low altitude targets over land. It should also be noted that operating costs for an aircraft are directly proportional to take-off weight.

Note that the port-side nose number appears be covered from view of the camera crew?

But the F-14 remains an impressive machine. During dogfight exercises at low level, the F-14 always beat the F-15, the F-16, and also out-flew the MiG-29 (reportedly the reason Iran ordered so few MiG-29s).

Below] Iran has been exceedingly resourceful in keeping their Tomcats flying.

The Iranian Tomcat is surely one of the most intriguing topics in aviation. Tom Cooper / Farzad Bishops 2004 Osprey material has become the seminal reference on the F-14 in Iranian service and offers unparalleled visibility-insight into the entire geopolitical picture (of all state actors) from the 1970s to today. A remarkable work.

Perhaps the numbers of people that still insist that the Iranian fleet of F-14s are nothing more than: rusting, sun-bleached carcasses - is the most telling of all.

Due to countless upgrades and improvements done in Iran proper, the true capability of the Iranian F-14 fleet is likely to be difficult, (as in the past) to assess with certainty?

Your thoughts?

The Boresight: Iran: Satellites and Tomcats

 

[Hack-Hook]

The question is how long they can keep these birds flying with every shrinking grey market of spares and engines?

There is zero grey market or black market for f-14 parts only iran airforce and us navy had this plane and usa destroyed all its spare parts and their tomcats . They even went to the extent to destroy all the equipment needed to produce these parts.

In short iran can only depend on itself in producing those spare parts

 

[Surenas]

The question is how long they can keep these birds flying with every shrinking grey market of spares and engines?

From the text:

In late 1986, the Pentagon’s Joint Intelligence Group, the CIA, Grumman engineers, the US-Navy, and the FTD (the Pentagons Foreign Technologies Division) conducted an evaluation of 132 F-14 parts, along with nine (9) cases of Iranian Tomcat parts – the goal being to determine if Iran was capable of manufacturing F-14 parts; or was paying someone to do so; and if so - who? The results of the meeting concluded that Iran was in fact manufacturing replacement parts for its F-14A-fleet.

Tomcats are a thing of the past, Iran needs an immediate air arm replacement with some high tech solution like the Su-35/J-10B etc.

From the text:

Perhaps the numbers of people that still insist that the Iranian fleet of F-14s are nothing more than: rusting, sun-bleached carcasses - is the most telling of all.

 

[ashok321]

yr link is unfunctional on israel.