IIAF today if the Revolution never Happened

[GHOST RIDER]

Note:if this is in the incorrect section then mods lease move it to the correct section
Hi All
I am starting this thread to have your opinions and predictions on what the Imperial Iranian Airforce would look like if the Islamic Revolution or any thing over throwing the Pahlavi dynasty never happened

So here is my prediction
F-14s phased out
If the US Navy had started phasing out the F-14,then Iran wont be left behind,infact they only had 80 F-14s and could phase them out more quickly than the US.As the Shah always wanted the best For his armed forces.Plus US phasing out F-14s means it wont make any more spare parts for it,so no spare parts for the Shah.

F-16s(Upgraded)
The Shah ordered 300 F-16s in the late 70s,with delivery of first 2 due in 19 79.These were the early versions of the F-16s,and till today the Shah may have most probably upgraded them to Block 50/52 level as he didnt wanted to be left behind in technology specially in his armed forces

F-18s
Iran was a great investor in this fighter and most probably it may have bought these sooner or later,plus it ordered these even before it came in production,my guess would be 100+ or till 200 FA-18 Super Hornets in IIAF fleet

F-4s=phased out

F-5
Most of these would had been phased out,but handfull may also be used for training

E-3 AEWAC
Iran ordered 4 or 5 of these but the order was cancelled by the Islamic Regime,so most probably it would have had these in service

C-130
Iran had C-130,close to 70 and my guess is that they may have been replaced by C-130J Super Hercules or could had upgraded them,few replaced ones could be given to Pakistan for spares

P-3F
Iran may still have these in service with latest upgrades,but may plan on replacing them with P-8

Boeing 707 Tanker
This thing may be old school in today,so as Shah wanted the best,this could had been replaced with KC-135 aerial tanker



NOTE;THIS IS MY PERSONEL OPINION.PLEASE SHARE YOUR ALSO,

 

[Zabaniyah]

So here is my prediction
F-14s phased out
If the US Navy had started phasing out the F-14,then Iran wont be left behind,infact they only had 80 F-14s and could phase them out more quickly than the US.As the Shah always wanted the best For his armed forces.Plus US phasing out F-14s means it wont make any more spare parts for it,so no spare parts for the Shah.

Just because an aircraft is phased out, doesn't mean spares won't be available. So even if the US retired the F-14, and Iran still using it today, they can still access spares. Although, given that Iran is an unfriendly country, the Americans made sure none of the spares go to them.

There was the F-14D in the US. It was a very capable fighter. Below is one with the ROVER upgrade:

They even had the possibility of having AESA upgrades, along with other improvements. Dubbed the "Super Tomcat". There was one project for a highly evolved version of the Tomcat, the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter back in the 90s, but was scrapped.

In the end, the Americans thought that the F-14 was too costly, and a burden to take care of a heavy fighter on a carrier. So, they replaced it with the F-18 Super Hornet to address the issue. Although, the F-14D (given it had improved features) is a far more capable carrier-based fighter for air superiority operations.

As far as an alternative timeline Iran (still under Shah), they might have gone for F-15s to replace their aging F-14s and F-4s. Note that they never used any aircraft carriers.

Or maybe, just maybe the F-22. The F-14s that were delivered to Iran was of a very advanced design for that time. Even though the Iranian ones had slightly downgraded avionics packages.

In fact, the F-14 enjoyed a similar status as the F-22 today. That's why now the Americans banned exports of F-22s. They won't even sell them to Japan.

 

[GHOST RIDER]

Just because an aircraft is phased out, doesn't mean spares won't be available. So even if the US retired the F-14, and Iran still using it today, they can still access spares. Although, given that Iran is an unfriendly country, the Americans made sure none of the spares go to them.

There was the F-14D in the US. It was a very capable fighter. Below is one with the ROVER upgrade:

They even had the possibility of having AESA upgrades, along with other improvements. Dubbed the "Super Tomcat". There was one project for a highly evolved version of the Tomcat, the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter back in the 90s, but was scrapped.

In the end, the Americans thought that the F-14 was too costly, and a burden to take care of a heavy fighter on a carrier. So, they replaced it with the F-18 Super Hornet to address the issue. Although, the F-14D (given it had improved features) is a far more capable carrier-based fighter for air superiority operations.

As far as an alternative timeline Iran (still under Shah), they might have gone for F-15s to replace their aging F-14s and F-4s. Note that they never used any aircraft carriers.

Or maybe, just maybe the F-22. The time during which F-14s were delivered to Iran was very advanced for that time. In fact, a similar status as the F-22. That's why now the Americans banned exports of F-22s. They won't even sell them to Japan.

Thanks for sharing your opinion
I was a little confused about the F-14s there
and yea may be shah could had opted for the F-15(latest version) to replace it,or he could had simply opted for it in the first palce(back in the 70s)but there was a reason why he went for the F-14.
but I am pretty sure they will have the F-18
as Iran was a big investor in it

 

[Zabaniyah]

Thanks for sharing your opinion
I was a little confused about the F-14s there
and yea may be shah could had opted for the F-15(latest version) to replace it,or he could had simply opted for it in the first palce(back in the 70s)but there was a reason why he went for the F-14.
but I am pretty sure they will have the F-18
as Iran was a big investor in it

If I am not mistaken, The Shah was a big investor in the F-14 project. Of-course, he wanted that thing. Too bad they never got their hands on F-16s and F-18s.

Seeing from his taste in things, he might have even funded the F-22 project

Man, some revolution that was.

 

[GHOST RIDER]

If I am not mistaken, The Shah was a big investor in the F-14 project. Of-course, he wanted that thing. Too bad they never got their hands on F-16s and F-18s.

Seeing from his taste in things, he might have even funded the F-22 project

Man, some revolution that was.

The delivery of the first 2 F-16s was due very soon,
but the protests started,so it was delayed
Ground crew recived training and some Ground equipment had already reached Iran

 

[DrSomnath999]

well iran could have been a very important air power if They had nt spoiled realtionship with US ,but u cant change the destiny .
Well nothing more to say but thanks ghost rider for this thread & appreciate ur hard work buddy
THANK U

 

[TOPGUN]

From what i have learned about Iran in general and its armed forces.. all i can say is that the Iran of today would have a been a major key player in the world today despite having oil the armed forces would have been armed to the teeth with if not all most mordern wepons if the Shah days were still in play with the US. You see the US has a kiss and hate policy i call it when they need something done they are your best friend and when you have done their work or "dirty work" they are simply done with you just simple as that. Iran's armed forces specally the airforce was a deadly force to recon with in the Shah era now that days are over i seem to think as a whole in all the armed forces together Iran still packs a punch till this day hence, offcourse iam not comparing any nations together just my thought.

 

[Arian]

Just because an aircraft is phased out, doesn't mean spares won't be available. So even if the US retired the F-14, and Iran still using it today, they can still access spares. Although, given that Iran is an unfriendly country, the Americans made sure none of the spares go to them.

In 2000 something, I guess 2006, the US congress passed a bill to retire the US F-14's and also destroy all spare parts of F-14's available that Iran can't get its hands on them.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

The superTomcat looks awesome!!!!!

 

[untitled]

I think the US Navy did not want to operate a heavy fighter. That is why they retired the Tomcat. They are quite content with their Growlers, Rhinos and Hornets (and later the F-35)