IRIAF Vs. PAF

[Jf Thunder]

Certainly,
With all due respect Iranians, even Indian naval aviation is larger and stronger than Iranian Air force.

did i mention the PN also has 12 mirages too?

 

[alimobin memon]

Pakistan. Not that Iranians lack training or something. The most important thing to note is the Experience of PAF and its training furthermore it has better and stronger fleet than iran in way better margin not just slightly.

 

[That Guy]

The only aircraft in the Iranian air force that are a legitimate threat are it's F-14 fleet. The problem here is that the Iranian F-14 fleet is old, and it's combat readiness is questionable. If the Iranians somehow upgraded their fleet of F-14s, then they'd be formidable, but another problem arises that the F-14s are not in large enough numbers to counter a PAF assault. All Pakistan would have to do is launch strikes on the bases that the F-14s are located, and the Iranian fleet is crippled to the point of no return. From then on, the F-16s won't even be needed, as the JF-17 can do bombing runs perfectly without worrying about who has air superiority near the targets. The rest of Iran's fleet is negligible as the JF-17 is capable enough to not even consider them as a threat.

 

[janon]

The only aircraft in the Iranian air force that are a legitimate threat are it's F-14 fleet. The problem here is that the Iranian F-14 fleet is old, and it's combat readiness is questionable. If the Iranians somehow upgraded their fleet of F-14s, then they'd be formidable, but another problem arises that the F-14s are not in large enough numbers to counter a PAF assault. All Pakistan would have to do is launch strikes on the bases that the F-14s are located, and the Iranian fleet is crippled to the point of no return. From then on, the F-16s won't even be needed, as the JF-17 can do bombing runs perfectly without worrying about who has air superiority near the targets. The rest of Iran's fleet is negligible as the JF-17 is capable enough to not even consider them as a threat.

They have 20 mig-29s, which should be more capable than the ancient F-14s. (I don't know which version on the mig-29s they have, but they are all very potent in the A2A role.) But they have only 20 of those, so...

I wonder why Iran did not do a better job of developing their air force. All their adversaries have far superior equipment than they do. Granted they were under sanctions from the west, but they could have purchased Soviet and Russian fighters, and maybe even AEWACs. Their GDP is more than twice as big as Pakistan's, and they spend almost the same amount on defence as Pakistan does. And yet their naval and air forces are surprisingly outdated and small. Instead of maintaining such a large ground force (two armies and two navies and two airforces, the regular and the IRG ones) and such a large militia, it would have given them a lot more combat capability if they had invested in their regular naval and air forces.

If they had a few squadrons of flankers and fulcrums, they could have been some match for the Israeli and Saudi and other Arab air forces. With the stuff they have today, the F-15s and F-16s of their adversaries can fly circles around them.

@haman10 @SOHEIL @mohsen @S00R3NA

 

[Manticore]

there were speculations that irani f14s were sometimes used as mini awacs in the iran iraq war -- irani f14s might have undergone local upgrades

 

[Ayush]

PAF is more powerful

 

[That Guy]

They have 20 mig-29s, which should be more capable than the ancient F-14s. (I don't know which version on the mig-29s they have, but they are all very potent in the A2A role.) But they have only 20 of those, so...

I wonder why Iran did not do a better job of developing their air force. All their adversaries have far superior equipment than they do. Granted they were under sanctions from the west, but they could have purchased Soviet and Russian fighters, and maybe even AEWACs. Their GDP is more than twice as big as Pakistan's, and they spend almost the same amount on defence as Pakistan does. And yet their naval and air forces are surprisingly outdated and small. Instead of maintaining such a large ground force (two armies and two navies and two airforces, the regular and the IRG ones) and such a large militia, it would have given them a lot more combat capability if they had invested in their regular naval and air forces.

If they had a few squadrons of flankers and fulcrums, they could have been some match for the Israeli and Saudi and other Arab air forces. With the stuff they have today, the F-15s and F-16s of their adversaries can fly circles around them.

@haman10 @SOHEIL @mohsen @S00R3NA

So again, it comes down to quantity. The Iranian air force just doesn't have enough numbers to challenge a fully developed air force like the PAF. Even if it did, it comes down to experience, and Pakistan has Iran check mated in that regard as well. All in all, PAF would destroy the IRIAF before it even got a chance become a major problem.

there were speculations that irani f14s were sometimes used as mini awacs in the iran iraq war -- irani f14s might have undergone local upgrades

The problem with "local upgrades" is that any Iranian "upgrade" wouldn't be enough to bring the F-14s up to their full potential. Iran's aviation industry is just not advanced enough to give the F-14 enough of an upgrade to make the F-14 a major threat again. The only way I can see Iran upgrading their F-14s properly is with Chinese help, and major reverse engineering on critical components.

 

[janon]

So again, it comes down to quantity. The Iranian air force just doesn't have enough numbers to challenge a fully developed air force like the PAF. Even if it did, it comes down to experience, and Pakistan has Iran check mated in that regard as well. All in all, PAF would destroy the IRIAF before it even got a chance become a major problem.

Comparing IrAF with PAF is futile, it is a no contest. Not only in numbers, but technologically as well. It is a bit surprising, because Iran is a richer country than Pakistan, and could have afforded to build a better air force, or at least a non-obsolete one. And it's not like Iran lives in the middle an oasis of peace and stability, like Norway or Denmark.

 

[That Guy]

Comparing IrAF with PAF is futile, it is a no contest. Not only in numbers, but technologically as well. It is a bit surprising, because Iran is a richer country than Pakistan, and could have afforded to build a better air force, or at least a non-obsolete one. And it's not like Iran lives in the middle an oasis of peace and stability, like Norway or Denmark.

Then again, UN sanctions can do a lot of damage. Even the Russians are reluctant to sell Iran fighters, and the threat of major UN sanctions have been a deterrent.

There was talk in the past that Iran was even trying to buy the JF-17, and even placed an order, but UN sanctions forced China and Pakistan from doing defence business with Iran. Though this is just a rumor.

 

[Informant]

Iran had 12 F-14s flight ready. Now it's been 7 months since last debrief. So 12 is a safe estimate. They dont have the missiles to counter AIM-120s.

Iran's budget is around $18 b @janon

They waste their money on maintaining 2 distinct armed forces thus reducing capability combined. IRGC has the shiniest of stuff while the armed forces get second tier of whats left.

On top of that sponsoring various militias/terror outfits throughout the region depletes their budget.

Moreover they have concentrated money on missile delivery systems and air defence systems. Well their doctrine is different.

Their Airforce is depleted. Attack helicopters would be mince meat for JF-17s or Mirages for the lack of radar and A2A missile systems. So this is not a good comparison.

 

[Manticore]

they have the largest attack helo wing -- dont know if its counted in airforce

 

[bl4ckic3]

What about Iranians Air Defence vs Pak Air Defence and the SEAD capabilities of PAF and IRIAF?
I think we shouldn't distinct them, and shouldn't forget to look at the big picture?

 

[Sam1980]

Iran airforce is outdated. What kind of question is this?

 

[Full Moon]

With Qaher 313, IRIAF is more powerful. Hands down.

 

[rockstar08]

Iraqi Air force ... now Close the Thread