VarSity

Any chance those in the know could give a brief rundown on the the aircraft Iran is likely to have available to intercept any American air attack.

Also do we know what weapons they have and their ranges?


I am very interested in finding our some sort of comparison. Something like:

Approx 44 MIG 29's:
Armed with: Missile X Range: Miles

And then a comparison with some of the US aircraft.
I am having a big argument with someone with regards to what sort of fight Iran could put up, and we are both very interested.

Silent Hunter

They have F-14s, but how flyable they are and how many Phoenixes they have is very unclear.

troung

F-14s.

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__________________
To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

Bella

Don't get me wrong, I love the F-14, but I think its Iran most advanced fighter which the U.S. retired last year.
I really don't think Iran has that much to intercept the lastest U.S. fighters.

zraver

Iran has 2 all weather fighters the F-4 Phantom II and the F-14Ir. I call the F-14 the 14Ir becuase of extensive modifications made to keep it flying. Russian engines and parts, Russian missiles, modified Hawk missiles to replace the Pheniox etc, domestically reproduced parts. It is Iran's longest legged fighter, but its radar is old and very jammable by the US since we built it. Backing the Tomcats up are a number of even older but still capable Phantom II's again modified to some extent with imported Russian or Chinese gear to keep them flying. These two types are Iran's only real all weather day or night platforms. backing these up are a bunch of early block Mig 29'swith the Topaz and Topaz M radars (very short ranged) and F-5 Freedom Fighter II and clones/derivative fighters. The Migs and F-5 family are all day fighters with small radars and little in the way of true BVR.

Although internet rumors persist that Iran is trying to acquire more modern Sukhois in large numbers, safe bets are Iran is not going to upgrade its fighters anytime soon. Iran's budget is limited and they seemed focused instead on a conventionally based force of missiles that gives them a second strike capability after being attacked through sheer numbers. They remember how bad the results were for the SCUD hunter sin 91. To this end Iran has a very large fleet of SRBM's that can cover the Gulf and might be able to reach Israel.

Iran has used these missiles to publicly state they will attack the nations of the GCC if they aid the US. An effective tactics as one by one the GCC nations have refused the USAF basing for a war vs Iran*. This of course cut American air power by 2/3rds or more and forces us to use carriers whose movements can be tracked, thus lessening our ability to achieve surprise.

If the US does decide on war, and decides to use carriers, I expect Iran will send its air force on a death ride vs 1 or 2 carrier groups after showering those groups with missiles to run the Aegis ships dry. They have Su-24 and Su-25's they can use for this as well as Phantoms. Iran also has at least 1 satellite and several UAV's of unknown range and capability to track the carriers even if all other assets fail.

Defensively, Iran relies on SAMs, they have the TorM1, and are rummored to have at least some S-300's. These systems will probably be in the interior nea rhigh value government and nuclear sites as a defense against stealth attacks, not becuase they can spot the stealth planes but because the TorM1 at least is advertised as being able to target and hit guided bombs and low flying cruise missiles.

Away from critical targets Iran's Sam net is... pathetic really. All very old cold war era American, Soviet, and Chinese gear that is very vulnerable to SEAD. This leaves Iran's coast and by extension its navy almost totally uncovered. Iran has offset this vulnerability to a great deal by going with lots and lots of small speedboats called boghammers (under 10 tons) and nearly 100 fast attack craft (under 100 tons) armed with everything from RPG's to small maverick sized anti-shipping missiles. These are concentrated near the Straits of Hormuz for obvious reasons. The areas limited maneuver room, short ranges, and limited SAm support all work against the US. Also near the Straits of Hormuz- Iran might also deploy its domestically built Cobra attack helicopter clones. Iran's actual naval tactics however is another discussion.

* I have seen nothing from the GCC or Iran that would prevent USAF fighters from doing what ever they want outside of Iranian airspace and this includes Iranian assets attacking shipping. if I am right, and then ther eis a war we might see an interesting reversal where the USAF takes on a martime escort role and the USN attacks land targets like docks, boat sheds and barracks in order to keep the GCC happy until Iran lashes out at them and the USAF can join the fray.

Bella

I'm not no military pro, but I know if I wanted to surprise Iran in attack, I would use as many B-2 bombers as possible to destroy as many radar sites, SAM sites, and runways. If the B-2's could destroy the runways fast, you can exclude its air force in a counter attack. I don't know, thats just my thought.

Thanks

ofogs

As I understand it, runway cratering has proved to be far less useful than thought. If you're going to use a B-2 type asset to hit an airfield, skip the runway, hit the fuel and ammo dumps or planes. Also, I think the greater threat strategically is probably in their ballistic missiles and not manned aircraft. My first attacks would probably be anything nuclear related and any ballistic missiles you could find, plus their ports for petroleum import/export and anything naval or missile related near the Straits of Hormuz. Then would come strikes to ensure air dominance. SEAD, initially, would only be in support of the other strikes. I think you could assume some risk with the Iranian Air Force still being able to fly. Let available fighters handle them. A missile hitting Tel Aviv or Riyadh or the Iranians trying to block the Straits is a much greater concern than the Iranian Air Force.

Feanor

There are perpetuating rumors that Iran has the Mig-31.

texasjohn

Perhaps. But how many? and how effective can they be against the USAF?

Feanor

I have a better question, what can be effective against the USAF, in Iranian hands (and I mean that they can reasonably acquire)?

TopHatter

The bottom line is, if the Iranian Air Force attempts to meet USAF, USN and USMC aviation assets in kind, the likeliest result is going to be an aerial massacre.

Their best choice is guerilla warfare, air force style, or retreating and seeking asylum in Turkmenistan.

troung

They don't have any, don't want them.

No Russian engines were put onto the F-14s and they still have AIM-54s alongside the HAWK-things.

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TopHatter

Vehicle- or foot-bound suicide bombers that are able to get past airfield security and detonate USAF aircraft on the ground, or the aerial equivalent of the same.

Silent Hunter

How many AIM-54s do they have left though?

I don't see what good a MiG-31 would be against anything in the modern inventory bar a B-52 or a B-1B.

The S-300 is the SA-10 "Grumble" series. Do we have a reporting names translation section?

Feanor

Haha. Yes. But I meant in terms of aircraft. How about slow lowflying, suicide bomber UAVs used to strike American bases. Iran has the technology.