Garry

I agree. Israeli will need large quantities to bomb Iran. However in my view Iranian SAMs are quite weak and dated to 1970-es. The new Tor-M1s are short range and there are only 30 of them. Air Force.... I have little data about their air force, but assume it weak.

Nonetheless Israel will need large amount of heavy bombs to knock down Iranian nuclear idustry which is spread throughout the country..... Few strategic bombers could have helped ...... but Israel does not have them. They will need many sorties.... which will protract the campaign and may trigger supply of more powerful SAMs


ps. even if USA let Israely pass through Iraq, it may lead to problems in Iraq... as iraqi people might be against that.


I suppose that Israel has nukes already. They need to hurry up for a fleet of nuclear capable submarines to threaten Iran with devastating revenge stricke. This can creadibly hold Iran once it gets nukes. From my experience - Iranians even when they play game of fanatics are quite reasonable.

Monk

Habibi, you are assuming that the AC would first be allowed to pass through the suez or go around the horn to reach Israel. If it can't go out, it can't reach either. What if the AC is delivered at high seas on the Arabian sea and the israeli aircrafts were just flown on board.

__________________
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those others that have been tried from time to time. "

"Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed."

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Monk

True about the manpower but you must take into account the enormous flexibility it would give Israel for launching strikes against Iran. They would not have to pass through any hostile airspace other then Iranian. We mustn't forget the fundamental reason as to why aircraft carriers came into existence, in this case Israel will be well served by one.

Monk

Well Said.

Officer of Engineers

Israel can't use one. She cannot afford one. Hell, she can't even afford to operate one. She doesn't know how. And she doesn't have the time to learn.

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Chimo

Dreadnought

Originally Posted by Garry
Iranians even when they play game of fanatics are quite reasonable

Yes but their president is a complete and total moron considering his rethoric about the holucost and that Israel should be whiped off the map etc. Oh and someone should teach him some geography as well as history since the moron obviously dont know much about either. And this guy wants the world to let him become nuclear capable? Please!

Monk

If they can't afford to buy one, they have to lease one.
In the larger context of national security, they have to find the manpower and put in the effort.
Finally, if it is a race against time, they better get going now, isn't it Colonel?

Monk

No. Actually he is quite smart. He is rallying the islamic world, slowly but surely. Secondly, this also appeases the mullahs within Iran.

Dreadnought

No. Actually he is quite smart. He is rallying the islamic world, slowly but surely.

To do just what? Cast out or destroy a people that have existed there for the last 3300 years? Yeah thats real smart continue preaching hatred and destruction towards a certain people whome the Mulla's dont agree with because they are of a different religion. Funny I was always under the impression that most modern religious teachers and figures always tought peace and acceptance over hatred and destruction guess Im wrong then.

Heaven forbid they not appease the Mulla's and their "own" interpertation of what religious law is and what ones holy book says for surely they must be the wisest of men alive Please, the only people they are fooling are their own the very same people who will suffer when the Israelis bring them a war their people dont want because they will be forced to do so out of survival and i strongly doubt any country would follow Iran to war with such outrageous hatred and rhetoric over ones religion no matter how much this man attempts to court the palastinians by their mention in his assnine speeches. How wise will he and the Mulla's look then?

lwarmonger

Carriers are a rich country's toys. They are insanely expensive to maintain, and require years of instititutional experience to become effective.

The manpower simply isn't there. They are a country of 5 million surrounded by far more populous neighbors who have a historical grudge against them. With 150,000 soldiers, they are already far more militarized than they can maintain on their own. A carrier would see the costs of operation spiral out of control.

If the situation truly gets that desperate, better just to use nukes.

ZFBoxcar

A couple technical details. Egypt does allow the Israeli navy to use the Suez Canal, and Israel is a nation of 7 million, not 5 (not that that makes a huge difference). I still agree that Israel can't afford a carrier, but the manpower situation can be adressed by channelling more conscripts into the navy instead of the army, and the Suez can be used.

Commando

Why doesn't Israel buy strategic bombers from the USA??

dave angel

cost.

two F-15I's can do the same sub-strategic job, then fly an air defence mission.

the B-1B could only do one of those missions.

the advent of JDAM and 'bunker-busting' bombs negates the usefulness - apart from range - of non-stealth strategic bombers.

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before criticizing someone, walk a mile in their shoes.................... then when you do criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Commando

What is Iran's airforce like? Many people have said it is sadly outdated although they must have brought some imports?

Commando

Just reading in another thread is Israel is establishing air bases in Oman. Meaning they could attack Iran withouth having to fly over any other hostile territory. Israels pre emptive strikes would have a lot more chance of succeeding from this.