Bluffer's Guide: Iranian Naval Power 2007

Unbiased but honest review of anti-ship threat. Artwork by me.


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LARGER WARSHIPS (CORVETTES etc)

Units
1 x Mowj Class, Iranian Navy, Iranian built
3 x Alvand Class, Iranian Navy, British built.
1x Hamzeh Class, Iranian Navy, Dutch built
2 x Bayandor Class, Iranian Navy, US built (gun armed, not illustrated)


Alvand Class Corvette

Quantity in Service: 3
Displacement: 1,540 tons full load
Dimensions: L 94.5m, W 11.7m, Dr 3.25m
Crew: 135
Speed: 40kt
Powerplant: 2 x Gas Turbines 23,000 shp plus two diesels 1900hp
Armament: 4 x C-802 “Noor” anti-ship missiles, 1 x 114mm Gun, 1 dual 35mm (manned) 3 x (manned) GAM-BO1 20mm cannon, 1 x Limbo ASW mortar (may be inoperable), 2 x triple 12.7mm lightweight torpedoes (Alvand only), 2 x 12.7mm HMGs (manned).

Of 1960s vintage, the remaining Alvand class corvettes have been partially rearmed most crucially with the generally capable C-802 anti-ship missile in place of the obsolete Sea Killer missiles.

Sensor fit and air defences are very poor by contemporary standards and the survivability of these boats in open conflict is seriously open to doubt.



Moudge Class Corvette

Quantity: 1
Displacement: 1,400 tons
Dimensions: L 94m, W 10m, Dr 3.25m (Actual dimensions may be almost exactly as per Alvand)
Crew: ??? (est 100+)
Speed: 28kt
Powerplant: 2 x 10,000hp diesels
Armament: 4 x C-802 “Noor” anti-ship missiles, 1 x 76mm Gun, 1 CIWS (20mm, indigenous?), 1 x dual AAA (35mm?), 2 x triple 12.7mm lightweight torpedoes
Helicopters: Landing pad only

Also commonly spelt Mowj and Mowaj, this indigenous corvette is essentially a reverse engineered Vosper Mk 5 (Alvand Class, see above). It has several Iranian adaptations, most significantly a purely diesel power pack which results in a significant drop in performance.

Another conspicuous difference is the addition of a helipad on the aft deck, requiring a repositioning of the anti-ship missiles to amidships. Above the bridge is what appears to be a CIWS similar to the US 20mm Phalanx. However at the rear of the ship the AAA appears to be a twin turret, possibly manned 35mm as on the Alvand class. The main gun is a reverse engineered OTO Melara 76mm automatic, an excellent general purpose medium gun albeit somewhat behind the current OTO Melara versions.

Unlike most contemporary corvettes, the Moudge does not feature a radar signature reducing hull form. In all fairness the air defences appear to be a significant improvement over the Alvands, but still someway short of the current norm for warships this size.

The Moudge does not appear to have an ASW sonar.


Hamzeh Corvette

Quantity: 1
Displacement: 580 tons
Dimensions: L 52m, W 7.65m, Dr 3.25m
Crew: ??
Speed: 15kt
Powerplant: 2 x 1,300hp diesels
Armament: 4 x C-802 “Noor” anti-ship missiles, 1 x main gun (20mm?), 2 x 12.7mm manned heavy machine guns

Originally the Government Yacht, the Hamzeh has been modified to carry C-802 anti-ship missiles and light defences. Main role probably remains training. The boat operates in the Caspian Sea alongside the SINA missile boats. Confusingly the first widespread pictures of her post-refit where accompanying an Iranian press article announcing the entry into service of the SINA type “corvette” Joshan, causing some confusion as to this boat’s identity. The pennant number appears to have changed also.

Despite a popular press photo showing an AB-212 helicopter, the Hamzeh does not appear to have a helipad.



[edit on 1-5-2007 by planeman]

FAST ATTACK CRAFT (Missile/Torpedo)

Operational Units:
6 Kaman Class, Iranian Navy, French Built. (10 hulls)
10 Thondar (Houdong) Class, IRGC-N, Chinese built.
2 SINA Class, Iranian Navy, Iranian built (1 hull awaiting fitting out)
10 IPS-18 Tir Class, IRGC-N, North Korean built
10 IPS-16 Peykaap Class, IRGC-N, North Korean built
3+ Taedong-B/C class(s), ????, North Korean built
10 (est) C-14 “China Cat” class, ????, Chinese designed (locally built)


IPS-18 Tir Class Fast Attack Craft (Torpedo)

Quantity in Service: 10
Displacement: 28.16 tons
Dimensions: L 21.12m, W 5.77m, Dr 0.87m H 2.1m
Crew: 6
Endurance: 450nm
Speed: 52kt
Powerplant: 3 x 1200hp
Armament: 2 x 533mm (21”) torpedo tubes, 1 x manned 12.7mm HMG

Of North Korean origin, these innovative small fast attack boats are clearly designed with radar cross-section reduction in mind. A retractable radar mast further enhances their ability to hide amongst the clutter of small fishing boats and otherwise inconspicuous minor radar reflections. The stealthiness does not extend to the infrared spectrum though, with raw exhausts venting out of the rear of the boat. Nor is the only defensive weapons position well thought out in this regard, being a single pedestal mounted 12.7mm heavy machine gun which is externally crewed.

In the right circumstances these boats represent a serious threat, but they have limited sea keeping, endurance and sensors thus limiting their combat potential in a wider conflict.

They are potentially armed with Shkval rocket torpedo (range about 6-8km), or the Iranian YT534W1 modern heavyweight torpedo (estimated range about 20-30km), but quite possibly employ very basic unguided torpedoes.



IPS-16 “Peykaap” Fast Attack Craft (Torpedo)

Quantity in Service: 10
Displacement: 13.75 tons
Dimensions: L 16.3m, W 3.75m, Dr 0.67m H 1.93m
Crew: 3
Endurance: 320nm
Speed: 52kt
Powerplant: 2 x 1200hp
Armament: 2 x 324mm (12.75”) torpedo tubes, small-arms

Delivered from North Korea though often claimed as indigenous, the Paykaap is easily perceived as the little brother to the Tir class (see above) because it has similar origin and overall characteristics but is smaller and lighter armed.

It appears to have stealth characteristics although little attention has been paid to the IR spectrum. The torpedo tubes are mounted on either side of the cabin in a stealthy fairing. The slight bulge on top of the torpedo tubes is probably the compressed air cylinder used to eject the torpedo from the tube, and its position makes it very possible that the torpedo tubes are exactly the same as those on the Taedong-B (illustrated above).

The small size, high speed and low radar signature make this type a potent adversary, but it lacks any meaningful self-defence weaponry should an enemy attempt to engage it. Its lightweight torpedoes are probably inadequate to sink most warships.



Semi-submersible Fast Attack Craft

Quantity in service: 3 (est)
1 x Taedong-B “Kajami”
2 x Taedong-C “Gahjae”


Iran is reported to operate a small number of North Korean designed Taedong-B and Taedong-C semi-submersible attack craft delivered in 2002. At least one such boat, thought to be a Taedong-B “Kajami”, has been publicly displayed during war-games. This appearance substantiates previous media reports but beyond that much remains speculation.

Both types are believed to be equipped with lightweight 324mm (12.75”) torpedoes. Typical torpedoes in this size class have a range of between 6km and 10km. It is extremely unlikely that these boats will be refitted with the larger Shkval rocket torpedo or anti-ship missiles.

It is not clear whether the attack profiles of these boats is to lay in wait submerged and then attack at high speed on the surface, or vice versa to approach at high speed then submerge for the final stage of the attack. The boats can probably dive to about 3m depth using a snort mast which remains on/near the surface. The vessel is probably capable of about 40kts on the surface and about 10kts submerged.

Taedong-B:


It is reported that the Taedong-C class closely resembles the Peykaap class torpedo boat, and it may be that the Peykaap is itself the submersible boat, although that seems unlikely.

Although these boats offer some novel tactical opportunities for Iran, they are unlikely to be successful if operating against larger warships armed with their own anti-submarine torpedoes, or fast moving targets. The lightweight torpedoes are unlikely to sink even a modest warship although obviously a successful attack could immobilize even a large warship.

“China Cat” Fast Attack Craft (Missile)

Quantity in Service: 10 +
Displacement: 19 tons
Dimensions: L 13.65m, W 4.8m, Dr 0.7m
Crew: 10
Endurance: 300nm
Speed: 55kt
Powerplant: 2 x 1150hp
Armament: 4 x TL-10 or C-701 Kowsar light anti-ship missiles, 1 x manned cannon (20mm?)

10 C-14 missile armed catamarans were ordered from Chinese manufacturer CSSC in 2002, with local production. At least one vessel has been completed in a non-missile configuration and the type is offered in the Iranian defence industry’s export catalogue. The missile equipped boats appear to differ in detail from the CSSC demonstrators with a different (lesser) sensor fit.

The C-701 missile is of Chinese origin though manufactured under license in Iran. It has a 20-25km range and can be TV or Radar guided, making it ideal for littoral combat.

Many reports indicate that the China Cat may employ the Chinese supplied TL-10 anti-ship missile instead of the C-701 described above. The two missile types are generally similar in overall size and capability, albeit different designs. Both come with a range of seekers and minor sub-versions tailored to specific customer needs.

The boats pack an enormous punch for their size and have apparently superb sea keeping for their size (though by no means ocean going vessels), but their air defence is conspicuously lacking.



SINA Class Missile Boat

Quantity: 2 (plus 1 building)
Displacement: 300 tons
Dimensions: L 47m, W 7m, Dr 2m
Crew: ??? (est 31)
Speed: 35kt
Powerplant: 4 x 3,500hp diesels
Armament: 4 x C-802 “Noor” anti-ship missiles, 1 x 76mm Gun, 1 40mm AAA (crewed), 2 x 12.7mm HMG (crewed)

The first SINA class boat, Peykan, became operational in 2006 followed by a second unit, Joshan. Reverse engineered Combattante-II (Kaman class) boats the only obvious external difference is the main radar.

The 76mm is a locally produced version of the OTO-Melara 76mm gun fitted to the Kamans.


Kaman Class Missile Boat

Quantity in service: 6 (est). (10 total hulls still available)
Displacement: 275-300 tons
Dimensions: L 47m, W 7m, Dr 2m
Crew: 31
Speed: 36kt
Powerplant: 4 x 3,500hp diesels
Armament: 4 x C-802 “Noor” anti-ship missiles, 1 x 76mm Gun, 1 40mm AAA (crewed), 2 x 12.7mm HMG (crewed).

Delivered from France and previously equipped with US supplied Harpoon missiles, these boats were re-armed with the Chinese C-802 missile in the late 1990s. 10 hulls remain but only 6 are thought to be operational. One has been used for tests, being at one time equipped with Standard SM-1 missiles.



Thondar Class Missile Boat

Quantity in service: 10
Displacement: 205 tons
Dimensions: L 33.6m, W 7.6m, Dr 2.7m
Crew: 28
Speed: 35kt
Powerplant: 3 x 8,000bhp diesels
Armament: 4 x C-802 “Noor” anti-ship missiles, 1 x twin 30mm AAA, 1 x twin 23mm AAA (crewed)

Often referred to by their Chinese name, Houdong class, these boats were delivered from China in the mid 1990s, and are operated by the IRGC-N.

SUBMARINES

Operational Units:
3 x Kilo Class SSK, Iranian Navy, Russian built (not illustrated)
3 x Ghadir class SSC, Iranian Navy (?), Iranian built
1 x Nahong class SSM, Iranian Navy (?), Iranian built
1 x Al Sabehat 15 SDV, Iranian Navy (?), Iranian built

Ghadir Class Midget Submarine

Quantity in Service: 3
Dimensions: L 29m, W 2.75m
Displacement : 120 tons dived
Crew: ?
Endurance: ?
Speed (est): 11kts surfaced, 8kts submerged
Powerplant: Diesel-electric
Armament: 2 x 533mm (21”) torpedo tubes with 2~4 torpedoes, Skhval rocket torpedoes or 4~8 mines. Possibly submarine launched anti-ship missiles but unsubstantiated.

Possibly of North Korean design, the Ghadir (Qadir) submarine closely resembles the North Korean “Yugo Class”, itself a derivative of Yugoslavian (now Croatian) types. One noteworthy feature is that the Ghadir appears to have conventional cruciform tail fins. Estimates of the size of this submarine vary greatly.

These boats are credible littoral submarines well suited to mine laying, infiltration/Special Forces operation and limited anti-surface warfare. Their torpedo tubes could conceivably carry the Shkval rocket torpedo or even submarine launched anti-ship missiles which Iran reportedly has. But their sensor fit is almost certainly basic by contemporary standards limiting their potential against other subs and advanced warships. There is also no reason to suppose that they are particularly quiet and the shallow water of the Gulf is likely to leave them exposed to anti-submarine warfare.



Nahong Class midget submarine


Quantity in service: 1

A small midget submarine suited to mine laying and special operations with possible limited anti-ship strike capability. Armament is likely to consist of mines carried externally although it is possible that 533mm torpedoes could also be carried in this manner as is the case with similar submarines in WW2.

Mines could include the potent Chinese designed EM52 fast rising rocket mine which can be laid in deep water, attacking its target by firing a rocket up into the underbelly of the ship, so fast that evasive action is unlikely. The EM52’s rocket is unguided and is less sophisticated than some equivalent top-end naval mines, but it does offer Iran a serious threat to enemy shipping.

Believed to be operational in Caspian sea but not verified.


”Al Sabehat 15” Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (Submersible)


Quantity in service: 1(?)
Length: 8m
Crew: 2 + up to 7 additional divers
Weapons: up to 17 Limpet mines

A small “chariot” design typical of special forces insertion vehicles, the type is only suitable for coastal operations.

Can be launched from a ship or under-slung from a large helicopter (Sea King, Mi-8 Hip or Chinook).

BOGHAMMARS

Small craft, often based on civilian speed boats. Lightly armed with machine guns, MRLS, AAA, RPG or mines.

Example:


MIG-G-0900 (Boghammar)

Quantity: 20
Displacement: 6.4 tons
Dimensions: L 9.3m, W 3.45m, Dr 0.6m
Crew: 3
Endurance: ??
Speed: 25kt+
Powerplant: 2 x 1260hp
Armament: Typically 1 x 12.7mm HMG and 1x12 107mm rocket launcher (MRLS).

Typically of locally produced small boats that have been adapted for warfare, often being labeled as “Boghammars”. The MIG-G-0900 is reportedly a catamaran, and comes in several variants including a mini-passenger ferry. The military/paramilitary version is typically equipped with a 107mm MRLS.

The MRLS is probably the Iranian produce “Haseb”, a derivative of the Chinese designed Type-73 which has an effective range of 8.5km and has a HE-Fragmentation warheads. The rocket weighs 18.8kg rocket including the 8.3kg TNT warhead (or 6.4kg blast –fragmentation warhead), which produces a 12.5m blast radius. A 12 round salvo is fired in 8 seconds. It is not known whether the weapons mount is gyrostabilised for accuracy – if not accuracy would likely be appalling.

Alternative armaments include RPG-7 rocket propelled grenades or 106mm recoilless rifle.

These boats have an advantage in their small size and relative similarity to civilian types allowing them to hide among legitimate civilian fishing fleets. However their weapons are too light to be a serious concern to military vessels.

SHORE BATTERIES (Anti-Ship Missile)

Operational Units:
100+ C-802/C-802A Noor
100+ HY-2 “Silkworm”
?? C-701T/C-701R “Kosar”
?? TL-10 “Kosar” (possibly only ship launched units)
?? Ra’ad, Iranian designed



C-802/C802A Noor

Range: 120-180km
Maximum number of missiles per launch vehicle: 3
Vehicle: Truck

Iran deploys C-802s using a Chinese designed truck launcher with up to three missile boxes which are fired over the left side of the trailer. A command shelter is mounted forward of the missile turntable. The truck itself may be locally sourced, possible an Iveco.

The C-802 family is the most potent of Iran’s anti-ship missiles being credited with generally good anti-jamming capabilities and high hit probability.

Third party targeting and mid-course update is required to hit targets over about 60km away.


”Kosar”

Also romanised “Kowsar”, this name refers to several short ranged anti-ship missile types of Chinese origin that Iran is producing. Clearly Iran is producing versions of both the C-701 and TL-10 families of missiles. Both types come in both TV and Radar seeker versions, with Infrared seekers rumored.

Both have generally similar capabilities although the C-701 is longer ranged and its radar version, unlike the TL-10 radar version, can accept post-launch re-targeting.

The TL-10 is thought to be employed on the China Cat missile boats whereas the C-701 has been showcased as a shore battery system in recent wargames. Both families are capable of shore, ship, helicopter and jet launch.


C-701R quad launcher mounted on Iveco truck:



Ra’ad

Range: 360km
Maximum number of missiles per launch vehicle: 1
Vehicle: Tracked

Developed from the HY-2 “Silkworm”, the Ra’ad (Thunder) is Iran’s first truly indigenous anti-ship missile in the minds of many observers’. Although China has developed turbojet versions of the HY-2 family, this missile does not resemble them.

It is launched from an HY-2 launcher suggesting backwards compatibility with the obsolete HY-2. The turreted launcher in question is identical to North Korean ones.

Comparison of Ra’ad (bottom) with HY-2:


The missile is claimed to have a 360km range which, given its huge fuel capacity, seems reasonable. Some estimates suggest that it is mildly supersonic but I think that’s unlikely. Another observation is that the missile is not radar stealthy (not that many are) – just pre-empting the claims that some might make. The large radome suggests an active-radar seeker.


HY-2 “Silkworm”

Range: 95km
Maximum number of missiles per launch launcher: 1
Vehicle: Truck or trailer, possibly some tracked launchers

An old missile supplied by China and subsequently locally produce, the HY-2 is still in widespread service with the IRCG, in both trailer and truck mounted launchers. Despite the useful range and huge warhead, the HY-2 is relatively slow and high flying making it easier to see and shoot down.

Locally designed truck launcher:

AIRBORNE ANTI-SHIP CAPABILITY

Air Force (IRIAF)
32 x Su-24 Fencer, strike bomber, Russia
35 x F-4D/E Phantom-II, multi-role fighter, USA

Iranian Navy
12 x AB212, helicopter, Italy
10~13 x SH-3D Sea King, helicopter, USA (28 delivered)
?? x Mil Mi-17 Hip (Naval), helicopter, Russia

Su-24 Fencer / Noor

Quantity in service: about 30. Not all may be upgraded to accept the Noor anti-ship missile
Missile: Possibly C-801K, or maybe a later version based on C-802.
Substantiation: Widely reported since mid-late 1990s, hard proof of capability remains elusive.

The Fencer is a very capable strike jet with credible avionics, well suited to maritime strike. If reports that it is operational with Noor anti-ship missiles are true then this represents are relatively potent capability.


Mil Mi-17 ‘Hip’ / Noor

Quantity in service: ?
Missile: C-802 Noor

At least one test launch has been publicized, but operational status unclear. The Noor missile fitted to the Mi-17 is a modification of the ground launched version normally fired from a box launcher. This means that the launch booster and the pop-out folding fins are retained. An advantage of retaining the launch booster is slightly longer range and the ability to fire the missile at very slow speed or hover, but the down side is a rather heavy missile that must exist the helicopter very calmly to ensure that the fins don’t hit the fuselage or pylons when they pop-out split seconds after launch.



SH-3D Sea King / Sea Killer (Fajr-e-Darya)

Type: Light short range anti-ship missile, helicopter launched
Range: Approx 20km
Guidance: Electro-optical
Speed: Mach 0.8

The Italian designed Sea Killer anti-ship missile was supplied to Iran with the Vosper Mk5 corvettes but was withdrawn from service in the early 1990s (replaced by C-802). However the type resurfaced in the late 1990s as the indigenous Fajr-e Darya programme, reborn as a helicopter launched missile. The programme is thought to have benefited from Chinese assistance, sometimes described by the Chinese designation FL-6. Although the missile has been paraded publicly in recent years, and seen mounted on Iranian Navy SH-3D Sea King helicopters, it seems to have been eclipsed by the Chinese C-701 and TL-10 missile types (see Kosar above).

The missile closely resembles the Italian Marte Mk2 missile because they are both derived from the Sea Killer. The European missile uses an active radar seeker and is generally more capable.

OPINION/OVERVIEW

Iran has a modest naval presence characterized by outdated warships mixed with asymmetrical warfare doctrines which promise all manner of death and destruction to any and every other naval force on the planet.

I described it as modest because that’s what it is. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s substandard or unprofessional, but it is handicapped by less good equipment. On the world stage it would barely make the top thirty naval powers in terms of overall capability, behind such obscure countries as Chile and Denmark. Even locally it cannot compete with the Saudi or UAE navies except in the area of submarines.

Its popular enemy is USA and her Western allies, notably Britain. Whilst history is littered with tails of inferior navies beating much larger forces, characterized by defeat of the Spanish Armada, it is hard to contrive a scenario in which a top-five Western navy could be so incompetent as to loose to Iran.

However, Iran does have some interesting equipment and some very potent assets that could be a long standing and very real threat even to big name navies. Normally in a Navy the big units are perceived as offering the greatest threat to an adversery. In Iran’s case this really isn’t the way it is. Ranked in order of offering the greatest threat to a top rated navy, this is Iran’s profile as I see it:
1. Shore based anti-ship missiles, particularly C-802
2. Submarine or small boat laid mines, particularly the EM52 rocket mine.
3. Kilo class conventional submarines using torpedoes, rocket torpedoes and possibly anti-ship missiles.
4. Fast Attack Craft (missile and torpedo boats)
5. Iranian Air Force fighters armed with missiles or guided bombs
6. Everything else including the larger warships

Iranian naval power is divided between the Iranian Navy and the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, more properly called the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution romanised from Farsi as Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enghelab-e Islami).

The IRGC is a separate branch of the military and has ground, air and sea branches, duplicating the main armed forces branches in function and equipment. The IRGC is differentiated from the regular armed forces by its ideological footing; it is conceptually at least fiercely loyal to the government, or rather the Islamic Revolution. Whilst this may have been true some years ago, the modern IRGC is really just another branch of the military vying for the same pool of recruits.

Externally the IRGC are generally perceived as more cavalier and amateurish than the regular Iranian Navy. This seems to hold true although military competency seems to have increased from the 1980s “tanker war”.

In general the Iranian Navy operates the larger warships whilst the IRGC operates smaller ones and less conventional types. It is the IRGC that is at the front of the popularized “asymmetrical warfare” doctrine. The IRGC is also responsible for most (all?) of the potent shore-based anti-ship missile forces.

For the purposes of this analysis I’ve lumped the Iranian Navy and IRGC equipment together. From an external viewpoint it’s all naval power.

Although the Persian Gulf is the primary area of operation, the Iran faces four seas: Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, India Ocean and Gulf of Oman (the latter two also being called the Arabian Sea).

The Caspian Sea is very important to Iran because of oil/gas disputes, and Iran has recently bolstered and updated its forces there. A key problem is that the Caspian is landlocked and so larger warships cannot be relocated there at times of heightened tensions. This means that a standing fleet is required although many of the smaller fast attack craft of the IRGC could be transported there by road.

The combat worthy elements of the Caspian Fleet are three missile boats (SINA class, see below) and one missile armed corvette (Hamzeh class, see below). These warships have woefully inadequate air defences and given that their natural adversaries are Russia and former republics, the effectiveness of this fleet is very questionable.

Wow nice work!!! You did all that artwork? Thats some talent there, how do you make the images, PAINT?

Do you have other countries as well, USA or UK? Keep up the great work!

I have to ask what sort of software do you use to create and paint these vessels?

I would like to get some decent software for painting 3D aircraft models.

Re the Iranian Navy, the submarine force is the real threat, coupled with the Straits of Hormuz. In terms of effectiveness they are much like the Japanese in WW2. Capable equipment but unco-ordinated. That does not mean they can't do an awful lot of harm to the global economy.

Great stuff planeman.. as always..

A couple of questions:

The Kilos you didn't describe them much and I have obvious questions about them which I'm sure you can guess..

So what's the latest verdict on them?
Are they capable or not?

Secondly, I notice you left out the Mirage F-1EQs(24 of them) and their ability to fire the AM-39 exocet.
I know that there are no confirmed reports that Iran indeed HAS exocets but we know that Iraq sat on loads of them and that Iraqi pilots fled with these jets to Iran.
A covert transfer of exocets is completely plausible, esp if all Iraqi exocets have not been accounted for.

The first half of this article states that Iranian F-1s are indeed fully operational, though it falls short of stating explicit exocet capability.

Some excerpts:

The history of Iranian Mirage F.1EQ operations is a relatively short one: a total of 24 aircraft - belonging to very different sub-versions, starting with “vanilla” F.1EQ one-seaters and F.1BQ two-seaters, over the more sophisticated F.1EQ-2s and 4s (equipped with in-flight refueling probes and LGBs), but foremost the more advanced F.1EQ-5s (equipped with upgraded Cyrano IV-radars and capable of deploying AM.39 Exocet anti-ship missiles) and Mirage F.1EQ-6s – were flown by Iraqi pilots to Iran in January and February 1991, fleeing the Desert Storm onslaught and Saddam’s regime. Together with Mirages, Iraqis also ‘relocated’ three Il-76MD transports to Iran, all of which arrived loaded to the roof with spare parts and weapons – including ATLIS II laser designators, AS.30L ASMs, R.550 Magic Is and COR-2 recce pods.

n July 10, 2001, the IRNA reported about a “two-man military training plane crashing in the Amir al-Momenin” neighborhood near the Mashhad international airport/TFB.14, two days earlier - on Tuesday, the July 8, 2001, around 11AM (0630 GMT) - killing an experienced pilot and injuring the copilot.

Subsequently, however, the IRIAF banned any additional reporting on the circumstances surrounding the accident, like in the case of a Yak-40 crash, earlier in 2001. Consequently, no more details surfaced, and ever since, only scarce information became available about the mysterious plane.

In fact, the Mirage which crashed on July 8 in Amir al-Momenin district, near the Mashhad’s airport, was probably a Mirage F.1BQ, and flown by Lt. Gen. Nasser Habibi. Amid a range of rumors about the operation of the Mirage in IRIAF, this report proved for only the second time that Iran was in possession of the type flown to it by Iraqis in 1991, and even more so, utilizing it to the effect. The fighter wsa either on a reconnaissance or a combat mission, taking part in a counter-narcotics cleanup operation in the border region, when hit by an SA-14.

I would be willing to wager that they've smuggled(if not bought) loads of exocets from Iraq.

always a great pleasure reading your topics planeman
great images and information

Cheers for the encouragements everyone. I use MS Paint mostly and it's all 2-D drawings.

Daedalus3, I personally think that the Kilo's are a very credible threat, albeit not invincible as some blindly pro-Iranian/anti-US might wish. Iran's kilos are not as modern as some other Kilos in service in other countries, or the latest Western subs, but they aren't crappy either.

They appear to have some form of anti-ship missile capability, probably C-802 derived but maybe, just maybe, Klub. Klub obviously would cause a general reassessment of capability. Shkval is a given.

In the Gulf they aren't much use - it's too shallow, but in the Sea of Oman or Indian Ocean they are about Iran's only credible presence.

Against Western SSN hunter-killer teams they don't stand a chance though, at least not more than a few days. But that's more than enough time to bloody any navy's nose.



Re the F-1s, fully operational but no reports of Exocet. I doubt that the Iraqi pilots would have flown them over with weapons beyond AAMs for self-protection on the trip. Some/all Iraqi F-1s were capable of carrying Russian ASMs such as AS-14. But it seems Iran operates them as ground attack fighters with pretty basic weapons such as rockets. I doubt Iran operates Exocets.

Nicely done, well presented and informative. Does that sound like something your 8th grade teacher might say? Sorry. But true never the less.

The Iranian navy in the event of a conflict with Allied naval forces, namely Royal Navy, and United States Navy would, if underestimated, cause some very real havoc. Something tells me, though, that they won't be underestimated. Hopefully, we won't find out, eh?

Well I am not so certain that I agree about the vulnerability of Kilo to US SSN hunter-killer teams, since SSNs are much noisier underwater and often can't hear a DE boat underwater. Shallow waters actually favour Diesel Electric boats.

The normal export version of the Kilo is the 877EKM design but the Iranians insisted upon the quieter 636 version and had two reserve boats construction numbers 14 and 15 drawn from the Russian Navy's reserve fleet in the Baltic.

The Indian Navy has Kilo class fitted with 300nm range supersonic AS cruise missiles. Interesting to find out if the Russians have likewise supplied the Iranians ?

Good thread, as always planeman. I would like to ask you or anyone else two questions:

1. If the MIG-G-0900 (Boghammar) would be armed with the Russian Metis-M that hurted so much Merkava tanks... would it be any more efficient?

2. What is the longest period that a submarine can be underwater without resupply? I've heard 3 to 4 months.

Thanks.

[edit on 2-5-2007 by Vitchilo]

Originally posted by sy.gunson
Well I am not so certain that I agree about the vulnerability of Kilo to US SSN hunter-killer teams, since SSNs are much noisier underwater and often can't hear a DE boat underwater. Shallow waters actually favour Diesel Electric boats.

Correct there..

The normal export version of the Kilo is the 877EKM design but the Iranians insisted upon the quieter 636 version and had two reserve boats construction numbers 14 and 15 drawn from the Russian Navy's reserve fleet in the Baltic.

I'm pretty sure all three boats are 877EKM, but they've all undergone a recent refit in 2003, reportedly to configure them for the Klub AShCM.
However whether they actually got that configuration done and got the boats
operational is what I'm wondering.
I doubt the Kilos would be configured to fire the C-802 w/o substantial help.
So I thinking its more likely that they requested the Russians to configure for Klubs.
This(Klub capability) is exactly what I was trying to ask Planeman about..
Do they have it or not?

And I'm not soo sure that they've been able to operationalise the Shkval yet..
Not on the Kilos at least; maybe on one of those midget subs though.

As for the F-1s..
The Iraqis flew the F-1s over with a C-130 full of F-1 gadgets and gizmos, targetting pods, ECMs, missiles etc..(no exocets though).
However like I said before. Iraq sat on a LARGE exocet stockpile and don't think the US got hold of it all post 2003.

Excellent technical illustrations! Great job planeman. If that wasn't enough, I have to admit that your descriptions/statistics were excellent and obviously very time-consuming to collect. Good Stuff

Originally posted by Vitchilo
Good thread, as always planeman. I would like to ask you or anyone else two questions:

1. If the MIG-G-0900 (Boghammar) would be armed with the Russian Metis-M that hurted so much Merkava tanks... would it be any more efficient?

2. What is the longest period that a submarine can be underwater without resupply? I've heard 3 to 4 months.

Thanks.

[edit on 2-5-2007 by Vitchilo]

1. To a point. There are some boghammars thought to have anti-tank missiles. Against a warship though, an ATGW is a bit like taking a knife to a gunfight.

The most comic Iranian weapon in this regard is two chaps on a jetski with an RPG... suicide against anything except the lightest armed opponent and even if they score a direct hit they are unlikely to do much damage.

2. These are conventional diesel subs, they need air to run the diesels to charge the batteries (not AIP). That means at least a snorkle mast needs reach the sky. So underwater ops are pretty short lived. Nothing like an SSN that can go months underwater until food runs short.



Daedalus3, the problem that the Iranian's face is that the gulf is too shallow to hide a Kilo (and apparently contrary to widespread opinion not imprervious to sonar), whilst the Gulf Of Oman and Indian Ocean rapidly become so deep that they aren't ideal 'littorial' hiding places either. So Iran is hard pressed to find perfect Kilo hunting grounds, especially if they are looking for big-name Western Navies. The Kilos are excellent but math is against them.

No hard proof on Klub. Personally I doubt it, and I don' think C-802 is such a stretch for Kilos either.

benevolent tyrant, thanks. The stats are as good as I could get, plenty of speculation in there. It won't surprise you to hear that the same data is recieving heavy fire on Iranian militaryforum where everyone and their dog has personally witnessed 50 China Cats, lol.

The nearest thing one can equate for a DE boat is the Stirling engine which burns hydrogen peroxide. Dangerous technology but the Russians are known to use HP torpedoes like those on the Kursk.

With some sort of Sterling engine you might get 4-5 days underwater. Thing about these Kilo class subs is that they don't really have to expend much energy or travel far from shore to inflict damage and they are much harder to detect than a nuclear sub.

For the job of planting mines in the Straits of Hormuz they could be devastatingly dangerous.

Missed one...


????"Attack Submersible-X"????

Quantity in Service: ? 1
Dimensions: L 7m
Weight: (est) 3 tons (armed)
Crew: 2
Weapons: 21" (533mm) heavyweight torpedo, possibly type YT534W1

Recently paraded, this two man "wet sub" has a notch out of the bottom suggesting that it is designed to carry a single heavyweight torpedo semi-recessed. The two crew members use frogman apparatus. The clear nosecone appears to be for the driver to see where they are going when underwater, presumably crouched inside the hull. The small forward control planes are probably hand operated by the driver.

An interesting craft, it is not clear how the crew aim the torpedo with any degree of accuracy except at very short ranges.