One othe thing that makes all the more remarkable is that the US technicians took critical parts out of the electronics befre they pulled out with the fall of the Shah. Imagine if they had a full avionics set

Originally posted by FredT
One othe thing that makes all the more remarkable is that the US technicians took critical parts out of the electronics befre they pulled out with the fall of the Shah. Imagine if they had a full avionics set

Lots of them did. It's kind of hard to go through and do a thorough job of disabling 79 aircraft avionics sets in the middle of a flash revolution. Also the pilots, RIOs and lots of aircrew and other technicians were American trained. Another thing that was rough was that the revolutionists killed a lot of pilots and commanders and most of the pilots of the American fighters were in jail at the time the Iran-Iraq war broke out but were released to save Iran. But enough fighters still had the Tomcat Radar and AIM-54 computers working to simply murder mass quantities of Iraqi fighters from standoff range.

actually before the Us technicians and engineered that helped the Iranians take care of the F-14 were kicked out they sabotaged almost all of the planes so their weapons would not come off or fire. Why do you think the US never took out the F-14 with an Air Strike cuz we did not have to we made them useless .

Originally posted by WestPoint23
actually before the Us technicians and engineered that helped the Iranians take care of the F-14 were kicked out they sabotaged almost all of the planes so their weapons would not come off or fire. Why do you think the US never took out the F-14 with an Air Strike cuz we did not have to we made them useless .

Maybe they didn't take them out with air strikes because Iran was our friend at the time and they didn't know how the turmoil in the country would go. You don't just bomb the crap out of a country you've been allied with for years when they have a coup. Also we didn't have military presence in the Gulf at that time anywhere near like what we do now.

Yeah thats true, But I see both points, its "said" that we sabotaged them, but theres never being proof.

Others think they did fly them but since they couldn't get any replacement parts for maintenence that they took parts out of other F-14's until there was eventually zero workable ones.

As part of Saddams "master plan" to invade Iran, they statred the war by bombing all the major airfields. however surprise surprise all the figher jets where in concrete reinforced bunkers so they were not damaged. By then Iranians revolutinaries went Fu** and then as if things were not ironic enough they released what ever pilots they hadn't killed from prison to save Iran. Those pu$$y cats flew and when they did yes they kicked iraqi @$$

well for a while and then they run out of spares but then thanks to Ronald they did get some spare parts.

over and out.

Ps. sorry for poor writtn text before.

[edit on 15-10-2004 by zurvan]

[edit on 16-10-2004 by zurvan]

Also we didn't have military presence in the Gulf at that time anywhere near like what we do now.

what is you talking? all we needed to do was send one or two carrier groups in the region and problem solved we would have used our own F-14 in the sir strike backed up by some US cruise missiles.

Originally posted by WestPoint23

Also we didn't have military presence in the Gulf at that time anywhere near like what we do now.

what is you talking? all we needed to do was send one or two carrier groups in the region and problem solved we would have used our own F-14 in the sir strike backed up by some US cruise missiles.

After the failure of Operation Eagle's Claw the US probably cut their losses with Iran. That is what I talking.

It'd be pretty dumb to spend $10 billion minimum sending CBG to the Gulf to attack a country with fully-operational US-made air defense system to possibly get a chance at hitting bunkers that may or may not be containing the very aircraft you're attacking with. But hey, in your world one CBG with F-4s and F-14s and A-4s can take out anything, even a country with US-made F-4s, F-14s, Hawk missiles and other air defense systems.

Originally posted by WestPoint23
what is you talking? all we needed to do was send one or two carrier groups in the region and problem solved we would have used our own F-14 in the sir strike backed up by some US cruise missiles.

First of all, what would that have accomplished? Two CVBGs would do absolutely nothing, not in that big of a regional war.

You are clueless. Do yourself a favor and go someplace that tolerates your kind of intelligence (or lack thereof).

Originally posted by persian


I know they are 30 years old but they are still one of the best planes in the world. It’s radar can track 24 targets at the same time and it has a range of 240 Km. it uses a long range phoenix missile with the range of 150 Km.

Hey I'm 30 and better than ever. Watch it, youngster.

In the year 2000 the best estimations of US planes in the Iranian air force are as follows:
40 F-4 Phantom's
approximately 45 F-5E/F
20 F-14A Tomcats

It is reported that the IRIAF can get no more than seven F-14s airborne at any one time.

There have been reports of some 10 F-8Ms, 7 Tu-22Ms, 19 MIG-27s, and several MIG-31s being present in Iran but these numbers are not confirmed.
Additionally the following have been spotted in Iran: Su-25's, MiG-23's and Mirage F-1's.

I said all that to say this...

2 US carrier battle groups certainly could not bring Iran to her knees but definitely could take care of her air force (air defenses would of course have to be taken out first - most probably by stealth assets.

F-14A's are vastly inferior to the F-14D's that the US Navy has.

Not that it is an issue but Iran spends 4.3 billion on defense (FY 2003) and the US spends 430 billion on defense (FY 2004).


[edit on 19-10-2004 by intelgurl]

Iran technicians are good for reverse enginering things
and have shocked the USA many times by showing they can keep those birds up

I wouldnt be too scarred about the fact that the Iranians have only 20 F-14a's in service. The US could easily defeat them even if all of them are in the air. The electronics on the F-14 there are ancient and we sold them the early version of the Phoenix which had allot of bugs, and Iranian technical expertice worstens the situation. i heard that in the Iran-Iraq war the F-14's acted for the most part as AWACS becase of their powerful airborne radar.

Not true. During the Iran-Iraq War (where I had a courtside seat) I personally observed Iranian F-14's engaging Iraqi Mirage F-1EQ5's and MiG-23's. Most of the time it was 1 F-14 versus 2 Iraqis.

And most of the time the Iraqis would just jettison their stores and run for home.

The Iranians who were flying those Tomcats, you must remember, trained with US Navy aviators and were well-versed in our tactics. I'm sure that most of them were not thrilled to be taking orders from the IRGC, however, if you were labeled a "traitor" because you wouldn't fight...well, what choice did you have? I'll give them this: those Iranians had some cohones.

And their AWG-9's worked well enough. Most of the time they would spot the IRaqis first, accelerate to intercept, get in close, and then engage in a "fur fly" to exploit the F-14's better weapons. Never once, however, did we ever see a Phoenix launch. Nor a Sparrow, for that matter.

By now, those F-14A's must really be beat to crap........

I didn't post to brag about any certain country, I just think it's cool that F-14s actually saw a lot of combat, and the way they performed.

Also you have to admire the pilots, since they were American trained at Miramar, then went back to Iran to fly, after the revolution they were labelled traitors, jailed and tortured. Then when they were needed they were labelled traitors unless they flew.

The global combat record of the F-14 Tomcat


Air victories: 134 + 1 missile


09.1980 F-14A (USN) - 1 x F-4E (Iran)
7.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mi-25 (Irak)
14.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)
23.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21 (Irak)
- 2 x MiG-23 (Irak)
24.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
5.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
- 3 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
2.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23MS (Irak)
12.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
13.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
18.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
20.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
22.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
25.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
26.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
29.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 4 x MiG-23MLA (Irak)
- 1 x Tu-22B (Irak)
10.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
21.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)
27.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
2.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
10.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)
22.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x fighter (Irak)
30.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
7.01.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
29.01.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
21.04.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
15.05.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
19.08.1981 F-14A (USN) - 2 x Su-22 (Libya)
22.10.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
11.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)
12.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
14.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
21.07.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-23MF (Irak)
16.09.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
10.10.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
7.11.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
21.11.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23MF (Irak)
- 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)
1.12.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
4.12.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25PD (Irak)
21.01.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
28.07.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
6.08.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
31.08.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Su-22 (Irak)
09.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Su-22 (Irak)
10.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
25.02.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Irak)
- 2 x fighter (Irak)
1.03.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
25.03.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Tu-22B (Irak)
6.04.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Tu-22B (Irak)
26.07.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Super Etendard (Irak)
03.1985 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-27 (Russia)
26.03.1985 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25BM (Russia)
15.02.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
14.03.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage 5SDE (Egypt)
12.07.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23ML (Irak)
3.09.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
7.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
14.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23ML (Irak)
24.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)
18.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
20.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
24.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)
- 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
24.06.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x SA321 (Irak)
29.08.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
31.08.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
11.11.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25BM (Russia)
15.11.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
9.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
15.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
16.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
25.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Xian B-6D (Irak)
- 1 x C601 missile (Irak)
1.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 X Su-20 (Irak)
3.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 X Su-20 (Irak)
18.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
19.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RBS (Irak)
20.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
22.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)
24.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
4.05.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
15.05.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
14.06.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)
4.01.1989 F-14A (USN) - 2 x MiG-23 (Libya)
6.02.1991 F-14A (USN) - 1 x Mi-17 (Irak)


Losses in air to air combat : 5

12.1980 MiG-21bis (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)
11.08.1984 MiG-23ML (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)
17.01.1987 MiG-23ML (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)
19.07.1988 Mirage F1EQ (Irak) - 2 x F-14A (Iran)