posted on Apr, 22 2010 @ 09:38 PM
At the time, 1970s, the F-14 was the most advanced fighter in the world. Because of this, the U.S. did NOT sell this aircraft to foreign nations,
EXCEPT Iran, who was ruled by the Shah.
The Iranians have been able to "self-upgrade" many avionics systems, just because these systems improved so greatly over the next three decades.
However, they have had to cannibalize parts from some aircraft in order to keep the primary fleet flying. As the years have passed, the number of
operational aircraft ready for action has gradually diminished. To date, their upgrades have not nearly kept up with the aircraft development from
the Soviets/Russians, NATO, and even from nations like Brazil.
The Iranian F-14s are a potent weapon system, but not compared to the NATO/American/Israeli air forces. The U.S. Navy, who were the only branch to
fly F-14 squadrons, retired them because they were difficult to maintain, and were surpassed by the F/A 18 Hornets, and especially the F/A-18 Super
Hornets.
,
Our F-16s and F-15Cs are significantly superior to ANY F-14s, and not even in the same ballpark with the F-22s for the air superiority mission.