Iran Air Force (IRIAF) | News and Discussions

nomadski wrote:
d_taddei2 wrote :


"......Does anyone know current figures on Iranian aircraft numbers, it always hard to find a correct source. Figures are quite wild depending on sources. I know it's hard considering it's secrecy that Iran always has. Quite keen to find out homegrown aircraft figures. What is clear is that Iran's air force is in need of updating and replacement in certain areas. I think the kowsar and the upgraded su-22 are good, for what they are. But they can't fufil every role. Iran could actually offer both of these upgrades for other countries using F-5 and Su-22.
For su-22 Angola, Syria, and Vietnam could use the upgrade.
If they produce kowsar they could sell on the open market, African countries, south American countries would be ideal customers. Of course the elephant in room is sanctions or fear of sanctions......"

I was thinking about this , late last night . Iran claims it made F5 copy ! But it made only 3 planes ?! Does not make sense . If they invested in tooling for making the F5 clone , then this is main cost of project . It costs far less thereafter to make , say 50 units . And they would be very useful too . Even in close ground support . Iran has still some functioning old planes for ground support , but I am sure addition of say 50 , planes would be very useful .

But they did not do this . And also they did not buy any planes from Russia ! I thought the reason is money , but  they are making many Drones and Ships at high cost . But no planes ?? This means their defence policy is not based on planes ! This shows asymmetrical thinking in defence . Now what systems are asymmetric ? If we think a bit , we understand where they are heading ........

GarryB wrote:The F-4 is not anything like a simple aircraft and like most supersonic fighters requires precision and materials that smaller slower cheaper planes do not.

If they could build F-4s then, they could build MiG-29s now, and while they are very capable in many areas the effort needed to make F-4s it would actually make more sense to make F-14s with F-4 level components...

For all the effort it would take it would be vastly cheaper and easier and faster to just buy some MiGs or Sukhois or Mirages...

It makes sense to make your own cheap light simple fighter as long as it remains simple cheap and light because they can be produced in numbers that make the development and reverse engineering worth it.

Designing an Iranian F-4 and then making 200 would not be practical or sensible.

They had to make spare parts to keep their aircraft running, but building a complete aircraft is a lot more work with more costs and more risks and unless you want to make thousands it isn't worth it most of the time.

nomadski wrote:@ d_taddei2

"....They did not do what?I didn't say they did buy aircraft from Russia, so not sure what Ur talking about.Iran has been under various sanctions for decades so had no real option but for asymmetric warfare, drones and missiles a bit like north Korea, although the latter not so much on drones but more on missiles etc. But Iran can only achieve so much on its own and would nee to make serious purchases to modernise it armed forces. But it seems they are currently happy play a three card game, drones, missiles and quads forces. Not the safest bet....."


They did not manufacture the F5 clone in any numbers , despite claiming that they could ! And JCPOA limitations  regime ended ( since JCPOA not adhered to by USA , becomes null and void ) Iran stuck to the deal , and was legally able thereafter to  buy planes , say from Russia or China , without permission from UNSC , as wrongly stated by Russia . But they  ( Russia or China ) did not sign contract either for sales .Iran did not push hard for them , only preliminary discussions by MOD .They have some money still to build ships and AD and Drones . Therefore their defence policy is somewhat by choice ,  is not based on conventional air power . Or conventional defence . Recently during the Nuclear " negotiations"  , they stated that , they have four satellites ready to be launched !

german Forum wrote:A circumstance which speaks with the most against any new procurement and fundamental modernization, is based on Iran itself or concrete in the rivalry between regular armed forces and the revolutionary Gard and because it does not look really good for the IRAIF and other regular sub-force forces in the medium term. This tenor has only been strengthened since the elections in the spring. Iran is actually controlled essentially by certain religious boxes or much more funds that divide the country more or less and enhance political influence. Wherever possible, IRGC-controlled funds attempt to influence politics and society, which is not least (also justified by the international climate) - with the increasing paramilitarization of political circles since the last choice and weakening the moderate forces since the bursting of atomic May 2018 was promoted again. The great rivalry between regular armed forces and the IRGC brigades and the increasingly growing influence of the IRGC on political leadership bodies, which also overlook the military, ensures that the IRAIF is increasingly laced the air. If it goes to the IRGC, one can not trust the regular armed forces and in particular the Luftwaffe about the way and actually in the eyes of the IRGC leadership staff should be the only armed forces of Iran. This is how it works consistently and from the IRAIF urgently needed budgets is consistently covered and redirected for IRGC purposes. The IRAIIF must fight for every cent and at least enforce it that it can manage its own portfolio as part of the assigned budgets as part of the allocated budgets and so you put everything that is as capable as possible. The IRAIF has the hand on some essential custody and industrial hubs such as the AIC or the Baba'ee Corp. And can extend the influence of the IRGC as far as possible until now. These hubs carry with the largest share when we talk about modernization and overhaul of the existing aviation park. The IRAIF, at least, manages it to maximize these potentials as far as possible. Programs like Toufan, Fakour M-90, Baba'ee on or Dowran have only been still possible for that. If you do not get any significant new procurements, you can use the bit of influence still to secure budgets for the most extensive modernization and repair programs for the existing air park - is quasi the price for the task of new procurement.

In the medium term, It is very important to some forces in Iran to weaken the regular armed forces as much as possible. New procurement projects of the IRAIF are wherever it goes torpedo. The IRGC has only limited personnel resources that are really enabled to use aircraft tactical - it feeds mainly through young ideological staff. Above all, the IRGC has its hands on the rocket forces and it is also the IRGC, which promotes the drone program so massively. Much of the Iranian drone park is under the control of the IRGC. The leadership of Iran has successfully conveyed that there is a significant part of the future of Iranian air defense and prioritize according to funds. That's why I also believe in the SU-30 for Iran (and to be honest too everything else new), if I really see them there. In my eyes, the window was, which opened in 2015/16 at the latest at the beginning of 2019 permanently.

Mig-31BM2 Super Irbis-E wrote:https://twitter.com/imamedia_org/status/1474632276713611270

Which upgrade state have their SU22?

nomadski wrote:

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/182293/Russia-to-sell-dozens-of-Su-35-to-Iran-report


Maybe a little early to comment . But is this news with any credibility ? Plus , in what role do you think Iran will use these ? Or is best using them . Since this has an effect on numbers to be purchased and spare parts situation ?

JohninMK wrote:Most of the 'advanced' aircraft in the IrAF are two seaters, is it likely that if they are the first to be replaced they would be by Su-30 not Su-35?

Also, as missiles of all types are becoming yet more important would not the supply of the best AAM perhaps be more critical than new airframes, as long of course that the existing airframes are compatible with the missiles?