When I first saw this picture and read the comments of the Iranian Defense Minister I was laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair. This kind of release has got to be targeted for the Arab street who might actually believe that a modified F-5 could compete with F-15C Eagles or F-18 Super Hornets. The Iranian Air Force consists mainly of F-4D/E, and F-5 aircraft bought when the Shah was in power. In addition there are a few squadrons of Mig –29 Fulcrums, Chinese F-7, and a few F-14 Tomcats. As an old Eagle maintainer I know what it takes to keep fast jets fully operational and combat ready. I would be surprised if more than a handful of F-14 and F-4 aircraft are serviceable and even the easier to maintain F-5’s would be in a sorry state because of the long arms embargo. This coupled with the usual lack of training and preparedness in Arab pilots will mean during any confrontation with Iran, Allied Air Forces would gain air dominance during the first few hours. Most folks simple do not know or understand how lethal our pilots are in the Eagle or Hornet not to mention the new Raptor.
The F-15 Eagle has a lifetime kill ratio of 104 – 0, the majority of the kills were made by the Israeli AF against the Syrians during the 1982 Lebanon war and the USAF during Desert Storm.
Below are some of the defense ministers quotes and I’ll link to the article.
“This fighter plane has been researched, designed and built with indigenous means and this new generation of fighter plane is entering industrial production," Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
"Our forces like a thunderbolt will blind the eyes of the enemies of our land," he added. "And in the battlefield of defending our land, just like a thunderbolt, they will set ablaze the enemies' camp."
Below are some of the defense ministers quotes and I’ll link to the article.
“This fighter plane has been researched, designed and built with indigenous means and this new generation of fighter plane is entering industrial production," Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
"Our forces like a thunderbolt will blind the eyes of the enemies of our land," he added. "And in the battlefield of defending our land, just like a thunderbolt, they will set ablaze the enemies' camp."
1 comment:
One should note that Iran is not an arab country.
However Iran building a fighter jet is quite a puzzle, but what puzzles me even more is the plan engine : is it bought from russia or what?
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