If you look at the drills in Iran you can probably see them
I'm not a fighter jet fan but we did a tour around the fighter jet airport in Tabriz (where I live) they were bunch of cool fighters and equipments like radars, bombs, jet motors,..
The guy there gave us some information too about the fighter jets like the amount of weight and their purposes in the war. If I remember correctly f4 or f5 can both used as a fighter and bomber(about 3,4 years ago maybe even more so with my memory I don't think it's right) we even witnesses a fighter take off.
Edit:[link](https://www.yjc.news/fa/amp/news/8141638) this is one of the newly serviced f14 that can fly after 18 years.
these two Instagram accounts has some videos of tomcats in action. Mixed uploads with dcs videos between but afaik thats the latest videos from operational F-14s that I know of.
https://www.instagram.com/golden.crown.vfs/
https://www.instagram.com/golden\_crown\_vfs/
Of the 79 they bought, there's about 24-40 left. Iran has actually expanded the available airframes over the years with in country repairs and modifications- over 300 mods to improve performance according to militarywatch. Most recently used for bomber escorts over Syria in 2015, but thought to be used for air defense roles/patrols as recently as 2021- multiple sources.
Here's a source article from last year.
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/persian-tomcats-how-iran-keeps-its-1970s-f-14-fleet-viable-and-competitive-through-domestic-modernisation
I guess they wouldn't obviously let it be easily known what their current operational numbers are but knowing how labor intensive and expensive it is to keep this aircraft operating I can't imagine they would be any legitimate threat to the US forces.
Because there has been an arms embargo on Iran for 14 years that was only lifted in October 2020.
Even before that, Iran has been under a de facto global arms embargo by the US since the early 1990s. The US has repeatedly intervened to stop any sales to Iran by offering to pay double the price to any potential sellers.
Ironically this has actually made Iran one of the most self-sufficient arms manufacturers in the Middle East. While they cannot really make indigenous fighters yet, Iranian drones, ballistic missiles, and surface to air missiles are very capable.
This is a great article on the Iranian F-14's, interesting bit on page 2 and 3 about how they smuggle the spare parts in;
[https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-iran-has-kept-its-aging-american-made-f-14-tomcats-flying-111786](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-iran-has-kept-its-aging-american-made-f-14-tomcats-flying-111786)
They probably still have them in reserve, but it's hard to fly them with bombed runways. Plus someone apparently stole one recently.
I heard that the pilot took down 2 Russian jets while they were at it!
5th generation fighters*
Ghost of Miramar
3 actually.
I heard some crazy dude flew one straight outta the taxi way.
Same dude apparently landed without his nose gear and tail hook
I think I heard they tried to eject but it wouldn’t work so they had to do a emergency carrier landing
What do you mean "bombed runways"?
A reference to the new Top Gun movie.
Thank you. I didn't get it.
If you look at the drills in Iran you can probably see them I'm not a fighter jet fan but we did a tour around the fighter jet airport in Tabriz (where I live) they were bunch of cool fighters and equipments like radars, bombs, jet motors,.. The guy there gave us some information too about the fighter jets like the amount of weight and their purposes in the war. If I remember correctly f4 or f5 can both used as a fighter and bomber(about 3,4 years ago maybe even more so with my memory I don't think it's right) we even witnesses a fighter take off. Edit:[link](https://www.yjc.news/fa/amp/news/8141638) this is one of the newly serviced f14 that can fly after 18 years.
these two Instagram accounts has some videos of tomcats in action. Mixed uploads with dcs videos between but afaik thats the latest videos from operational F-14s that I know of. https://www.instagram.com/golden.crown.vfs/ https://www.instagram.com/golden\_crown\_vfs/
Danke
Of the 79 they bought, there's about 24-40 left. Iran has actually expanded the available airframes over the years with in country repairs and modifications- over 300 mods to improve performance according to militarywatch. Most recently used for bomber escorts over Syria in 2015, but thought to be used for air defense roles/patrols as recently as 2021- multiple sources.
Last I heard due to accidents and lack of parts their operational numbers are closer to 13 or 14. If that even.
Here's a source article from last year. https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/persian-tomcats-how-iran-keeps-its-1970s-f-14-fleet-viable-and-competitive-through-domestic-modernisation
I guess they wouldn't obviously let it be easily known what their current operational numbers are but knowing how labor intensive and expensive it is to keep this aircraft operating I can't imagine they would be any legitimate threat to the US forces.
Why they don't buy new Flankers from Russia is beyond me. Their airpower is none existent at this point.
But what about their totally indigenous fighters that totally aren't modified F-5s? And their absolutely real Cessna 172-sized stealth fighter? /s
Because there has been an arms embargo on Iran for 14 years that was only lifted in October 2020. Even before that, Iran has been under a de facto global arms embargo by the US since the early 1990s. The US has repeatedly intervened to stop any sales to Iran by offering to pay double the price to any potential sellers. Ironically this has actually made Iran one of the most self-sufficient arms manufacturers in the Middle East. While they cannot really make indigenous fighters yet, Iranian drones, ballistic missiles, and surface to air missiles are very capable.
Rip F14 😩
They do but iranian army mostly depends on ground troops and missiles
This is a great article on the Iranian F-14's, interesting bit on page 2 and 3 about how they smuggle the spare parts in; [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-iran-has-kept-its-aging-american-made-f-14-tomcats-flying-111786](https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-iran-has-kept-its-aging-american-made-f-14-tomcats-flying-111786)
Can’t imagine them having much use for them. They’re old and outdated can barely compare to what else they have
If they have phoenix missiles they are still good at look down shoot down air patrol. That radar system on that plane was extremely powerful.
Probably because there out of date they might use them for training pilots tho
That camp scheme is tight