They’ve got serials on the fins and on the right hand size of the noses – the numbers start with 3-XXXX (3 denotes fighter in IRIIAF).
6 Saeqeh serials have been seen -3-7366 through 3-7371.
And the Iranian air force is very well documented. Even air forces in suppossedly democratic Asian countries seldom allow the level of photographic information flow the Iranians do.
Because serials are generally only proof of an aircraft’s existence.
Even when they’re randomised, they still usually don’t change. After all they require repainting and that’s usually done during an overhaul.
Americans have known for decades that Iranians have been able to keep F-14s airworthy. They even managed to get 1 to defect to Iraq in 1986 along with an F-4E in 1984. These were used to determine how they were keeping them in the air and came to conclusion there was a degree of local content.
A lot of “experts” are in denial due to patriotism or other misguided ideas. And this is regardless of nationality.
I don’t.
The Iranians often talk big but do nothing. I wouldn’t be surprised if F-4 upgrade was just a SLEP to eek a few more years out of the airframes.
The truth is that Iran does not invest at all in it’s Air Force. I’m sure they could get Chinese JF-17s or even MiG-29s if they wanted to. Instead they’re relying on old aircraft. Their newest aircraft were delivered in early 1990s and then most of them were Iraqi jets sent there in 1991 (though I think a handful c. 6 Su-25s were delivered to IRGC in early 2000s)!
They’ve also not invested in any significant recapitalisation of air transport, helicopters or trainers. Again I’m sure they could obtain these things from non-Western sources if they wanted to.
ACIG sez other than their F-14s, their next best aircraft are Iraqi Mirage F-1s. particularly due to its ECM suite it came with.
apparently the Iranians used them against Pakistani druggies!!
can FC-1 stop F-1s?
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