Iranian Air Force (IRIAF/IRGC-ASF) | News and Discussions

How will Iran counter acquisition of F-35 by KSA?

Are the rumors true that the only counter to this would be acquiring Russian or Chinese fifth Gen fighters?

Or would they focus on missile technology? Perhaps an Iranian version of Oreshnik?
Looking at the attention the use of this missile generated in the 'West', then this is definitely something to consider as a 'must have' by Iran.

Say the K-4, carrying 3 x ~500kg warheads each, should make a mess of most targeted installations. Depending on CEP of course.

Piet
 
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How will Iran counter acquisition of F-35 by KSA?

Are the rumors true that the only counter to this would be acquiring Russian or Chinese fifth Gen fighters?

Or would they focus on missile technology? Perhaps an Iranian version of Oreshnik?
I do not think anyone in Iran is worried about the Persian Gulf states. The distance from Iran to Qatar is less than 200 Kilometers.
 
How will Iran counter acquisition of F-35 by KSA?

Are the rumors true that the only counter to this would be acquiring Russian or Chinese fifth Gen fighters?

Or would they focus on missile technology? Perhaps an Iranian version of Oreshnik?
The gulf states will never fight Iran. They fought the houthis and stopped after the houthis fired one drone.
 
Looking at the attention the use of this missile generated in the 'West', then this is definitely something to consider as a 'must have' by Iran.

Say the K-4, carrying 3 x ~500kg warheads each, should make a mess of most targeted installations. Depending on CEP of course.

Piet

Good catch. IRGCAF can pulverize the two forward bases in 10-20 minutes facing Iran with submunitioned K-4's PBV. Its a nasty weapon designed for this job. GWACS/AWCS hangers can be taken out by Fattah-1 + KS-1/II Hypersonic weapons. Its not happening but its not a threat Iran is worried about.
 
Good catch. IRGCAF can pulverize the two forward bases in 10-20 minutes facing Iran with submunitioned K-4's PBV. Its a nasty weapon designed for this job. GWACS/AWCS hangers can be taken out by Fattah-1 + KS-1/II Hypersonic weapons. Its not happening but its not a threat Iran is worried about.
Thank you.

Piet
 
Good catch. IRGCAF can pulverize the two forward bases in 10-20 minutes facing Iran with submunitioned K-4's PBV. Its a nasty weapon designed for this job. GWACS/AWCS hangers can be taken out by Fattah-1 + KS-1/II Hypersonic weapons. Its not happening but its not a threat Iran is worried about.
Also.

Imagine the implied threat of K-4 et al, capable of delivering a *single* ~900kg earth penetrator warhead, which was unveiled quite recently. Depending on target hardness, 1 -2 warheads should be able to dig out really important targets of strategic value.

Piet
 
Also.

Imagine the implied threat of K-4 et al, capable of delivering a *single* ~900kg earth penetrator warhead, which was unveiled quite recently. Depending on target hardness, 1 -2 warheads should be able to dig out really important targets of strategic value.

Piet

Depends upon how the IRGCASF plans to disable an enemy airbase. I mean they have all the right tools in their hands to either wreck havoc with K-4's submunitioned PBV. It can deploy some 80 bomblets from air at runways, control towers, Nav-Comm Antennas of the base, aircrafts parked outside or in non-hardened bunkers. IISS gave its range as 3500 KM with 700 KG warhead or 1800 KG at 2000 KM. Considering this is just cross border attack scenario the 1800 KG configuration fits the bill.

But if the infrastructure is inside hardened bunkers or they do not want to escalate things then Fattah Hyeprsonic missile or Khyebar Shikan can take out only few controlling nodes of the base like the command centers or Nav-Comm assets.

All in all this is a non-threat compared to what IRGCAF faces in Israeli airspace.
 
Footage of F-14A of IRIAF landing back after shooting down 3 x Israeli Drones. F-14A shot down total of 8 enemy drones and engaged with an IAF F-15 which had to run back.

F-15I jettisoned twice over Western Iran during the war, one time shot at (by Khordad-15?). Engagement with an F-14A could be the second instance.

Other than these two events, there exists ZERO evidence of Israeli aircraft intruding Iranian airspace. That Spice PGM image over Tehran turned out to be Ice Breaker ALCM launched from above Iraq, falsely claimed by Israeli accounts to be PGM fired from within Iran .... War is Propoganda .... at which Israelis succeed and Iranian leadership failed miserably. IRGCASF despite scoring crucial and extremely difficult strikes inside Israel could not build the narrative of absolute dominance over Israeli AD, Israeli gag order over capturing any Iranian strike was not for nothing. IRIAD/IADS of Iran despite making sure that IAF fighters do not intrude inside Iranian airspace could not put forward their performance in media either. Surprisngly IRIAF's stupid chief got the airtime despite sitting out the war mostly.

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Had leadership funded IRIAF enough to carry out F-14A -> F-14AM conversions in decent numbers, many more lives would have saved from ALBM/ALCM fired from above Iraq. 10-15 million an airframe would have given them a large fleet before SU-35S arrive.
 
How will Iran counter acquisition of F-35 by KSA?

Are the rumors true that the only counter to this would be acquiring Russian or Chinese fifth Gen fighters?

Or would they focus on missile technology? Perhaps an Iranian version of Oreshnik?
IMO It is vice-versa. Saudí Arabia is adquiring F35A because Irán have purchased Su35.

While It is difficult to intercept F35 with Su35 (despite propagandistic claims from russian media), advanced radars and long range missiles working together could effectively affect freedom of action of this 5gen aircraft over Iranian airspace.

But at medium term Irán will need 5 gen aircraft and here comes Su75 or even J35. But that would eventually be after at least 10 years.
 
IMO It is vice-versa. Saudí Arabia is adquiring F35A because Irán have purchased Su35.

While It is difficult to intercept F35 with Su35 (despite propagandistic claims from russian media), advanced radars and long range missiles working together could effectively affect freedom of action of this 5gen aircraft over Iranian airspace.

But at medium term Irán will need 5 gen aircraft and here comes Su75 or even J35. But that would eventually be after at least 10 years.

Even with SU-35S in hand Iranian military doctrine will still rely upon Missiles. SU-35S are arriving to fit in as "super interceptors". IRGCASF will never give up their place as main deterrent force of IRI. This has to do with inner politics of defense branches as well. Larger IRIAF means more budget allocation to them which will be hard for IRGCASF to digest. They can put forward the case that they single handedly fought the war and quite successfully on their part so why would their proportion of budget be cut to accommodate IRIAF.
 
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Is this the helicopter that was posted a few pages back? The Iranian made one?
 
Even with SU-35S in hand Iranian military doctrine will still rely upon Missiles. SU-35S are arriving to fit in as "super interceptors". IRGCASF will never give up their place as main deterrent force of IRI. This has to do with inner politics of defense branches as well. Larger IRIAF means more budget allocation to them which will be hard for IRGCASF to digest. They can put forward the case that they single handedly fought the war and quite successfully on their part so why would their proportion of budget be cut to accommodate IRIAF.
I agree. But IMO Missile force works more than good. IRIAF just need to have real deterrence capability. But for win the Air superiority IRIAF would need at least 250 and some of them 5 Gen, not to mention AEW. Something like this would mean to change completely a doctrine because of money scarcity. IMO Missile force worked excellent. Please don't touch the only part that really works. 🤔
 
I agree. But IMO Missile force works more than good. IRIAF just need to have real deterrence capability. But for win the Air superiority IRIAF would need at least 250 and some of them 5 Gen, not to mention AEW. Something like this would mean to change completely a doctrine because of money scarcity. IMO Missile force worked excellent. Please don't touch the only part that really works. 🤔

What Iran needs to do, is move the IAF further back into Iraq so that it cannot lob as many missiles into Iran from Iraq. While money continues to be an issue (as is more most countries), Iran has a lot more resources than most countries, and the lack of an air force seems to be more due to internal politics, and poor decision making than money alone.

Something like the Su57E is required for Iran, not sure where Russia in on selling that to Iran (maybe the Su35S was the compromise arrangement?) but the induction of the Su-35S will make the potential later induction of the Su-57E given the commonality of infrastructure required. It is in Iran's best interests to procure the Su-35S for now, but also to diversify to China as an "additional" source of military jets.
 

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