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

[ToddE]

A good idea but will remain hypothetical unless an appropriate engine can be developed. The failure of domestic aircraft jet engines has practically halted both UAV and aircraft development in Iran.

750 horsepower is enough for now for this task.

I do not agree that domestic engine program halted the domestic aircraft development. J-90 OWJ is there, its not stopping Yasin AT or Kowsar programs, budget cuts is doing that. IRIAF is a joke of a force among Iranian military branches.

 

[KHORSHIDSIYAH1488]

Does anyone have any official word on the Sukhois? I hear Russia gave ToT and factories for local manufacturing have been created in Iran, but nothing substantial or official. I am starting to think Iran is not going to get those planes after all.

 

[PakAl]

Does anyone have any official word on the Sukhois? I hear Russia gave ToT and factories for local manufacturing have been created in Iran, but nothing substantial or official. I am starting to think Iran is not going to get those planes after all.

Its just speculations, similar to how Iran was supposed to buy the su30s a decade ago. World powers will not allow Russia and China to sell advanced weaponary to Iran despite they themselves are arming Ukraine and Taiwan. It shows who is actually controlling the world and calling the shots.

 

[KHORSHIDSIYAH1488]

Its just speculations, similar to how Iran was supposed to buy the su30s a decade ago. World powers will not allow Russia and China to sell advanced weaponary to Iran despite they themselves are arming Ukraine and Taiwan. It shows who is actually controlling the world and calling the shots.

I figured this is the case. Russia also needs to be on America's good side because they need to end the Ukraine ordeal, and ultimately Putin is a liberal that wants Western acceptance (no, he is not a Duginist, not in any shape).

 

[ToddE]

Greetings and thank you for the kind words



Well one can only hope that the powers that be gets the message from 'across the pond'.

Just so. And I do think that medicine pertaining to the black spot gets served up cold, and at the most inopportune times.

What I had in mind here was a swarm of 60% JAS-313 'Wasps', each with a folded wing light-weight AIM-7/Arash, centerline, and one Azarakhsh HOBS under each wing. Flying under CEC control with AI to come at some point in time. Maybe carrying ordinance semi-sunken in place of a weapons bay.

I make the assumption that JAS-313 will be able to leverage all of Iran's extensive IADS'. So it can cruise without radiating any active sensors in A-A role.

When it comes to ground and surface targets, JAS-313 will have to look out for anything that glows & which might make its presence known to its intended prey.


Cool.

See my above also.

Agreed.

By doing that it will provide a juicy Air target for enemy AD and Fighters as RCS will go sky high. Small Airframe wont allow integration of ECM package. I am assuming at face value that current airframe is low RCS on purpose. In current state it is nothing other than an attempt by IRGC to cover up Ahmedinejad era blunder. It has no signs of integration of any A2A weaponry.

More realistic would be upgrading the 1-2 squadrons of properly upgraded F-14AM with LRBVR Fakour-90 and Azaraksh HOBS-WVR package and dedicating them to Naval Air Cover in Persian Gulf from coastal airstrips.

 

[ToddE]

Does anyone have any official word on the Sukhois? I hear Russia gave ToT and factories for local manufacturing have been created in Iran, but nothing substantial or official. I am starting to think Iran is not going to get those planes after all.

There are no official words just journalistic reports that minimum 12 airframes have arrived in December out of which 2 are being flight tested, were supposed to fly on Nowruz but Ramadan or some other issue as pushed the unveiling date into April. They are coming as CKD kits. That's not ToT just assembly.

IMPO, Russia will halt the supply later this year.

 

[Ali_Baba]

IMPO, Russia will halt the supply later this year.

A strong viable Iran aligned with Russia, is in Russia's interest. I would be very suprised if going forward, if the Russians cancel this deal. Call me out if they do, but i do think the help in Ukraine has highlighted the need for Russia to have allies who are prepared to come to its aid. Iran is one such country who both has, and can do in the future. Therefore a Iran that can defend itself is now important to Russia, it may not have been before, but i do think it is now.

Interms of CKD, and not ToT. That is something Iran needs to build up to interms of her local industries being capable of actually doing manufacturing to the required standard. Iran has had some toy projects, but nothing on a scale that is suggested, or required for a Su-35 type of programme. It will require new factories, tooling, and training of people. If Iran waited for local manufacturing, it would be several years before the first one rolled out of a factory in Iran. Iran has an immediate critical need now (which can be done via CKD), and a long term need that can be done via ToT if Iran is prepared to make the appropriate investments.

 

[KHORSHIDSIYAH1488]

There are no official words just journalistic reports that minimum 12 airframes have arrived in December out of which 2 are being flight tested, were supposed to fly on Nowruz but Ramadan or some other issue as pushed the unveiling date into April. They are coming as CKD kits. That's not ToT just assembly.

IMPO, Russia will halt the supply later this year.

I believe so, too.

At the root, there's a major power imbalance between Russia and Iran. And divergent foreign policy in the Caucasus, vis-a-vis Israel, and of course, with America. These are the same people that let Israel bomb Iranian assets in Syria despite having S-400s and being in a partnership with Iran to save the Assad government.

Alliances aren't between equals, but assuming a world power and aspiring regional hegemon owes anything to a weak regional actor is foolhardy.

 

[lightning f57]

A strong viable Iran aligned with Russia, is in Russia's interest. I would be very suprised if going forward, if the Russians cancel this deal. Call me out if they do, but i do think the help in Ukraine has highlighted the need for Russia to have allies who are prepared to come to its aid. Iran is one such country who both has, and can do in the future. Therefore a Iran that can defend itself is now important to Russia, it may not have been before, but i do think it is now.

Interms of CKD, and not ToT. That is something Iran needs to build up to interms of her local industries being capable of actually doing manufacturing to the required standard. Iran has had some toy projects, but nothing on a scale that is suggested, or required for a Su-35 type of programme. It will require new factories, tooling, and training of people. If Iran waited for local manufacturing, it would be several years before the first one rolled out of a factory in Iran. Iran has an immediate critical need now (which can be done via CKD), and a long term need that can be done via ToT if Iran is prepared to make the appropriate investments.

I agree. Although Russia and Iran historically have been rivals vying I influence in the region, putin wont trust trump and western sanctions are not going away. He will want to hedge his bets than go all in to trumpy the serial liar.

 

[Michael]

Does anyone have any official word on the Sukhois? I hear Russia gave ToT and factories for local manufacturing have been created in Iran, but nothing substantial or official.

Theoretically, Iran could refer to China's complete process of purchasing and developing the Su-27.

Step 1: Purchase complete Su-27 fighters of Russian origin.
Step 2: Russia provides all parts. Assembled in China. ------ “J-11”.

Neither Su-27 nor J-11 can use any Chinese weapons or missiles.​

Step 3: Russia provides some parts + China produces some parts. Assembled in China. ------ “J-11A”.

The biggest change in the J-11A is that it starts to use Chinese weapons and missiles.​

Step 4: Russia no longer provides any parts, China realizes 100% localized production. ------ “J-11B”.

The first batch of six prototypes used AL-31 engines, and subsequent production batches used WS-10 engines. It compares to the original Su-27, which is similar only in aerodynamic shape. the J-11B has a fully improved interior, which is completely different from the original Su-27.​

Now the J-11B fighter has been upgraded and updated to J-11BG.​

Chinese flanker fighters such as J-15/J-16 are based on the development of this program.
Chinese military enthusiasts have been jokingly referring to the SAC, which is responsible for executing the program, as “沈霍伊”. It means “Sukhoi Shenyang”.

We don't know much about Iran's real fighter industry system, so we can't tell how far Iran can go.

Achieving 100% indigenous production of the 4th-Gen fighter requires a very strong industrial production capacity. Technical capability is only one aspect of this, but more important is the ability to support a strong industrial system.

 

[ToddE]

I believe so, too.

At the root, there's a major power imbalance between Russia and Iran. And divergent foreign policy in the Caucasus, vis-a-vis Israel, and of course, with America. These are the same people that let Israel bomb Iranian assets in Syria despite having S-400s and being in a partnership with Iran to save the Assad government.

Alliances aren't between equals, but assuming a world power and aspiring regional hegemon owes anything to a weak regional actor is foolhardy.

Only a fool will think that Russia who took Armenia, Azerbaijan actually entire transcaucasia from Iran just 2 centuries ago will allow Iran to regain its power in the region. Its not in their interest and I understand it from their POV, they have their concerns of the growing Iranian threat/influence in their south, Iran and Russia fought for centuries in the Transcaucasia, governments might change but history does not.

They are not the be blamed a bit because them as a cornered Eurasian state are looking for their own interests. Question remains is Iranian state looking for its own or not ? These YAK-130+SU-35S+Murmansk EW deal happened because of Ukraine war or the build up before, why did Iran not corner Russia into TOTs or any fighter airframes they could have gotten when Russia needed Iranian military and political support ? Iran was more interested in supporting Sunni arabs that, given the opportunity would prefer to fight Iran than Israel who bombs them daily. Our leadership is dumb. Whatever weakness Iran has in relations with Russia is not because of some Russo supremacy but its becasue Iranian leadership is illiterate and refuses to learn from past. Russia backed out of Mig-29/31 deal in 90s, it refused Kilo submarines retrofit, it supported sanctions on Iran in 2009, refused S-300, refused RD-33 turbofans and SU-35S will follow the same fate but IRI refuses to learn. Only solace is that apart from IRIAF, other branches went for their own tech. Bavar-373+Mehran pisses on S-300PMU2, Iranian shipyards retrofitted Kilos at home and went ahead with their own Fateh, Besat, Ghadir. IRIAF remains the slow brother among the bunch.

 

[Flotilla]

Only a fool will think that Russia who took Armenia, Azerbaijan actually entire transcaucasia from Iran just 2 centuries ago will allow Iran to regain its power in the region. Its not in their interest and I understand it from their POV, they have their concerns of the growing Iranian threat/influence in their south, Iran and Russia fought for centuries in the Transcaucasia, governments might change but history does not.

They are not the be blamed a bit because them as a cornered Eurasian state are looking for their own interests. Question remains is Iranian state looking for its own or not ? These YAK-130+SU-35S+Murmansk EW deal happened because of Ukraine war or the build up before, why did Iran not corner Russia into TOTs or any fighter airframes they could have gotten when Russia needed Iranian military and political support ? Iran was more interested in supporting Sunni arabs that, given the opportunity would prefer to fight Iran than Israel who bombs them daily. Our leadership is dumb. Whatever weakness Iran has in relations with Russia is not because of some Russo supremacy but its becasue Iranian leadership is illiterate and refuses to learn from past. Russia backed out of Mig-29/31 deal in 90s, it refused Kilo submarines retrofit, it supported sanctions on Iran in 2009, refused S-300, refused RD-33 turbofans and SU-35S will follow the same fate but IRI refuses to learn. Only solace is that apart from IRIAF, other branches went for their own tech. Bavar-373+Mehran pisses on S-300PMU2, Iranian shipyards retrofitted Kilos at home and went ahead with their own Fateh, Besat, Ghadir. IRIAF remains the slow brother among the bunch.

I think you have a bad day.

Russia doesn't love Iran, as Irán doesn't love Russia. They're brothers of misery. Irán is the soft belly of Russia, a Highway to reach south asia without having to cross NATO or Japan/South Korea (US partners). Ukraine deal won't change that much. Because the Affinity of Putin/Trump has a expiry date.

Iran Government is not dumb. The Regime has survived a total war against Irak, and a draconian isolation that no other country in the area would do. And if you don't believe that fact you should admit that there are much more dumb governments in the área than Iran. Starting with Israel (Netanyahu won't step back EU or even Russia or China for the rest of his life) and Syria is showing that not only Assad was dumb also Jolani is.

Delivering some dozens of Su35s and Yaks 130 won't change the equation that much. Saudí Arabia knows, Qatar knows and US also knows. It is handful but all of them have fighters and weaponry capable to answering those incoming threads.

Don't be so emotive.

 

[Tijani]

I think you have a bad day.

Russia doesn't love Iran, as Irán doesn't love Russia. They're brothers of misery. Irán is the soft belly of Russia, a Highway to reach south asia without having to cross NATO or Japan/South Korea (US partners). Ukraine deal won't change that much. Because the Affinity of Putin/Trump has a expiry date.

Iran Government is not dumb. The Regime has survived a total war against Irak, and a draconian isolation that no other country in the area would do. And if you don't believe that fact you should admit that there are much more dumb governments in the área than Iran. Starting with Israel (Netanyahu won't step back EU or even Russia or China for the rest of his life) and Syria is showing that not only Assad was dumb also Jolani is.

Delivering some dozens of Su35s and Yaks 130 won't change the equation that much. Saudí Arabia knows, Qatar knows and US also knows. It is handful but all of them have fighters and weaponry capable to answering those incoming threads.

Don't be so emotive.

Thank you @Flotilla. I was feeling all alone debunking @Emirzad theory on "everyone is dumb, stupid and illiterate".

 

[Aziqbal]

I think the JF17 Block 3 with IFR would be great cheap and high quality for Iran

 

[KHORSHIDSIYAH1488]

I think the JF17 Block 3 with IFR would be great cheap and high quality for Iran

This is if Pakistan actually wants to sell to Iran. But I agree, the JF-17 is a wonderful plane and suited to Iran's purposes.