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THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Apr 24, 2007
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As well as preventing further US equipment coming into the country, the Revolution meant American engineers and instructors would have to leave, taking with them the knowledge to maintain and operate the Tomcats. Hughes technicians sabotaged 16 AIM-54 missiles before departing the country, but the remainder of the arsenal was safely secured in bunkers at Khatami. In a display of the Iranian military’s determination and ingenuity, the 16 sabotaged missiles were returned to service using parts ‘acquired’ from the US Navy. The US also made changes and updates to both the AIM-54 and the aircraft’s powerful AWG-9 radar to ensure that any data the Iranians might acquire would be of no use against US Navy aircraft.
However, it wasn’t just Americans who fled after the Revolution, 27 Iranian Tomcat pilots left with them, including all but two of the initial groups trained by the US and 15 new recruits. Also heading out of Iran with the pilots were many of the skilled technicians required to actually get and keep the Tomcats in the air. Those pilots who remained, along with many members of the wider former Imperial Iranian Air Force, were arrested, imprisoned and even executed, further hindering F-14 operations. The mass exodus and later arrest of personnel meant that, when war broke out with neighbouring Iraq, as few as 12 Tomcats were serviceable.
The Iran-Iraq War
Tensions between the Iraqis and the new Islamic government in Iran escalated and, by 1980, the two nations were fighting minor skirmishes along their border. With Iraq becoming more and more aggressive and now fearing a full-blown invasion, the new Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) began to work tirelessly to get more Tomcats airworthy. One of the major headaches for the Iranian technicians was getting the complex AWG-9 radar operational, leading to a heavy dependence on ground-based radar controllers guiding crews towards hostile aircraft. The Iranians used the few aircraft they had available to fly patrols along the border, deterring Iraqi aircraft before they became a threat.
![Iranian Tomcat [Keyvan Tavakkoli]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/032.jpg "Iranian Tomcat [Keyvan Tavakkoli]")
An AIM-54A Phoenix missile under fuselage of an F-14A Tomcat during an exhibition in Isfahan in February 2014. Keyvan Tavakkoli
When the Tomcats were first delivered to Iran, the US had yet to integrate the radar-guided, medium-range AIM-7 Sparrow, and short-range, heat-seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on to the F-14. This meant that the only weapons available to use against Iraqi targets were the aircraft’s internal 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon and the AIM-54 Phoenix missile. Despite being designed for very-long-range interceptions (in excess of 100 miles), the Phoenix was successfully employed on medium and short-range targets.
War was declared on September 22, when Iraqi forces moved across the border in conjunction with a series of air strikes aimed at destroying as much as possible of the Iranian Air Force on the ground. The opening six months of the war saw the most intense aerial action for the Iranians as they attempted to repel and drive back the Iraqis. Both sides were short of allies that could supply them with replacement aircraft lost in combat, forcing the more conservative use of air-power than in other major modern conflicts. With such a finite number of Tomcats available, the Iranians operated the aircraft tactically, making use of the AWG-9 radar to serve as an early-warning platform, guiding aircraft into battle. Tomcats were also positioned to guard against strategically-valuable locations such as major oil installations on Kharg Island, and the capital Tehran.
![Iranian Tomcat [Keyvan Tavakkoli]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/033.jpg "Iranian Tomcat [Keyvan Tavakkoli]")
AIM-9J, AIM-7E and AIM-54A missiles loaded on an F-14A during an exhibition in Isfahan in February 2014. Keyvan Tavakkoli
Despite trying to keep their F-14s out of direct action, it is believed more than 50 victories were scored against Iraqi aircraft in the opening six months of the war. Incredibly, despite action against MiG-21s and 23s and Su-20s and 22s, only one Tomcat was damaged when it struck wreckage of an exploding MiG-21. As the fighting escalated, more and more F-14s were drawn into battle, greatly increasing the strain on engineers and an already limited spares pool. The intensive flying started to take its toll, with more and more Tomcats being withdrawn from service, leaving an estimated 40 operational by 1984, and as few as 25 two years later.
During the course of the eight-year war, Iranian Tomcats reputedly downed in excess of 160 Iraqi aircraft for the loss of only three jets in air-to-air combat. Tomcats were able to engage Iraqi aircraft long before they could return fire, which in part explains the high kill-ratio. The fear of being shot down at such a distance was often enough to force entire Iraqi strike packages to turn and run for home.
Today’s Tomcats and the future
By the time the conflict drew to a close in 1988, around 30 Tomcats were believed to be airworthy, however those with a working radar and therefore combat-ready was significantly fewer. The Iranians were also struggling to field a significant number of AIM-54 missiles – the weapons’ thermal batteries had exceeded their shelf life around 1986 and, without fresh supplies available from the US, the Iranians were forced to use clandestine sources to seek replacements.
![Iranian Tomcat [Alireza Bayat]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/076.jpg "Iranian Tomcat [Alireza Bayat]")
One of the three F-14As in the QRA facility of 8th TFB armed with a pair of AIM-9Js and a pair of AIM-7Es on February 3, 2020. Alireza Bayat
In the early 1990s, Iran was able to secure a spares package from the US in return for Iranian assistance in securing US hostages held captive in Lebanon. This aid package, along with additional items sourced on the black market, kept the jets in the air for a few more years, but by the late 1990s a Tomcat replacement was being considered. With only the Chinese willing to sell combat aircraft to Iran, the Shenyang F-8 (similar in appearance to the MiG-21) was evaluated but deemed inferior in performance to the F-14, so the Iranians returned to the black market to source spare parts. Alarmingly, residents in the US were arrested by the FBI after attempting to purchase engine spares and intake seals and ship them to Iran.
In 2006, the US Navy retired its F-14s, potentially releasing an enormous number of spare parts onto the market. Indeed, the Iranian government formally requested to purchase items, but this was swiftly rejected by the US Department of Defense. With US-Iranian relations in decline, the American government announced that any aircraft currently stored in the ‘boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB would be destroyed, to prevent any parts making their way to Iran.
In order to reduce the dependency on sourcing parts from the US, the Iranians began a series of projects to modernise the F-14 and its weapons. Attempts were made to integrate the Russian-built, semi-active radar-guided R-27 – replacing its US-built AIM-7 equivalent – and the MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missiles, but these ultimately proved unsuccessful.
![Iranian Tomcat [M Motahari]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/011.jpg "Iranian Tomcat [M Motahari]")
An afterburner take-off by 3-6066 for a post-overhaul FCF at Mehrabad on July 23, 2019. M Motahari
Progress was finally made with the development of the Fakour-90, an indigenously-designed missile based on the AIM-54. Iranian claims that the weapon has a range almost 100km further than that of the Phoenix and a top speed of Mach 5 was met with some skepticism, but credit must be given for developing a new weapon in the face of severe sanctions. If the figures are accurate, the Fakour-90 would allow Iranian Tomcats to engage targets flying over Saudi Arabia from within their own airspace. Aircraft over Israel could also be at risk, but the F-14s would have to cross some way into Iraqi airspace for their weapons to reach.
It is unclear how many Tomcats are currently operational, with online reports varying from as few as four or five through to as many as 40. F-14s are regular participants in parades over Tehran and, in 2015, a video emerged of the aircraft escorting Russian Tu-95 Bears on strike missions against Daesh. A 2015 announcement made by Colonel Asqar Shafiyee, the deputy commander of Air Force 8th Air Base, praised Iran’s capability to overhaul F-14s, along with claims of modernisation: “We have equipped the F-14 fighters with air-to-ground missiles and with bombing capability.” The Colonel also suggested the aircraft had received a new radar, which was undergoing trials work at the time. Military analysts have suggested Russia may be helping to modernise the fleet, assisting with the fabrication of some spare parts, although this has never been confirmed.
It is unlikely the true number of serviceable F-14s or their capabilities will ever be known, adding in part to their potency. It is remarkable that the IRIAF is able to keep any of these legendary aircraft in the air, nearly 15 years after the last US aircraft was withdrawn from service. While the aircraft’s future is a mystery, even the most skeptical of western observers must surely owe a tip of the hat to the engineers keeping these Persian Tomcats prowling.
![Iranian Tomcat [Alireza Bayat]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/075.jpg "Iranian Tomcat [Alireza Bayat]")
One of the three F-14As in QRA facility of 8th TFB armed with a pair of AIM-9Js and a pair of AIM-7Es on February 3, 2020. Alireza Bayat
However, it wasn’t just Americans who fled after the Revolution, 27 Iranian Tomcat pilots left with them, including all but two of the initial groups trained by the US and 15 new recruits. Also heading out of Iran with the pilots were many of the skilled technicians required to actually get and keep the Tomcats in the air. Those pilots who remained, along with many members of the wider former Imperial Iranian Air Force, were arrested, imprisoned and even executed, further hindering F-14 operations. The mass exodus and later arrest of personnel meant that, when war broke out with neighbouring Iraq, as few as 12 Tomcats were serviceable.
The Iran-Iraq War
Tensions between the Iraqis and the new Islamic government in Iran escalated and, by 1980, the two nations were fighting minor skirmishes along their border. With Iraq becoming more and more aggressive and now fearing a full-blown invasion, the new Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) began to work tirelessly to get more Tomcats airworthy. One of the major headaches for the Iranian technicians was getting the complex AWG-9 radar operational, leading to a heavy dependence on ground-based radar controllers guiding crews towards hostile aircraft. The Iranians used the few aircraft they had available to fly patrols along the border, deterring Iraqi aircraft before they became a threat.
When the Tomcats were first delivered to Iran, the US had yet to integrate the radar-guided, medium-range AIM-7 Sparrow, and short-range, heat-seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on to the F-14. This meant that the only weapons available to use against Iraqi targets were the aircraft’s internal 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon and the AIM-54 Phoenix missile. Despite being designed for very-long-range interceptions (in excess of 100 miles), the Phoenix was successfully employed on medium and short-range targets.
War was declared on September 22, when Iraqi forces moved across the border in conjunction with a series of air strikes aimed at destroying as much as possible of the Iranian Air Force on the ground. The opening six months of the war saw the most intense aerial action for the Iranians as they attempted to repel and drive back the Iraqis. Both sides were short of allies that could supply them with replacement aircraft lost in combat, forcing the more conservative use of air-power than in other major modern conflicts. With such a finite number of Tomcats available, the Iranians operated the aircraft tactically, making use of the AWG-9 radar to serve as an early-warning platform, guiding aircraft into battle. Tomcats were also positioned to guard against strategically-valuable locations such as major oil installations on Kharg Island, and the capital Tehran.
Despite trying to keep their F-14s out of direct action, it is believed more than 50 victories were scored against Iraqi aircraft in the opening six months of the war. Incredibly, despite action against MiG-21s and 23s and Su-20s and 22s, only one Tomcat was damaged when it struck wreckage of an exploding MiG-21. As the fighting escalated, more and more F-14s were drawn into battle, greatly increasing the strain on engineers and an already limited spares pool. The intensive flying started to take its toll, with more and more Tomcats being withdrawn from service, leaving an estimated 40 operational by 1984, and as few as 25 two years later.
During the course of the eight-year war, Iranian Tomcats reputedly downed in excess of 160 Iraqi aircraft for the loss of only three jets in air-to-air combat. Tomcats were able to engage Iraqi aircraft long before they could return fire, which in part explains the high kill-ratio. The fear of being shot down at such a distance was often enough to force entire Iraqi strike packages to turn and run for home.
Today’s Tomcats and the future
By the time the conflict drew to a close in 1988, around 30 Tomcats were believed to be airworthy, however those with a working radar and therefore combat-ready was significantly fewer. The Iranians were also struggling to field a significant number of AIM-54 missiles – the weapons’ thermal batteries had exceeded their shelf life around 1986 and, without fresh supplies available from the US, the Iranians were forced to use clandestine sources to seek replacements.
In the early 1990s, Iran was able to secure a spares package from the US in return for Iranian assistance in securing US hostages held captive in Lebanon. This aid package, along with additional items sourced on the black market, kept the jets in the air for a few more years, but by the late 1990s a Tomcat replacement was being considered. With only the Chinese willing to sell combat aircraft to Iran, the Shenyang F-8 (similar in appearance to the MiG-21) was evaluated but deemed inferior in performance to the F-14, so the Iranians returned to the black market to source spare parts. Alarmingly, residents in the US were arrested by the FBI after attempting to purchase engine spares and intake seals and ship them to Iran.
In 2006, the US Navy retired its F-14s, potentially releasing an enormous number of spare parts onto the market. Indeed, the Iranian government formally requested to purchase items, but this was swiftly rejected by the US Department of Defense. With US-Iranian relations in decline, the American government announced that any aircraft currently stored in the ‘boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB would be destroyed, to prevent any parts making their way to Iran.
In order to reduce the dependency on sourcing parts from the US, the Iranians began a series of projects to modernise the F-14 and its weapons. Attempts were made to integrate the Russian-built, semi-active radar-guided R-27 – replacing its US-built AIM-7 equivalent – and the MIM-23 Hawk surface-to-air missiles, but these ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Progress was finally made with the development of the Fakour-90, an indigenously-designed missile based on the AIM-54. Iranian claims that the weapon has a range almost 100km further than that of the Phoenix and a top speed of Mach 5 was met with some skepticism, but credit must be given for developing a new weapon in the face of severe sanctions. If the figures are accurate, the Fakour-90 would allow Iranian Tomcats to engage targets flying over Saudi Arabia from within their own airspace. Aircraft over Israel could also be at risk, but the F-14s would have to cross some way into Iraqi airspace for their weapons to reach.
It is unclear how many Tomcats are currently operational, with online reports varying from as few as four or five through to as many as 40. F-14s are regular participants in parades over Tehran and, in 2015, a video emerged of the aircraft escorting Russian Tu-95 Bears on strike missions against Daesh. A 2015 announcement made by Colonel Asqar Shafiyee, the deputy commander of Air Force 8th Air Base, praised Iran’s capability to overhaul F-14s, along with claims of modernisation: “We have equipped the F-14 fighters with air-to-ground missiles and with bombing capability.” The Colonel also suggested the aircraft had received a new radar, which was undergoing trials work at the time. Military analysts have suggested Russia may be helping to modernise the fleet, assisting with the fabrication of some spare parts, although this has never been confirmed.
It is unlikely the true number of serviceable F-14s or their capabilities will ever be known, adding in part to their potency. It is remarkable that the IRIAF is able to keep any of these legendary aircraft in the air, nearly 15 years after the last US aircraft was withdrawn from service. While the aircraft’s future is a mystery, even the most skeptical of western observers must surely owe a tip of the hat to the engineers keeping these Persian Tomcats prowling.
Topics
Read more about- Grumman F-14 Tomcat
- Grumman
- Iran
- IRIAF
- Iranian
- Middle East
- Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
- Fighter aircraft
- Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF)
