These were MIG-29SMTs armed with HMD slaved R-73, R-77 ARH, Talisman EW pods. Their Zhuk-ME radars can track a F-15 at 150KM (5 m2 F-16 at 120). Add them to IRIAF's fleet (post hypothetical upgradation) and you have a top notch fleet of 54 MIG-29SMTs guarding the key points like oil terminals while SU-35S, F-14 (if it stays in service) can go for long range interceptions.
I can work with this.
Really nice image & Talisman EW pod peeping out.
Iran at one point will have to integrate interceptors with IADS completely. What that means:
I think that events up there has made this clear for all to see. See also my end comments.
2) Iranian IADS is massive, modern and completely local. It has performed good before with interceptions and destruction of even stealth vehicles. Even recently if we go by Iranian version, it has intercepted a good amount of SOWs, even a British intel officer said Iranian HIMAD locked on F-35s. My point is considering Iranian huge geography IADS will have to completely control the manned/unmanned interceptions through datalinking with its own long ranged search-track assets. IADS will need some 120-150 manned and some 300 unmanned dedicated data-linked pure interceptors in this role. They have been using Datalinked-HOBS-WVR armed Karrar in this role over persian gulf in recent times. A group of Karrars some time ago was reported by Iranian AD official to have locked on a US P-8, this means IADS has its aerial interception wing. Why not give them manned aircrafts as well.
I never was one who took unmanned 'interceptors' too seriously. I did not know that a group of Karrar's had actually locked on to a P-8 though. Thanks, missed this one.
Now, combine manned and unmanned a/c in one group, means that each manned fighter - say flying CAP - would have a number of Collaborative Combat Aircraft as a force multiplier. The actual roles of each will depend on the AI-sophistication then prevalent, and of course the overall 'air picture' provided by the country's IADS.
Probably somewhat early days still.
Not wishing to go of topic but probably good to notice also in the above regard, is that the IRGC's Shahid Bagheri 'drone carrier' had put to sea quite recently, for sea trails.
With 35 Billion USD budget, they need to procure or build these datalinked interceptors for point defence within IADS. Iranian IADS is getting layers after layers covered with HIMADS, SHORADS, suddenly you have MIG-29 taking same track info from IADS in real time while they can combine it up their own radars. This is why they should not have given up on Kowsar production.
Well, just after I had posted herein previously that one of the requirements to lay hold of the SyAAF's combat a/c fleet, was the presence of an 'in-tact' force. Alas, I think it was just the following day that the majority of these a/c were destroyed in multiple air attacks.
I also posited that the funds required for 70 Kowsar's rather be re-directed to upgrade F-14's etc.
I now am not of this opinion any longer.
In South Africa we have a saying that 'Local is Lekker'. (Local is Nice).
Perhaps those in power in Iran should consider something along the same lines.
Piet