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

[ToddE]

IRIAF pulled a stunt again. There are just 5 flying Kowsars and none of them except 1 is FMC. They sent another non-FMC prototype to Kish Air show and to make it look "in-service" they fitted it with old PESA Iranian radar from 90s that was destined for Azarakhsh and SaegheI/II programs (both abandoned), the range is barely 80 KM for tracking fighters. It comes from OWJ and is of Chinese family of radars of KLJ-6E/F, SY-80 series origin.

Kowsar's original radar is supposed to be Bayyenat-II which has a 115 KM detection and 94 KM track range for 1 m2 target with 1 m2 SAR, look down shoot down capability, built in ECM etc. Its a replica of modern Grifo-346 but is way too costly.

Good news: IRIAF is showing signs of maturity by working on Yak-130, SU-35S, MIG-29, SU-30SM etc while maintaining fair level domestic capability. If Kowsar's costs are cut with this old radar, this means the program gets to re-live. They can still produce 70-80 airframes with strong electronics as LIFT/ATs, CAS or IADS-controlled CAP fighters or line them up in north east to deal with Talibans if need be. As a matter of fact they can bring the entire shit fleet of 44 airframe strong F-7Ns and Mirages (22) to this standard and use them as IADS-controlled CAP on borders. Some 200 light fighters can deal with enemy cruise missiles/SOWs. Better than being abandoned.

While IRIAF should focus on Flankers and Fulcrums and plan for SU-57.

 

[Piet]

IRIAF pulled a stunt again. There are just 5 flying Kowsars and none of them except 1 is FMC. They sent another non-FMC prototype to Kish Air show and to make it look "in-service" they fitted it with old PESA Iranian radar from 90s that was destined for Azarakhsh and SaegheI/II programs (both abandoned), the range is barely 80 KM for tracking fighters. It comes from OWJ and is of Chinese family of radars of KLJ-6E/F, SY-80 series origin.

??? add a groan, and a facepalm also. And all that after having Kowsar in its possession for all of six years (2018 -24) already. Well, indecision or whatever, has consequences, and now enemies could be hammering on the door any day soon. Considering how fast events can happen up there.

Kowsar's original radar is supposed to be Bayyenat-II which has a 115 KM detection and 94 KM track range for 1 m2 target with 1 m2 SAR, look down shoot down capability, built in ECM etc. Its a replica of modern Grifo-346 but is way too costly.

A shame really. But an allocated budget can only stretch so far. And going by past budgets the IRIAF always appear to stand last in line.

Good news: IRIAF is showing signs of maturity by working on Yak-130, SU-35S, MIG-29, SU-30SM etc while maintaining fair level domestic capability. If Kowsar's costs are cut with this old radar, this means the program gets to re-live. They can still produce 70-80 airframes with strong electronics as LIFT/ATs, CAS or IADS-controlled CAP fighters or line them up in north east to deal with Talibans if need be. As a matter of fact they can bring the entire shit fleet of 44 airframe strong F-7Ns and Mirages (22) to this standard and use them as IADS-controlled CAP on borders. Some 200 light fighters can deal with enemy cruise missiles/SOWs. Better than being abandoned.

Well, this would be a 'Hail Mary' move akin to a refrigerator, either it works, or it does not work. In times of high tension you make do with what you have.

While IRIAF should focus on Flankers and Fulcrums and plan for SU-57.

To the above I would like to add the Yak-130/M.

Pertaining to SU-57. I read a 2020 report that Russia could from 2027 receive a 'Super Flanker'. Its like a bridge between SU-35 and SU-57. Another report dated this year, also referred to something like this.

Could make sense if Iran's Flanker line is up and running. Imagine something like a progression of Thunder Blk-111 ----> PFX

Nevertheless, I regard all of the above as good, and certainly very necessary, investment over the short-medium-long term.

But, truth be told. If the IRI can make it over the next tumultuous 4 years relatively unscathed, then the IRIAF can in ten years time be a force to be reckoned with.

Piet

 

[ToddE]

Funny

 

[Piet]

Funny

Works for me....

Piet

 

[Persian Gulf]

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[ToddE]

^

Could also be the last time we saw an F-14 flying on the entire earth. There are strong hints that they are gonna retire/store the F-14 and F-4 fleet in favor of the incoming SU-35S.

 

[ToddE]

??? add a groan, and a facepalm also. And all that after having Kowsar in its possession for all of six years (2018 -24) already. Well, indecision or whatever, has consequences, and now enemies could be hammering on the door any day soon. Considering how fast events can happen up there.


A shame really. But an allocated budget can only stretch so far. And going by past budgets the IRIAF always appear to stand last in line.

Well, this would be a 'Hail Mary' move akin to a refrigerator, either it works, or it does not work. In times of high tension you make do with what you have.


To the above I would like to add the Yak-130/M.

Pertaining to SU-57. I read a 2020 report that Russia could from 2027 receive a 'Super Flanker'. Its like a bridge between SU-35 and SU-57. Another report dated this year, also referred to something like this.

Could make sense if Iran's Flanker line is up and running. Imagine something like a progression of Thunder Blk-111 ----> PFX

Nevertheless, I regard all of the above as good, and certainly very necessary, investment over the short-medium-long term.

But, truth be told. If the IRI can make it over the next tumultuous 4 years relatively unscathed, then the IRIAF can in ten years time be a force to be reckoned with.

Piet

Inner IRI politics play a huge role in IRIAF's development. Clergy does not understand or want airforce. They see it as a pointless burden for which they have to cut 400-600 million USD every year from defence budget. Because of these budget cuts and neglegence, IRIAF itself is now made of incompetent officers who failed to make a case for the force to the leadership like how other branches did. When Airdefence was planning Bavar-373 or IRGAC was testing dual MaRVs/PBVs, IRIAF was busy telling the leadership how Saeghe is an F-18, already being mass-produced. Result, Leadership invested madly in Missiles/SLVs, Drones, Airdefence, and even in the navy but not in manned-aviation which (A) they disliked from the start (B) force became incompetent.

So even if Russian market is getting open for Iran, does Iran itself want to purchase anything in higher numbers? The way these people let Syrian Air force be destroyed in its bunkers instead of landing it in Iran shows how non-serious these clergymen are. The order of 50 SU-35S is too little and will be too late by the time acquisition is complete. If they are smart, they will pressure Russia for SU-57 now so that they can operationalize it around 2028/30.

 

[Tijani]

Funny

Actually Two out out three is not bad eh? The two bad boys will take care of the challenged brother!

 

[ToddE]

 

[Piet]

Is this what I think it is?

Piet

 

[Immortals]

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Still sticking with that [hideous] camo eh?

 

[Hack-Hook]

^

Could also be the last time we saw an F-14 flying on the entire earth. There are strong hints that they are gonna retire/store the F-14 and F-4 fleet in favor of the incoming SU-35S.

retiring f-4 but not j-7 and F-1 , why?

 

[Piet]

IRIAF pulled a stunt again. There are just 5 flying Kowsars and none of them except 1 is FMC. They sent another non-FMC prototype to Kish Air show ...

This Show concludes tomorrow. It would really be a pick-me-up to the IRIAF and the populace in general, if something really big is unveiled between now and tomorrow.

Heaven knows they need it.

Piet

 

[Ali_Baba]

So even if Russian market is getting open for Iran, does Iran itself want to purchase anything in higher numbers? The way these people let Syrian Air force be destroyed in its bunkers instead of landing it in Iran shows how non-serious these clergymen are. The order of 50 SU-35S is too little and will be too late by the time acquisition is complete. If they are smart, they will pressure Russia for SU-57 now so that they can operationalize it around 2028/30.

Surely what the IDF Airforce did to Syria in 24hrs by attacking and destroying over 300 military sites, is the wakeup call to modernise ( allbeit too late ). You cant see that and not learn anything ?

The Syrian Airforce was destroyed on the ground, not because of Iran, but because the Syrian High command and Airforce decided to not do their jobs and continue to protect their airspace. Who would have forseen that would have happened? There is much that still needs to be learnt on what/why the Syrian Airforce did, or didnot do, that led to the destruction of the entire IADS and airforce without a single shot in reply. I wouldn't pin that on the clerics.

 

[sahureka2]

Some images from the Iran Airshow 2024
accessories for fighter aircraft




Simorgh
more photos >Military and Civilian Iranian Aviation Products


and apparently at least at the model level they have thought of a Yasin single-seater light attack version .
It looks like my photoshop done in the past