Completely different. Iran has reached critical mass in cyber, ballistic missile tech, and nuclear engineering. Same cannot be said of the aerospace engineering division. Most of the engineers/technicians in that field are older
The question is who in Iran is studying aerospace engineering and joining the field of developing the Air Force? No one.
All the critical engineers/technicians on Iranian fighter jets are old and they had to bring some out of retirement to continue servicing or overhauling these jets because they were only ones with that knowledge. Apprenticeship is a major weakness in that field.
If you a bright mind in Iran you are either going into nuclear engineering field, cyber warfare, or missiles. Trying to overhaul the air force is career suicide in that country.
To give you example, I remember reading some years ago that IRGCs cyber warfare division was recruiting top technological minds and paying them $200K+ a year (USD) with housing expenses also covered to stay in Iran and help build up Iran’s cyber capabilities. It became one of Iran’s fastest growing military fields.
Now compare that to how much you think Air Force would pay them if they studied aeronautical engineering?
If I was Khamenai I would have executed everyone involved in that hoax.
Everyone here knows I hate General Salami sandwhich. The man is a disgrace and leech on Iran’s armed forces. Who knows how many of these useless sacks of propaganda fill the IRGC and Artesh, but given how much of these individuals exist even in US military — one would estimate a lot.
Just go see how many US military commanders have been relieved of command due to “loss of confidence in ability to command”
I will give you an example: USS Ohio fired there 3rd skipper in less than a year. US Navy relieved 15 commanding officers in 2023 alone. Let’s not forget the commander(s) of the $billion dollar destroyers that ran into cargo ships.
So I can only imagine the level of incompetence that exist in Iranian commanding officers. We already saw it with TOR-M1 2020 disaster and the sinking of Damavand to name a couple.
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This man did wonders for air defense branch during his time. Iran needs more like him.