F-16's to Iran?

Tue May 16, 2006 1:51 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060516/ap_ ... MlJVRPUCUl

I guess they could add them to the other derelict U.S. provided equipment they have.

Hmmmmmmmmmm

The greedy part of the warbird guy in me is coming out. Suppose, in a couple three years, all the twenty somethings that make up the bulk of the population in Iran, get fed up and change things. That might mean that I might be able to score a nice ride and take it to South Africa and restore and fly it. Oh well, it's a nice thought anyway.

Somebody should send Chavez a nice box of chocolates, prferably laced with lithium. He's been off his meds to long.

Tue May 16, 2006 2:39 pm

Great !! That means the first F-16 high speed targets won't have to be droned !! Do you realize how much money this will save the US taxpayer ? Not to mention the research data gained for the next batch that will be radio controlled. :twisted:

Tue May 16, 2006 2:40 pm

ya know OP, I just read that and was thinking the same thing.....

You could have an F-14, F-4, and an F-16 and be the baddest kid on the block... :shock:

Tue May 16, 2006 2:54 pm

How is Iran going to keep those F-16 flying, get spares from Russia or China?
Don't think Israel will trade parts with Iran. I don't think Iran wants 20 F-16's.

Tue May 16, 2006 3:36 pm

mennie wrote:How is Iran going to keep those F-16 flying, get spares from Russia or China?
Don't think Israel will trade parts with Iran. I don't think Iran wants 20 F-16's.

I think Iran want just about anything to replace their F-4's and F-14's. I heard a rumor that thet were getting the old USMC F/A-18A's, but obviously not......

Tue May 16, 2006 6:34 pm

Looking forward to shooting down a couple Vipers, should the opportunity arise.

Tue May 16, 2006 6:44 pm

Randy Haskin wrote:Looking forward to shooting down a couple Vipers, should the opportunity arise.

I was thinking along the same lines Randy. The US forces clearly dominate when it comes to superiority, or likely better states, air supression. It is more and more likely that the air assets will be destroyed on the ground and in their bunkers in a conflict before they ever have the chance to get air under their tires.

Sure maybe Iran could acquire F-16s, but they would never be able to keep them going. F-14s were sold to Iran, but when was the last time any technical support or spares were provided. The F-14s likely haven't moved under their own power in many years. The F-16s would suffer a similar fate in time, especially considering they would need to train their pilots and that eats up resources. Training wouldn't be supported, so you just know there will be a high rate of attrition.

The only use F-16s would be is as a firest strike weapon delivery platform. That is scary.

Mike

Tue May 16, 2006 7:03 pm

Randy Haskin wrote:Looking forward to shooting down a couple Vipers, should the opportunity arise.

Hi Randy!

Do me a solid and try to convince the big guys not to destroy the F-14's and F-4's on the ground, they can't fly anyway. I keep on thinking about the Iraq Fury. I don't know if it was you that told us that or not, but it was kinda a bummer story.

I want me one of those fancy F-14 rigs!

Tue May 16, 2006 7:30 pm

Not true about F-4s and F-14s not flying for many years. Even though there is an embargo on F-4 & F-14 parts they've been able to get some. They certainly don't have as many flying as in the old days but they have been very rescourceful when it comes to cannibalization.

Tue May 16, 2006 8:49 pm

O.P. wrote: I keep on thinking about the Iraq Fury. I don't know if it was you that told us that or not, but it was kinda a bummer story.

Yes, I related the story...but I'm not the one who blew it up!!!

Tue May 16, 2006 11:30 pm

don't kid yourself........the black market is alive & well in the warbird part circulation internationally, & not a damned thing d.o.d. can do about it!!! frightening!!! just to many loop holes in the u.s. cluster f*ck system to keep a check on it!!

Wed May 17, 2006 7:23 am

Tom, its been documented that the Israelis were selling the Iranians F-4 parts during the Iran-Iraq war. Some parts found on a defectors F-4 were traced to NATO sources. I believe it would be much easier to send parts to Iran from the middle east and Europe than it would be the U.S. I do realize that it would be naive to think that NO parts from the U.S. haven't made it over there.

Wed May 17, 2006 9:11 am

I think it was NIS a few years back that stopped a shipment of F-14 parts from the US that was headed to Iran (at least in the end of a long journey). I would go so far as to think that some parts over the years did get there, but not enough to make a huge difference in the end.

Our own F-14 squadrons had a very hard time getting the parts they needed I can’t see a ton of spares getting out on the market. But I could be wrong.

Tim

Wed May 17, 2006 9:29 am

The Shah bought 78 F-14s.

I found this in January and posted back then.

Iran news - A federal grand jury indicted an Iranian man Thursday on charges he tried to export almost $800,000 worth of F-14 Tomcat fighter jet parts to Iran, a country considered by the U.S. government to be a sponsor of terrorism. The United States sold Iran dozens of F-14s during the 1970s. Since the shah's overthrow, Iran has had difficulty maintaining the planes because of a lack of spare parts, and the planes are rarely flown.)

Wed May 17, 2006 3:29 pm

mrhenniger wrote:
Randy Haskin wrote:Looking forward to shooting down a couple Vipers, should the opportunity arise.

The US forces clearly dominate when it comes to superiority, or likely better states, air supression.

Though the RAF Typhoons the USAFE (F-15C/D/E and F-16C/D) have gone up against have beaten them in all but 1 excercise over the past 3 months or so......