The Persian take on the F-14 and her rival, the Mig-23.

[mjmorrow]

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/persian-cats-9242012/

[Groove]

Thasnks for sharing. This was a very intense conflict back then.

[tomcatter]

Good read, thanks.

[javelina1]

thanks for the link. great article.

[Yurgon]

Great find, thx for sharing!

[Carlos Sultana]

Thank you, was a nice read!

[Emu]

This makes for an interesting view on the F-14s statistics in the Iran-Iraq War:

 

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?180731-Modern-fighter-combat-records

 

Air-to-air kills - Air-to-air losses - Losses to ground fire

 

F-14 Tomcat 135-4-4

Vietnam (1975) (USA) 0-0-0

Gulf of Sidra (USA) (1980) 2-0-0

Lebanon 1983 (USA) 0-0-0

Gulf of Sidra (1986) 0-0-0

Gulf of Sidra (1989) 2-0-0

Gulf War (USA) 1-0-1

Iraq NFZs (USA) 0-0-0

Bosnia (USA) 0-0-0

Kosovo (USA) 0-0-0

Afghanistan (USA) 0-0-0

Iraq (USA) 0-0-0

Iran-Iraq War (Iran) 130-4-4 (May be 135-5-4)

 

F-14 Tomcat

 

 

Air victories: 134 + 1 missile

 

 

09.1980 F-14A (USN) - 1 x F-4E (Iran)

7.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mi-25 (Irak)

14.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)

- 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)

23.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21 (Irak)

- 2 x MiG-23 (Irak)

24.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

5.09.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

- 3 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

2.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23MS (Irak)

12.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)

13.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

18.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

20.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

22.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

25.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)

26.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

29.10.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 4 x MiG-23MLA (Irak)

- 1 x Tu-22B (Irak)

10.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

21.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)

27.11.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

2.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

10.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-20 (Irak)

22.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x fighter (Irak)

30.12.1980 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

7.01.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

29.01.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)

21.04.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

15.05.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

19.08.1981 F-14A (USN) - 2 x Su-22 (Libya)

22.10.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

- 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

11.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

- 1 x MiG-21 (Irak)

12.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

14.12.1981 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

21.07.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x MiG-23MF (Irak)

16.09.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

10.10.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

7.11.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)

21.11.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-23MF (Irak)

- 1 x MiG-21MF (Irak)

1.12.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

4.12.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25PD (Irak)

21.01.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

28.07.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

6.08.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

31.08.1983 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Su-22 (Irak)

09.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Su-22 (Irak)

10.1982 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)

25.02.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-21bis (Irak)

- 2 x fighter (Irak)

1.03.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)

25.03.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Tu-22B (Irak)

6.04.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Tu-22B (Irak)

26.07.1984 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Super Etendard (Irak)

03.1985 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x MiG-27 (Russia)

26.03.1985 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25BM (Russia)

15.02.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

14.03.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage 5SDE (Egipt)

12.07.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23ML (Irak)

3.09.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

7.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

14.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23ML (Irak)

24.10.1986 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Su-22 (Irak)

18.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

20.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

24.02.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-23BN (Irak)

- 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

24.06.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x SA321 (Irak)

29.08.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

31.08.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

11.11.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25BM (Russia)

15.11.1987 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

9.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 3 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

15.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

16.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 2 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

25.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Xian B-6D (Irak)

- 1 x C601 missile (Irak)

1.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 X Su-20 (Irak)

3.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 X Su-20 (Irak)

18.02.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

19.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RBS (Irak)

20.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

22.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x MiG-25RB (Irak)

24.03.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

4.05.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

15.05.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

14.06.1988 F-14A (Iran) - 1 x Mirage F1EQ (Irak)

4.01.1989 F-14A (USN) - 2 x MiG-23 (Libya)

6.02.1991 F-14A (USN) - 1 x Mi-17 (Irak)

 

 

 

Losses in air to air combat: 5

 

 

12.1980 MiG-21bis (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)

11.08.1984 MiG-23ML (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)

17.01.1987 MiG-23ML (Irak) - 1 x F-14A (Iran)

19.07.1988 Mirage F1EQ (Irak) - 2 x F-14A (Iran)

Edited November 6, 2014 by Emu

[Brisse]

The statistics speak for themselves :)

[dumgrunt]

and that was flown by an airforce that had just had its experience base gutted by the post revolutionary purge, was recieving no technical support or upgrades, AND was fighting an enemy that was being supported by no less than 5 super powers...

[Nascar]

I had no idea F-14's had more kills than F-15's, thanks for the info.

 

Badass

[RIPTIDE]

This makes for an interesting view on the F-14s statistics in the Iran-Iraq War:

 

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?180731-Modern-fighter-combat-records

Here's my problem with that list. I look at the MiG-25 kill. The source for most of the Iranian claims comes essentially from 1 guy called Cooper I think that wrote some books about it. I believe the Iranian story of the MiG-25P/PD kills happened outside of the permitted flight range of the MiG-25 that were allowed to go.... ie. GCI range. So from the Iraqi sources, shooting down a MiG-25P or PD would have been impossible in the location that the Iranians claim. And secondly, out of all the plinted wrecks and museam pieces from the war, there is nothing of a MiG-25 on display. Out of all the aircraft, ironically I would have imagined the MiG-25 to have the most debris intact, not to mention it's huge heavy engines.

 

So that list... I would supply with a grain of salt.

Edited November 8, 2014 by RIPTIDE

[vicx]

Story should be titled:

 

"Persian Cats; How Iranian air crews used the Aim-54 against an inferior missile, with very predictable results".

Edited November 9, 2014 by vicx
missing semi-colon and comma

[streakeagle]

The US should have access to the loss records of Iraqi forces at this point. "Claimed kills" is frequently very different from actual losses. Take the claimed "10:1" ratio by F-86's over Korea. We knew exactly how many F-86's we lost, but now we know what China/Russia's losses were. The actual kill ratio is somewhere between 2:1 and 3:1 and if you only look at Russian losses, it is more like 1.5:1. I guess the F-86 pilots needed to go to "Top Gun" school, too ;)

[streakeagle]

While I personally doubt many of Tom Cooper's sources, I have to give him credit for trying to provide the opposing sides' version of events.

Knowing what both sides have claimed, you can pretty much assume the truth is somewhere near the middle.

[Basher54321]

Tom Cooper did show up at f-16 net and got into a massive argument with someone calling out his research. Any way part of it included defending MiG-25 range and flight profiles.

 

 

 

 

Calculate the range of a MiG-25RB from, say, Abu Ubayda Ibn al-Jarrah AB (al-Kut) and Esfahan or Tehran. You'll end with result that the plane can take only 2 or 4 FAB-500T bombs (can't recall exactly how many right now and I'm too lazy to search through my notes), and fly at Mach 2.0+ for only the last 300 kilometres to the target.

 

That means: they had to penetrate the Iranian airspace through gaps within Iranian radar coverage, at low alt and Mach 0.9. That was no major problem: they've got the 'blueprints' from an Iranian defector before the war. And because the Iranian government was stupid enough not to care about improving early warning capabilities of the 'disloyal' air force (Project Seek Sentry - acquisition of Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS - was one of first cancelled after the Shah was gone, and no new radars were acquired from 1978 until 2009), it was nearly always too late to detect them.

 

Then they would start to climb and accelerate. So, once a MiG-25RB appared 'in the middle of Iran', climbing to 21,000m (approx 63,000ft) and accelerating to Mach 2.1-2.3, the IRIAF was left with only some 4-5 minutes to react, i.e. attempt an intercept. Actually, if no F-14 was somewhere directly in front of the MiG-25, and at least an altitude of 12,000m (approx 36,000ft) it had no chance to intercept at all. Of course, if this was the case, the RHAW-gear on the Foxbat would warn the pilot and the Iranians could only watch it running away in direction of Iraq....

 

Usually, it was so that the Foxbat could approach to within 45-50 or so kilometres from the target, release and then run away at Mach 2.1-2.3 before caught by Iranian interceptors. In that one (on 4 July 1986) case it didn't: it had to decelerate or risk running out of fuel before reaching the Iraqi border. And it had to descend. By accident, there were two F-5Es around: they were actually underway on a CAS sortie and had to jettison their bombs before engaging (a reason more why they run out of fuel 'early').

 

So, no 'complacent' Foxbat pilot or anything else: the guy did what he could. He even made a safe emergency landing back in Iraq, but the plane was simply too badly damaged for repairs. So, a write off.

 

To make things more interesting, though: this loss was simply 'deleted' from official IrAF lists of losses presented to Saddam. For example, from such documents like 'An Analytical Study on the Causes of Iraqi Aircraft Attrition During the Iran-Iraq War', prepared in January-February 1992 (I've got a transcription of that document). So, it seems that whatever was left of official IrAF files (and that's not much), is next to useless.

 

The same was the case with at least two other MiG-25s shot down over Iran, both shot down by IRIAF F-14s (one over the Khark Island, another over the City of Arak; the latter crashed in the centre of that city, and there are photos of its wreckage), plus some 3 others - wreckage of which I've found (and photographed) at Habbaniyah AB dump too. That's why the Iraqis usually cite only 3 MiG-25 losses during that war: the one shot down over Khark, one lost due to supposed 'engine damage', in 1986, and one shot down (supposedly by IRGC's HQ-2J SAMs) over Esfahan, in 1987.

 

 

---

 

Actually, Zare-Nejad and Shabani have just launched for a ground attack when advised about Foxbat's appearance by the GCI. That's why they've had enough fuel for the pursuit.

 

Secondly, if he would have any kind of clue about MiG-25RB-ops over Iran, or indeed understanding of flying, he would know that for most of such ops, they were operating so much on the verge of their endurance, that the reason they were returning to Iraq at medium altitudes and low speeds - i.e. 'gliding' - was that they were out of fuel. They lacked fuel to descend only after reaching the Iraqi airspace.

 

 

 

So just get the calculators out.