Posted on 08/30/2007 9:00:57 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Iran upgrading its U.S. F-14s, testing GPS-guided smart bombs
LONDON — Iran says it has succeeded both in restoring its F-14 fighter-jet fleet to operational service and in developing its own GPS-guided smart bomb. Industry sources said Iranian defense firms have been overhauling and upgrading F-14A fighter-jets. They said the Defense Ministry has overseen a serial production line for F-14 overhaul.
The ministry has administered a project by the state-owned Iranian Aircraft Industries Complex to enhance the F-14As, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said the project began in 2007, and since May three F-14As were upgraded.
In 1972, Iran procured 60 F-14As from the United States. The Tomcat fleet was hampered by the U.S. refusal to sell F-14 spare parts to Teheran since the 1980s. By 2002, only 25 out of the F-14As were still in operational service, the sources said. In that year, however, Iran launched a $1 billion to overhaul the F-14s as well as the U.S.-origin F-4 fighter-jet.
The sources said the F-14A upgrade was taking place at the Iranian Aircraft Industries Complex in Mehrabad. They said the company was expected to overhaul and upgrade additional F-14s in 2007 and 2008.
The upgraded F-14s would be equipped with Iran's new guided air bomb. Officials said the new 2,000-pound bomb has been flight-tested and would undergo serial production. On Sunday, Iranian state television showed the Ghased bomb destroying a target.
"We will use these [bombs] against our enemies when the time comes," Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Najar said on Sunday. "We will use this weapon where we want to hit the enemy's strategic and defense targets. This will be used against our enemies, against those who violate our land and air space."
Meanwhile, Iran has reported the development of a one-ton air-to-ground munition.
Officials said the Iranian Defense Ministry has developed a 2,000-pound bomb that could be guided to its target. They said the bomb, dubbed Messenger, or Ghased in Farsi, has been successful in recent tests by the Iranian Air Force.
A Defense Ministry statement described the bomb as a smart munition. The statement said the Defense Ministry would launch serial production of the 2,000-pound bomb on Aug. 27, the onset of Government Week.
Industry sources the Messenger was meant to resemble the U.S.-origin Joint Direct Attack Munition. JDAM is a kit that converts general purpose bombs to smart munitions.
Officials provided few details of the bomb. They said the munition contained a GPS system that could guide the weapon to its target.
The Defense Ministry said Messenger was launched from the Iranian Air Force's U.S.-origin F-4 and F-5 fighter-jets. It was unclear whether the bomb could be fitted to the air force's Soviet-origin fleet, comprised of the MiG-29 and the Su-24 fighters.
The ministry said Messenger, development of which was completed in 2006, was one of the most powerful smart munitions in the world. The statement said only several countries had the capability to develop such a weapon.
Defense Minister Mustafa Najar said Iran has become self-sufficient in military production. During a tour on Aug. 23 of an installation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Bushehr, Najar said his ministry was producing missiles, munitions, artillery as well as naval surface and underwater vessels.
Najar said the ministry was also manufacturing fighter-jets, unmanned aerial vehicles and armored ground platforms. The minister said Iran's military has achieved what he termed full combat readiness.
Najar is full of crap.
Good luck suckers. You’re going to need it.
What are those things behind the fuel tank, and on the left wing hardpoint?
I don’t know, but don’t they look neat?
;-)
Full Combat Readiness - to attack unarmed women, children and unsuspecting worshipers.
This is PRECISELY why Iran conducts war through their proxy army of non-uniformed insurgents, suicide bombers, arming those in direct contact with coalition forces and by simply running their mouth...
Soon - America must kick their ass SEVERELY to punish them for letting their Alligator mouth overload their Hummingbird Ass.
Hookahs.
Or perhaps small diameter air-to-ground rocket pods.
They’re on the wind hardpoints on both sides, and what they are are unguided rocket pods, similar to our M200 or Mk 66 Hydra-70. (http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/275in-rockets.html) Looks like the Iranian set were originally intended for use on helicopters - if so, they’re probably the Soviet/Russian S-5 rocket in pods.
I think they are deer whistles - to prevent collision with the wildlife..
Army Surplus. LOL. They will not know what hit them when our F-22s take them out.
another 
Iran bought a total of 80 F-14As; 30 Block 90 BuNo 160299 - 160328 and 50 Block 95 BuNo 160329 - 160377. BuNo 160378, pictured below, was never delivered and placed in storage at AMARC until 1992, due to the embargo, and was assigned to the PMTC at Point Mugu. The initial order in January of 1974 was for 30 Tomcats but the order was increased to 80 in June of 1974.
The Soviets have been responsible for keeping the Iranian F-14s airworthy as well as stealing a lot of the F-14 technology for their MiG and Sukhoi design bureaus.
The Iranians are going to face some huge (or should I say hugh) challenges operating those aircraft.
Fatigue on structural members, aging wiring and hydraulic lines, tired old engines, and extremely complex analog electronics. I would be surprised to see a big turnaround in this program. I wouldn't be surprised to an upgraded weapons system, but it will still be saddled onto a tired old horse.
I’ve heard that in wartime we have a way of making the GPS system less accurate. Our military would not be affected because they have access to a special encrypted GPS channel. As long as Iran does not have a method of accessing this channel, their GPS guided bombs would have reduced accuracy. Of course taking this step in wartime that would affect all civilian users.
I read that a few years ago that the Russians proposed reengining the F-14s with their AL-31F,found on the Flanker series.
Well there is a Tomcat in it’s natural state. Notice the outboard spoilers on the the left wing stuck up and from the position of the horizontal stab it looks like they couldn’t get the wings into the ‘oversweep’ or stowed position. Some things never change.
Russia is rejuvenating it’s own GPS system called GLONASS-to be ready by 2010 or so & the Chinese have plans for system called Beidou around the same time.
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