Isn't having surplus F-14s today like having Gloster Gladiators in 1940? Sure, you might get lucky, but come on, these are obsolete aircraft.
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 Admiral Beez |
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Posts: 4500 (28-Apr-2008 14:47:08) |
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emc |
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Posts: 3711 (28-Apr-2008 18:31:49) |
Admiral Beez wrote: umnh, uh, no. Aerodynamically the F-14 is no more obsolete than the F-15, -16, or -18. The Iranian F-14's are doubtless carrying obsolescent
electronics, which is a separate issue, but the F-14, were its avionics to be kept updated, would perform quite creditably. Its removal from service was as
much a political decision as a technical or tactical one.
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drunknsubmrnr |
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Posts: 1316 (28-Apr-2008 22:20:14) |
Going against an F-22 in an F-14 would be worse than going against an F-15 with an F-4. The F-22 has just too many advantages vs the F-14.
There's also the matter of a US ground crew having issues trying to get F-14A's running....I doubt the Iranian Air Force can keep 10 of them flying on a single day. Kevin |
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Admiral Beez |
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Posts: 4502 (28-Apr-2008 22:33:10) |
emc wrote:
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Desertfox.historypolitics... |
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Registered Member
Posts: 58 (28-Apr-2008 23:56:56) |
Sure you can, the the Super Tomcat 21 would have been the equivalent of the F-22 in everything except stealth. The ST-21 could supercruise (as could the
F-14D), had more than enough range, thrust vectoring (for an already maneuverable fighter), and probably better sensors than the F-22 (IR and TV). Only area
where the F-22 was clearly superior was stealth.
I wouldn't pit any 70s plane with its 21st century equivalent, but if I had to pick one it would be the F-14. But I don't think Iran's F-14s are in 'straight from factory' condition, they probably have some Russian upgrades. If they got any MiG-31 systems, they will be though to counter, and deadly against bombed up Navy F/A-18E/Fs. |
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Gernsback |
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Posts: 234 (29-Apr-2008 01:42:14) |
Is that before or after a Super Hornet knocks the Tomcat out of the sky long before it has any chance to spot the SuperBug? Also, which MiG-31 systems are you proposing? The Zaslon radar is too big for the F-14 to carry. |
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emc |
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Posts: 3713 (29-Apr-2008 05:09:07) |
Admiral Beez wrote: Of course I can; I'm an aerodynamicist Less flippantly, I did specify that an F-14 with updated avionics would perform creditably. If the Iranians actually have 40+ F-14's operational, after
about 30 years with no (legal) spares support, it's miraculous. Hell, some airline should find out who's managing their F-14 support program and get
him to work for them.
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Admiral Beez |
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Posts: 4505 (29-Apr-2008 05:20:01) |
If the Iranians actually have 40+ F-14's operational, after about 30 years with no (legal) spares support, it's miraculous. Hell, some airline should find out who's managing their F-14 support program and get him to work for them. I'd say being able fly, land and launch heat-seaking AAMs and dumb-bombs would be considered as operational in the Iranian air force. Considering that there are still pre-F-14 era F-4 Phantom IIs in service in Japan, and until 2004 in Israel, and until 1992 in Britain and Spain, and not to mention the fleets of old yet operational MiGs throughout the world, I'd say keeping three dozen F-14s in the air shouldn't be impossible, especially when money is really no object. That said, I wouldn't want to put a 1960s JSDF F-4 against a 1990s F-15E, even with upgrades to the F-4.
Last Edited By: Admiral Beez
29-Apr-2008 05:22:08.
Edited 1 times.
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seasick |
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Posts: 4621 (29-Apr-2008 06:36:28) |
Don't forget that the Iranian F-14 do not operate from a carrier. They don't have constant arrested landings and catipult launchings to stress their
airframes. The planes are standard carrier versions meaning that they are built rugged for carrier operations so they will wear out slowly. The AWG-9 radar is
an anolog system and is fairly old. I wouldn't be surprised if Iran could produce the necessary vacume tubes locally. The Phoenix and Sparrow supplies were
been depleated long ago and Russian and Chinese weapons acquired to replace them.
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pascaly |
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Posts: 1496 (29-Apr-2008 06:50:05) |
emc, you should have a bumper sticker made up with that on it. lol |
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