1,800 km-range Qadr-1 missile was displayed today
Tehran . National Armed Forces Day . 17 April 2008
(Fars Photo)
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Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces (Artesh) today held a spectacular parade in Tehran to mark the country’s National Armed Forces Day. The military exhibited its 1,800 km-range missile “Qadr 1” for the first time, and IRIAF fighter jets conducted a flyby over the parade grounds.
Iran military analyst Mark Pyruz described the activities as “a more serious parade for a more serious period in the country’s timeline.”
Uskowi on Iran will carry a detailed review by Pyruz of Iran’s military development as observed in today’s parade in a few days.
The links for YouTube video of today’s parade appear below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XoeAPNd3mU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3IXcP8Takc
Iran military analyst Mark Pyruz described the activities as “a more serious parade for a more serious period in the country’s timeline.”
Uskowi on Iran will carry a detailed review by Pyruz of Iran’s military development as observed in today’s parade in a few days.
The links for YouTube video of today’s parade appear below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XoeAPNd3mU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3IXcP8Takc
A couple of days ago, Iranian authorities confidently declared that the Iranian Air Force would make a spectacular showing at the 2008 National Military Day in Tehran. They did not disappoint. In a show of strength not seen since the Imposed War (Iran-Iraq War, 1980-88), the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force streaked the skies over Tehran with dozens of combat and support aircraft.
ReplyDeleteMehr and Fars News Agency photos provide observers of the IRIAF with a number of shots depicting Iran's front line fighter service, all aircraft appearing immaculate and in refurbished condition:
-Six F-14A Tomcats in two wings of three.
-Two F-4E Phantom II's and one RF-4E, in a single wing of three.
-A MiG-29A and MiG-29UB, in a single wing of two.
-Two Mirage F-1BQ's and one F-1EQ, in a single wing of three.
-Three Saeghah 80, in a single wing of three.
-Two Azararaksh and a two-seater F-5, in a single wing of three.
-Illushyn Il-76 AWACS
The message is clear: In spite of the sanctions, as well as parts and support embargoes, Iran has a capability to field a fighter defense, consisting of a variety of Western, Russian and Chinese aircraft. Moreover, this sense of self-sufficiency carries over to its ballistic missile forces, where for the first time the Qadr-1 MRBM was publicly introduced, and claimed to consist of domestically produced components.
Mark, I posted the list in the main body of the blog so the text would be searchable at Google and other search engines.
ReplyDeleteGreat information and observation! Thanks.
If I were Generalissimo of Iran:
ReplyDeleteMy primary consideration would be obtaining low-cost but effective armaments and maintaining a clear vision of the mission: To discourage attacks on the country.
1.) I would forego the indigenous military aircraft engineering program into the near future. That effort is enormously expensive and consumes much needed technical and skilled labor. I think most military specialists would agree that the Iranian Air Force, flying domestically produced aircraft would last about ninety minutes in head to head battles with Western air forces. They could probably give a respectable account of themselves but their training, equipment, and their supply of equipment is almost certainly inferior to most Western air forces and israel.
I would instead concentrate on purchasing well tested surface-to-air defense systems such as the TOR M1 or M2 from Russia or slightly less capable SPADA 2000 (Italy) or BAMSE systems from Bofors (Sweden). These are not necessarily the superior air defense systems of the world but they're highly capable and consideration must be given to the fact that American political pressure will be applied to any country considering the sale of air defense systems to Iran.
I think the Iranians could get far more bang for their buck by buying surface to air missile defense and radar systems rather than building grade "B" fighter aircraft using domestic design and engineering talent. Since their ultimate intention is to discourage and fend off attacks from Western air forces a well developed surface to air missile network will give foreign air force planners far more pause than the thought of confronting home-made Iranian aircraft face to face.
2.) Iran has a large population. I would concentrate on recruiting more people into the ground forces for specialized Infantry and Kommando training. There are some excellent, man portable, reasonably priced anti-armor weapon systems available on the world arms markets such as the RPG-29 from Russia, the Swedish AT4 or the Chinese PF 89 series. Large contingents of Iranian Kommando anti-armor squads or platoons would discourage land invasion of the country, and in the unlikely case that hostilities commence between the USA and Iran those forces could be infiltrated into neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan for operations against U.S. forces.
Iran's greatest resource vis-à-vis the Americans is manpower. If the Iranians develop their SAM air defense capabilities to a higher level and institute a crash special forces infantry training program concentrating on guerrilla and anti-armor tactics and weapons, they can confidently confront the American armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan -- if that should become necessary. Those options are cheaper, more effective and more logical in my opinion than getting sidetracked on engineering domestic high tech systems that fall short of Western equipment capabilities. The best vehicles and aircraft the Iranians can produce will likely be knocked out in short order during battle with American, other Western, or israeli forces. Thus it would be advisable for the Iranians to concentrate on their strength -- infantry. The Americans have pledged to stay in Iraq and Afghanistan into the near future. The Americans are short of troops and will continue to be short of troops due to the unpopularity of the war at home and their dependence on an all-volunteer army. With a significant force of highly trained, well-armed, anti-armor Kommando units at their disposal the Iranians could seriously harass American ground forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Even if the Americans did manage to own the skies, and that would not be a simple matter if the Iranians upgraded their SAM systems, the Iranians could continue to punish American ground forces in response to American air attacks. An American land invasion of Iran is out of the question now given the strength of U.S. ground forces. But an increased level of special forces infantry units in the Iranian army or IRGC would permit the Iranians to strike hard and continually at the American army outside of Iran.
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Mark Konrad,
ReplyDeleteIranian doing a good job.
Its good for Iran to concern more on SAM aset & technologies. However, since Iranian have a good facility, example and manpower in aviation section the project to developed own aircraft is a future plan. The so-called gred "B" aircraft just a begining (mile stone).
Hopefully Iranian can remanufactured and upgrade the lagendary F-14A Tomcat, especially AWG-9 radar and GE-F14 Engine.