iran IRIAF F-14A - The Persian Tomcats

[OsO73 491]

IRIAF F-14A

An introduction:

The F-14 is without a doubt one of the most iconic aircraft of the Cold war, today i bring you its only export user...Iran, this suggestion is made for the IRIAF F-14As and AMs (modernization), as it could be an interesting addition to game, specially considering the aircraft could use some of the "Improvised" and modified Iranian missiles, while also having the AIM-9, AIM-7 and AIM-54 among other armament. The placement of the aircraft could be sorted as a premium or event vehicle in the US tech tree, as this aircraft has no relation to any other nation in game. Players might find this F-14A very similar to the US examples, but its worth noting that this aircraft were mostly used for the interception role, as they are mostly armed for air to air engagements, with little choices in terms of Ground attack aside from regular dumb bombs and some iranian guided munitions. Nonetheless, this F-14A would be a deadly opponent on WT, as its great selection of missiles and exceptional maneuverability would make it dangerous at any range.

 

History and service: 

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The story of the F-14 itself won't be covered on this suggestion, since we will focus on the Iranian side of the story.

 

Were do we begin?
The story of the Iranian search for an fast and powerful interceptor dates back to the 50s & 60s, when Iran and the US conducted reconnoissance flights inside USSR territory, the response to this incursions were similar incursions by Soviet aircraft into Iranian territory or the shot-down of the intruder (things that happened often). With time passing and the IRIAF receiving F-4 Phantoms, the reconnoissance variants were sent to intrude into USSR territory, the soviet answer came in the form of the Mig-25...a plane that the F-4Ds couldn't catch. As flights of Mig-25s began to be more common...the IIAF requested an interceptor capable enough to deal with the Soviet intruders.

 

On the look for an interceptor

The IIAF (Imperial Iranian Air Force) had interest on the F-111 since the end of the 60s, the US would not allow a sale of this aircraft as they would offer a decent number of F-4D Phantom II(s). At the same time the pentagon was ditching the use of the F-111B as a carrier interceptor, Grumman response would be to present a new design for this, new the aircraft was envisioned as a platform that could deal with every Soviet aircraft or cruise missile, as it was going to be equipped with the powerful AN/AWG-9 radar and the extremely long range AIM-54 Phoenix Air-Air missiles, this new aircraft would be known as the F-14 tomcat.

 

Iran would enter the picture when Grumman started having issues with cost overruns, delays and financial problems attributed to inflation. The company went on the look for a customer to alleviate the financial pressure they were suffering. By October of 1971 Grumman had stablished their first contacts with the Iranian Government, after visits from Iranian personnel, the Sha himself would lay interest on the aircraft. This would lead to a formal contact with the pentagon to request the F-14 the US Government would also offer a demonstration of the F-15A. The IIAF would study both examples, they would recognize the Eagle to be a deadly aircraft, but the AIM-54/AWG-9 combo was seen as superior...in reality, the eagle was never seen an option as the IIAF wanted the F-14.

 

The Sha on the cockpit of an F-14

 

The contract would be signed on 1974, this 300 Million deal included 30 aircraft, spares, engines, and the armament package (including more than 400 AIM-54 missiles). This wasn't the only deal, as a few months later, the Iranian government would order 50 more aircraft and 290 more AIM-54s among other equipment (A total of a 2 Billion deal). The same year the Iranian deal was signed US congress had cut financing to the F-14 program, Grumman was at the brink of bankruptcy, and only the Iranian deal was able to save it and the program itself. 

 

Workers of Grumman pictured with the first Iranian F-14 to come out of the factory (note the IRST sensor, that would not be fitted to the rest of the fleet)

 

TomCat VS Ali-Cat:

There are various theories and versions regarding the differences between the US Navy and IIAF F-14s, some claim that the aircraft and the missiles sold to Iran were inferior to the ones used by the US, but this is very far from the truth. Various differences can be seen between the two, but most of which are attributed to the requirements of the IIAF, with the exception of the propulsion of this, as even though the IIAF requested the F-14 with the more reliable F-100 engines, they would only be offered with TF-30-414 that were less powerful and not that reliable as the F-100s. Another system to be dropped was te AN/ALR-23 IRST sensor, as the IIAF saw it as unreliable and lacking in capability, they would wait for the Northrop AN/AXX-1 Television Camera Set, but this would never come to the Iranian Tomcats. Still the aircraft would be equipped with the secret APX-81-M1E IFF receiver, the same AWG-9 radar and identical armament load-outs. 

 

 

First years:

As the IIAF F-14s entered service, the overflights by Soviet Mig-25s continued, on one occasion in 1975 the IIAF F-4Ds managed to score a hit on one of them with an AIM-7 missile, but the wounded aircraft crashed after re entering the Soviet union. Some time after this, one of the Iranian reconnoissance F-4s would be shot down over the soviet union. Within a Year the first live test of the F-14s would take place when various drones were used to simulate the flight of the Mig-25s while the iranian aircraft would engage them, of the 5 drones, 4 were shot down by AIM-54 while the last failed as the missile suffered a mechanical failure. Within weeks of this event we will see the first encounter of the Foxbat and the Tomcat over Iran, where the Iranian aircraft managed to get a lock on the intruder who was going at an extremely high altitude while also going at mach 2. After this event, the Soviet union would stop sending aircraft, Iran would follow the same route. As years passed, more F-14As were added to the IIAF inventory, along with spares, armament and more important assets, like tankers and other support units for the operation of this new Weapon system.

 

Examples still with American markings before being sent to Iran.

 

The 1979 Revolution and the new IRIAF:

The actions of the Sha and its political, Economic and social choices would create a discontent from a part of the Iranian people, this would increase every year. This would reach a peak in 1979 when an all out revolution exploded in the country, this new islamic regime under the guidance of Ruhollah Khomeini would consider itself an enemy of the Sha and who were its allies, mainly the US. Caught in between all of this the order for 80 F-14As that was about to be completed stopped at 77 units were delivered, with the 3 remaining being left in the US. Fearing the worst, pilots, technicians and most people involved in the Deal of the F-14s escaped the country, while who remained were abducted and jailed by the Revolutionary guard, and trailed for corruption and treason. While the US technicians departed Iran, some tried to sabotage the F-14s and the AIM-54 missiles, but failed to do so.

 

While the new islamic government finishing settling in the country, the US desperately tried to find a way to solve this problem, negotiating to buy the Tomcats back, some authorities in Iran considered it a feasible way of getting rid of the costly interceptors, but after the occupation of the US embassy in Iran, relations broke, and the F-14 fleet was slowly brought back to operation. During the 30th of April 1980 in a failed rescue of the US hostages in Iran, the American helicopters would come under strafing fire by 2 F-14A from the IRIAF, this would be the first combat action taken by the Iranian Tomcats, but it would also be kept secret to not alarm the US about the readiness of the Tomcat fleet.

 

The Clash of the 80s:

As the 80s begun, tensions between Iran and Iraq rose to the point of skirmishes, and later...total war, this was certainly a complex situation for the slowly rebuilding F-14 Fleet, one that had unexperienced crews, a very small number of technicians, and only an extremely small number of airframes that were operational. This would "Force the hand" of the Iranians, work on the F-14s would increase to bring as much planes back to operation, this along with crews flying more sorties and proper service of the aircraft being done by well trained technicians made a notable increase in the reliability of the fleet.

 

The first combat action of the Iran-Iraq war that would involve the F-14s would the showdown of an Iraqi Mi-25 helicopter, this being the first shot-down of the war, followed by a Mig-23 almost a week later. With time passing and more units operational, the F-14 fleet would start to show more and more results, shooting down a large number of Iraqi aircraft and even making their formations retreat upon detecting the F-14s. As Iraq pressed with missile attacks and more aircraft, the Iranian government released more and more technicians and tomcat pilots from prison to increase the availability of the F-14s and thus get more coverage, as a result of this, the Fleet rapidly increased its numbers and got speed up the servicing of their aircraft.

 

Operations during the war would see the F-14 at their maximum potential, making use of the AWG-9 and the deadly AIM-54, making themselves responsible of the destruction of a large number of aircraft, while also making the Iraqi aircraft cautious of their presence. This would take its toll on the costly interceptor, as spares for the aircraft were starting to get low in numbers, this forced the Iranian government to seek help from IACI (Iran Aircraft Industries), universities and other establishments, work began to reverse engineer things like wheels, brake systems and it soon followed to more complex parts and equipment to keep the tomcats running, since they were on need of a large amount of parts, thing that the ilegal market via US or others couldn't supply. The fleet would keep a decent number of aircraft during the war (in between 30 and 60 claimed), in between all of this, the iraqi forces began fielding a variety of more advanced aircraft, Mirage F-1, More modern Mig-23s and the old foe of the Tomcat....the Foxbat. This aircraft were able to inflict losses to the IRIAF, but their efforts would remain unable to challenge the Iranian Air Superiority. 

 

An F-14A with 2 Hawk missiles

 

As the war progressed, the Stock of AIM-54s became smaller, solutions proposed were to convert the MIM-34 into an air to air missile, thing that was done with the "Sky Hawk" project, that found the SAM hard to link with the F-14 radar, but managed to get some results (although out of this some time later a guided bomb would be conceived). The US would strike a secret plan to supply Iran with the equipment needed to properly serve the F-14 fleet and keep it operational for the duration of the War (IRAN-CONTRA Affair). Still most of the work for keeping the fleet with spares came from Iranian efforts to reverse engineer parts for this planes (this was evidenced on an example that defected and was studied by the US Gov, where they found an impressive number of parts made by the IACI that were acceptable for their use, while the US was on the look for Russian involvement (thing was never requested or done by the Iranians).

 

As the war came to a stalemate and then to an end, the F-14 fleet stayed at a total of 30 units operational, with half of their numbers being operation ready, the Tomcat had shown everything it had to offer, accomplishing a large variety of missions. Its safe to say that the IRIAF F-14As battled against all odds, and always consolidating a complete domination of the skies, even when outnumbered.

 

From the 90s to the 2000...to today:

The end of the war left a large scar on the fleet, the IRIAF tomcats had flew more than 50000 flight hours during the war, this meant that most units were required to be overhauled and worked on in efforts to keep the fleet operational for more years, thanks to the experience during the years of war, IACI was able to provide technicians, installations and the spares needed (with help from universities and others) to overhaul and maintain the aircraft. Iran would be prohibited to acquire more aircraft, thus why they would purchase a small number of Mig-29s to replace the losses suffered by the F-14s, its worth noting that the arrival of the Mig-29s would see the Homologation of Russian missiles into the F-14, with the R-27 being homologated and tested with mixed results. With years passing, the F-14 fleet would shrink given the complexity of their servicing or enlarge depending on the tensions the country had with its neighbors.

 

An image of the homologation of the R-27 missiles 

 

The M Variant? 

During recent recent years claims were made stating that a new modernization of the F-14A was taking place, what this "M" variant offered was support for more modern armament and avionics, this included indigenous versions of Short range AAMs and a reverse engineered version of the AIM-54 under the name Fakour-90, R-73 to name a few. The status of the Upgrade and how many aircraft were taken to this standard is unknown. Nonetheless, this new armament additions raise its capabilities to a standard thats on par with some modern fighters.

 

 

Specifications: 

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Crew: 2 

Dimensions:

Length: 19.1 m

Wingspan:

19.55 m (Spread)

11.58 m (Swept)

Height: 4.88 m

Wing Surface: 54.5 m²

 

Weight:

Empty weight: 19838 Kg

Loaded weight: 27700 Kg

Max takeoff weight: 33720 Kg

Engine: x2 Pratt & Whitney TF30

Power: 10800 Lbf of thrust (normal), 20900 Lbf (Afterburner)

 

Performance:

Max speed: 

1400 Km/h (Sea level)

2485 Km/h at high altitude.

Service ceiling: 15240(+) m

Climb-rate: 229 m/s

Range: 926 Km (Combat)

 

Armament:

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When it came to Armament, the Iranian F-14A, the armament choices were composed of:

 

Internal Guns: 1× 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan (675 rounds)

An a total of x10 Hard-points to carry:

 

MISSILES:

• AIM-9J and AIM-9P
• AIM-7E (E-4)
• AIM-54A
• AIM-23B (or sometimes referred as SAJIL)
• Fakour 90 (AIM-54 clone)
• Fatter (AIM-9 clone) (unconfirmed)
• R-27  (Test only)
• R-73  (unconfirmed)

 

BOMBS:

• Mk.82
• Mk.83
• Mk.84
• Yasser (unguided)
• Unidentified 3.5Tn bomb* (test only?)

 

ROCKETS:

• SUU20 training pod (FFAR)

 

 

 

Other Systems:

RADAR: AWG-9 

BALLISTIC COMPUTER: (Cannons, Bombs and rockets(?))

CHAFF/FLARES 

RWR

 

 

Photos:

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Pictures of the Test of the Yasser guided bomb/missile (Hawk with bomb warhead)

 

 

 

An example of the modernized (AM) standard

 

 

Sources:

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IRANIAN F-14 TOMCAT UNITS IN COMBAT - Tom Cooper & Farzad Bishop

Modern Military Aircraft (TOMCAT) - Lou Drendel

F-14 Tomcat Osprey Series - Lindsay Peacock 

https://pacificcoastairmuseum.org/aircraft/f-14a-tomcat/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney_TF30#Specifications_(TF30-P-100)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat#F-14A

http://www.anft.net/f-14/index.htm

https://jangaavaran.ir/7872-2/

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/in-the-1980s-iran-outfitted-f-14s-as-heavy-bombers-c9f05be6e6a0

 

 

Edited December 7, 2021 by OsO73

[super_cacti 1,071]

Open for discussion 

[eleks12 1,079]

If Iran is considered getting added like Isreal. Then sure.

[AspandaIV 376]

+1 but i'm not sure to put it in the US TT (the airframe and most of the original components are of American origin) or the Chinese TT (Iran's closest ally is China and Iran brought a lot of weapons from China) unlike the Iranian F-5's and their unlicensed derivatives

One other thing is that Iranian Air force Pilot Jalil Zandi is one of the highest scoring Iranian Aces with 8 confirmed Kills and another 3 possible kills, this also makes Zandi the most successful F-14 Ace
 

Edited December 7, 2021 by AspandaIV

[Milocat 4,857]

If we get some sort of Middle Eastern or Iranian tree, this definitely needs to be included.  +1.

[OsO73 491]

  On 07/12/2021 at 12:28, super_cacti said:

Open for discussion 

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Thank you !!!

[OsO73 491]

  On 07/12/2021 at 13:00, AspandaIV said:

+1 but i'm not sure to put it in the US TT (the airframe and most of the original components are of American origin) or the Chinese TT (Iran's closest ally is China and Iran brought a lot of weapons from China) unlike the Iranian F-5's and their unlicensed derivatives

One other thing is that Iranian Air force Pilot Jalil Zandi is one of the highest scoring Iranian Aces with 8 confirmed Kills and another 3 possible kills, this also makes Zandi the most successful F-14 Ace
 

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Initially i thought the IIAF/IRIAF F-14As would have more modifications to distinguish them from the ones used by the US, this will come in the form of certain limitations in Armament (No AIM-9L, AIM-7F, Walleye, or any LGBs). I dont think the placement in the US tree would be wrong, after all the Iranian F-14s mostly flew against Russian made aircraft (mig-23, 21,etc).

[Draco_Argentum 1,504]

I don't know how Iranian humor works but my Australian sense of humor says finding a way to put an IRAF F-14 in the US tree is hilarious.

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,350]

  On 07/12/2021 at 14:37, Milocat said:

If we get some sort of Middle Eastern or Iranian tree, this definitely needs to be included.  +1.

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That would be considered blasphemy for Arabs

Even though Iran is part of the Middle East, 99% of the region is Arabian and we all hate Iran. 

Edited December 8, 2021 by EpicBlitzkrieg87

[AspandaIV 376]

  On 08/12/2021 at 11:37, EpicBlitzkrieg87 said:

 

That would be considered blasphemy for Arabs

Even though Iran is part of the Middle East, 99% of the region is Arabian and we all hate Iran. 

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The only Arab TT where Iranian Aircraft would (sorta) fit is an Egypto-Syrian/UAR TT and that's only because Syria is the only Arab country that has positive relations with them

Otherwise either China or the US are the only logical options

[OsO73 491]

  On 08/12/2021 at 12:08, AspandaIV said:

The only Arab TT where Iranian Aircraft would (sorta) fit is an Egypto-Syrian/UAR TT and that's only because Syria is the only Arab country that has positive relations with them

Otherwise either China or the US are the only logical options

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I agree, its s pretty complicated aircraft to place in WT, still i would love to see it in game (specially with the modified Hawk missiles)

Edited December 8, 2021 by OsO73

[Borotovas 4,500]

+1

 

It should be in an Iranian tech tree.

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

If there's a pan-Arab/Middle Eastern tree added, sure.  Otherwise...eh, as weird as it might be to have Iranian F-14s flying alongside Americans, maybe an Iranian skin could be added to an American F-14A once added.  I would propose the livery of the plane flown by Jalil Zandi (the top F-14 ace) during the Iran-Iraq War.

[Borotovas 4,500]

  On 14/12/2021 at 21:36, Z3r0_ said:

If there's a pan-Arab/Middle Eastern tree added, sure.  Otherwise...eh, as weird as it might be to have Iranian F-14s flying alongside Americans, maybe an Iranian skin could be added to an American F-14A once added.  I would propose the livery of the plane flown by Jalil Zandi (the top F-14 ace) during the Iran-Iraq War.

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That wouldn't really work since this plane uses Iranian missiles and weapons that weren't used by the USAF.

 

And it would be strange if the USA got Iranian weapons.

 

It could work as an American premium and it would have the flag of Iran. However, it would work better if there was an Iranian mini-tech tree, much like how the Israeli tech tree is.

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

  On 15/12/2021 at 02:15, Borotovas said:

 

That wouldn't really work since this plane uses Iranian missiles and weapons that weren't used by the USAF.

 

And it would be strange if the USA got Iranian weapons.

 

It could work as an American premium and it would have the flag of Iran. However, it would work better if there was an Iranian mini-tech tree, much like how the Israeli tech tree is.

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Weapons that are basically copies of the original American ones iirc, including a domestically-produced AIM-54.

 

That said, I'm a bit cagey on the AIM-54's inclusion for now because most maps just aren't big enough for missiles like that.

Edited December 15, 2021 by Z3r0_

[Borotovas 4,500]

  On 15/12/2021 at 15:50, Z3r0_ said:

Weapons that are basically copies of the original American ones iirc, including a domestically-produced AIM-54.

 

That said, I'm a bit cagey on the AIM-54's inclusion for now because most maps just aren't big enough for missiles like that.

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I think Gaijin is increasing the size of jet maps. I was in a RB yesterday on Afghanistan, and the map was a lot bigger than before.

[Kingtiez@live 606]

  On 15/12/2021 at 18:23, Borotovas said:

 

I think Gaijin is increasing the size of jet maps. I was in a RB yesterday on Afghanistan, and the map was a lot bigger than before.

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I felt like the bigger maps are in preparation for longer range fights and even drop tanks in the near future, also with the possible additions of 4th generation aircraft like Tomcats, Foxhounds, MiG-29s and even F-16.

Edited January 20, 2022 by Kingtiez@live

[Borotovas 4,500]

  On 16/12/2021 at 15:52, Kingtiez@live said:

I felt like the bigger maps are in preparation for longer range fights and even drop tanks in the near future, also with the possible additions of 4th generation aircraft like Tomcats, Foxhounds, MiG-29s and even F-16.

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I can see drop tanks being useful in these battles, especially in the second stage of the battle.

 

I think that's also true. Those planes will be much faster, and their missiles will have a longer range. Some jet maps feel a little cramped anyway.

[oom1992 649]

+ Is super jet fighter early gen 4 and add to arab tech tree in the future.

[hienapunk 1,065]

As the jewel of the arab/iran air tree yes.

 

(Of course with American tomcat and other equivalent for other trees.)

[C0caC0laEspuma 1,404]

When we got Rank 8 jets and Rank 7 premiums +1

[不是很能抗压 1,265]

I'd willing to see where it will. 

+1

[Borotovas 4,500]

  On 09/11/2022 at 02:21, NoBombersInJetRB said:

When we got Rank 8 jets and Rank 7 premiums +1

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That's already going to happen in the "Apex Predators" update. I think it will be released in January or December.

 

So this could come as a premium for the USA. Or in an Iranian tech tree. The Iranian tech tree would be quite impressive.

[C0caC0laEspuma 1,404]

  On 12/12/2022 at 23:46, Borotovas said:

 

That's already going to happen in the "Apex Predators" update. I think it will be released in January or December.

 

So this could come as a premium for the USA. Or in an Iranian tech tree. The Iranian tech tree would be quite impressive.

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Probably, premium for USTT would be better because Iran's own aircraft are heavily influenced by American-made aircraft, such as the HESA Kowsar and Northrop F-5.

Also, Iranian tomcats didn't have all-aspect missiles like AIM-9Ls/Ms so, it would be not super hard to balance in the game.

Edited December 13, 2022 by NoBombersInJetRB

[Borotovas 4,500]

  On 13/12/2022 at 01:32, NoBombersInJetRB said:

Probably, premium for USTT would be better because Iran's own aircraft are heavily influenced by American-made aircraft, such as the HESA Kowsar and Northrop F-5.

Also, Iranian tomcats didn't have all-aspect missiles like AIM-9Ls/Ms so, it would be not super hard to balance in the game.

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I find it surprising how Iran managed to keep these aircraft running for so long, considering that the US cut support to Iran in 1979.

 

 

I wonder if any other aircraft from Iran could be added as "weapons-swap" planes.