IRIB or the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that on 8th June an Iranian fighter
jet developed a “technical problem” that killed both of the aircraft's pilots.
The aircraft was the US-made F-5 fighter and the mishap took place at an airbase near the
city of Dezful.
Dezful is 444 km or 270 miles from the capital, Tehran and near the border with Iraq.
IRIB did not provide further details on the nature of the incident and Iranian media do
not specify if the plane crashed.
The TV said it happened before takeoff.
It did not elaborate.
As per reports, the investigation was underway to ascertain the cause for the malfunction
of the fighter jet.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes how Iran's air force is falling apart?
Let's get started
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The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed
as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation.
There are two main models, the original F-5A and F-5B Freedom Fighter variants and the
extensively updated F-5E and F-5F Tiger II variants.
The design team wrapped a small, highly aerodynamic fighter around two compact and high-thrust
General Electric J85 engines, focusing on performance and a low cost of maintenance.
Smaller and simpler than contemporaries such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, the
F-5 cost less to procure and operate, making it a popular export aircraft.
Though primarily designed for a day air superiority role, the aircraft is also a capable ground-attack
platform.
The F-5A entered service in the early 1960s.
During the Cold War, over 800 were produced through 1972 for U.S. allies.
It is powered by 2 General Electric J85-GE-21 afterburning turbojet engines developing 3,500
lbf (16 kN) thrust each dry, 5,000 lbf (22 kN) with afterburner.
The aircraft has a maximum speed of Mach 1.63, a range of 554 mi or 891 km and a service
ceiling: 51,800 ft or 15,800 m
The fighter has 7 hardpoints - 2 wing-tip AAM launch rails, 4 under-wing & 1 under-fuselage
pylon stations with a capacity of 7,000 pounds or 3,200 kg
Viewers may note that relation between U.S and Iran was not like this earlier.
The Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) received extensive U.S. equipment in the 1960s and
1970s.
Iran received its first 11 F-5As and two F-5Bs in February 1965 which were then declared
operational in June 1965.
Ultimately, Iran received 104 F-5As and 23 F-5Bs by 1972.
From January 1974 with the first squadron of 28 F-5Fs, Iran received a total of 166
F-5E/Fs and 15 additional RF-5As with deliveries ending in 1976.
While receiving the F-5E and F, Iran began to sell its F-5A and B inventory to other
countries, including Ethiopia, Turkey, Greece and South Vietnam; by 1976, many had been
sold, except for several F-5Bs retained for training purposes.
F-5s were also used by the IIAF's aerobatic display team, the Golden Crown.
Iran voted by national referendum to become an Islamic republic on 1 April 1979, the event
was known as the Iranian revolution.
Already complicated relation between U.S and Iran went downhill and American supply was
unavailable.
The new Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) was partially successful at keeping
Western fighters in service during the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s and the simple F-5 had a
good service readiness until late in the war.
Initially, Iran took spare parts from foreign sources; later it was able to have its new
aircraft industry keep the aircraft flying.
IRIAF F-5s were heavily involved, flying air-to-air and air-to-ground sorties.
Iranian F-5s took part in air combat with Iraqi MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-20/22, Mirage
F-1 and Super Etendards.
During the first years of service, Iranian F-5 fighter aircraft had the advantage in
missile technology, using advanced versions of the IR seeking Sidewinder, later lost with
deliveries of new missiles and fighters to Iraq.
Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company currently produces three aircraft, the Azarakhsh,
Saeqeh, and Kowsar, derived from the F-5.
Iranian Air Force posses a lot of different fighters.
There are around 190 fighter aircraft such as US-made Northrop F5s, F-4 Phantom II, Grumman
F-14 and Russian-made Sukhoi Su-22, Sukhoi Su-24, and MiG-29.
The MiG-29 is the most modern fighter and Iran operates approximately only 25 of these.
The air-to-air missiles equipping fighters are old.
So, it is not that only the F-5s are venerable and not available in optimal quantity, the
whole air force is in bad shape
Decades of Western sanctions have made it hard to maintain the aging fleet.
It is likely that slowly the air force will degrade further.
Tehran presented its indigenous fighter named IAIO Qaher-313 on February 2, 2013, but there
is limited progress and it is unlikely to be a viable combat aircraft anytime soon.
Air superiority is the most important element in deciding the outcome of modern conventional
war.
It is the situation when a military force is able to conduct air operations without
prohibitive interference by the opposing force.
If a military doesn’t control the air, tactical maneuvers on land & sea become extremely difficult.
So, it natural that major militaries in the world have put a lot of effort into developing
a strong air force.
Iran's air force has a lot of problems both in terms of quality and quantity.
It is in no position to sustain an aerial confrontation with a major power.
While Iran's leadership puts up a brave face in public and gives provocative statements
for the domestic public's consumption, it knows it is in no position to sustain a war
with U.S or Israel.