BoloG 6 Posted November 25, 2015 Nine lives of Persian Cats. Translation from polish military news site. Source: http://www.konflikty.pl/aktualnosci/wiadomosci/iranskie-f-14-u-boku-tu-95sm/ Iranian F-14 Tomcats accompanied by Russian long-range Tu-95 SM bombers during raids on the infrastructure of the Islamic State. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation published on Saturday short video where we can see how Iranians Tomcats escort Russian bombers while dropping bombs in Syria. The first Iranian Tomcats were put into service at the time of Shah Reza Pahlavi, when the United States and the then Empire of Iran were allies. Service life of F-14 was extended until 2030 by installing a new local avionics, radar systems and weaponry. The upgraded machines fly, assisting Russian bombers near the Israeli-Syrian border. It is believed that the protection of the Tu-95 SM during combat operations is secondary task. Thanks to the intelligence ELINT equipment their primary job is to fly in Syrian airspace near the border with Israel and to collect data on an Israeli air defense system. Tehran believes that the operations of this nature are safer for pilots and machines instead of solo flights that could be at risk of shot down by Israeli air defense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slant6 21 Posted November 25, 2015 This is bad on several levels. The Russians are not bombing IS, they're just bombing anyone who is against Bashar al-Assad. As for "collecting data" on Israeli air defense, we can only hope one of these Tomcats strays a little too close and loses all of its 9 lives at once from an Israeli Hawk or Patriot battery. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 628 Posted November 25, 2015 and they think that the IDF\AF will let them collect data without doing anything someday and somehow? good for them :) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BoloG 6 Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) They probably think that presence of VVS long range assets will work as a umbrella for them. That s a good one, so are the Tomcats escorting Bears here or the Bears are escorting Tomcats. Every self respecting american Tomcat driver or RIO should be making facepalm right now. I think this were much simpler times: Regards. Edited November 25, 2015 by BoloG 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stratos 3,188 Posted November 25, 2015 and they think that the IDF\AF will let them collect data without doing anything someday and somehow? good for them :) You think IDF jets will enter Syrian air space to shoot down IRIAF planes? Sounds very unlikely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gepard 11,155 Posted November 25, 2015 The israelis are smart, in contrary to our "best friend" Erdogan. Why they should intervene in a conflict were all sides shooting each other? Its better to stay outside and look who wins. And then is time to act. No one minute earlier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Brain32 265 Posted November 25, 2015 This is bad on several levels. The Russians are not bombing IS, they're just bombing anyone who is against Bashar al-Assad. That is ISIS, unless you believe the "moderate opposition" fairy tales. As for the Tomcats and Tupolev I have to say it must be an amazing scene, seriously let's talk like aviation enthusiasts here, we are talking about Tu-MF'in-95 being escorted by Tomcats!!! I would expect such a scene only in alien attack movies lol 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 628 Posted November 25, 2015 Foreign reports say that IDF jets entered Syrian airspace and strike various targets over the years but who said they have to enter Syria to shoot down the Tomcats? ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viggen 643 Posted November 25, 2015 Not buying it for a minute. If it's the same video of Tomcats escorting Bears that I saw, than that footage was while over Iran. None of the F-14s were armed. Not even carrying fuel tanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeanba 1,920 Posted November 26, 2015 and they think that the IDF\AF will let them collect data without doing anything someday and somehow? good for them :) I think that the IDF will also you their big ears to get some potentially interesting data from those guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites