Combat aircraft

T

HE 2017 EXERCISE, which

took place on October 31 and

November 1, saw participation

by 57  xed-wing aircraft and

one helicopter from eight

tactical  ghter bases and two

tactical transport bases. The objective was

not only to increase personnel readiness

but also to test new weapons and tactics.

As in previous years, the IRIAF  ghter-

bombers practised combat tactics in

a jamming environment, but this time

missions were  own both day and night.

The main participants were 43  ghters,

comprising seven F-4E Phantom IIs,

 ve F-5E Tiger IIs,  ve F-5Fs, three F-5E

Saeghes, an F-5F Saeghe II, two F-7Ns,

three FT-7Ns, six F-14A Tomcats, three

MiG-29UBs and three Su-24MKs. Among

these,  ve F-4Es from the 3rd Tactical

Fighter Base (TFB.3) at Nojeh (Shahrokhi),

and  ve F-7N/FT-7Ns and six F-14As from

TFB.8 at Babaiee (Khatami), took part from

their home bases. All other  ghters were

deployed from their bases to TFB.8 in

Isfahan on October 28-29.

TFB.8 was a suitable base for guest

F-4Es, Saeghes and F-5E/Fs, but was less

well equipped for the Russian-made

MiG-29s and Su-24s. Two Il-76TDs and

three C-130E/H Hercules of the 1st and 7th

Independent Tactical Transport Bases were

used to transport ground equipment and

crews as well as armament and spare parts

for the ‘Fulcrums’ and ‘Fencers’ to Isfahan

from Tehran, Tabriz and Shiraz.

Throughout the exercise one of two

airworthy IRIAF KC-707s (Boeing 707-3J9C)

and the sole airworthy KC-747 (Boeing

747-131F) tanker were employed to

provide aerial refueling support. One of

two EC-707s (Boeing 707-3J9Cs) and an

RC-130H electronic intelligence/signals

intelligence (ELINT/SIGINT) aircraft were

used as airborne command posts as

well as for monitoring airspace around

This image:

A rare outing by

the 31st TRS saw

this single RF-4E

participating in

the ‘Devotees of

Velayat’s Territory’

exercise. Note

that it carries an

old AN/ALQ-101

jamming pod.

Abbasi

Inset: FT-7N serial

3-7725 fl ew both

ground attack

and interceptor

missions.

Akbar Tavakkoli

http://www.combataircraft.net // February 2018 43

42-49 Iran Exercise C.indd 43 13/12/2017 14:41