begin familiarizing F-7N instructor pilots
in the use of rockets.
Another notable achievement was the
use of Mohajer-3 and Mohajer-4 UAVs for
target detection and live battle damage
assessment, a tactic that the IRIAF has
learnt from Russian Aerospace Forces
combat operations against IS and other
terrorist groups in Syria. This allowed
the participants to carry out quicker and
more precise close support and strike
missions against targets detected by the
UAVs on the gunnery range.
Finally, the IRIAF showcased its
emerging capability to drop bombs
from its C-130s. This was in response
to an ongoing project of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps Air and
Space Force (IRGCASF) that calls for the
development of an Iranian equivalent
to the US-made GBU-43/B Massive
Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), intended to
be delivered from its Il-76TD transports.
The main objective is to use the weapon
against IS in Syria.Above left to right:
F-14A serial
3-6029 returns
from an exercise
mission. Ali Khara
F-14A 3-6078,
loaded with a pair
of AIM-9Js and
AIM-7Es, launches
to provide top
cover for the
F-4Es during night
bombing.
Ali Khara
Right top to
bottom:
F-4Es of the 31st
TFS lay down
sticks of bombs
on the Anarak
range.
Ali Khara
An evocative dusk
photo of F-4E
pilots before a
night mission.
Ali Khara49
42-49 Iran Exercise C.indd 49 13/12/2017 14:41