Top Gun aircraft are seized from US museums in ‘paranoia’ raids - The Orange Mane

alkemical · 03-14-2007, 09:31 AM

Top Gun aircraft are seized from US museums in ‘paranoia’ raids

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1490128.ece

Top Gun aircraft are seized from US museums in ‘paranoia’ raids

Federal US agents have seized disabled F14 fighter jets from museums in California because of fears that parts would be sold to Iran.

The raids reflect the nervousness that is driving policy towards the Islamic republic at a time when the US has stationed two aircraft carriers in the Gulf and is alleging that Iranian Revolutionary Guards are aiding attacks on its soldiers in Iraq. One European diplomat described the raids as evidence of American paranoia.

The F14 Tomcat fighters, made famous by the film Top Gun,had been sawn in half and welded together before being sold by the Ventura naval base as scrap metal in 2005 for as little as $2,000 (£1,000) apiece. Three ended up in museums at Chino Airport, while a fourth was acquired as a prop by producers of the TV show JAG.

Although there is no evidence that the aircraft had been plundered for parts, US customs conducted a 17-month operation to stop any components from entering the black market. Iran’s ageing squadron of F14s dates to before the 1979 Revolution and Tehran has become increasingly desperate to find spare parts despite a US arms embargo against it.

The Pentagon has said repeatedly that Iran’s military could seek to wreck the world’s economy by closing the Strait of Hormuz through which much of the West’s oil supplies are shipped.

(Cont'd on site)

Bronco Bob · 03-14-2007, 11:12 AM

Isn't Iran making their own homegrown jet fighters anyway? It would seem
after the Iraq-Iran war all the other things that have gone on since 1979
that Iran probably doesn't have too many F-14s left over anyway.

elsid13 · 03-14-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bronco Bob

Isn't Iran making their own homegrown jet fighters anyway? It would seem
after the Iraq-Iran war all the other things that have gone on since 1979
that Iran probably doesn't have too many F-14s left over anyway.

CNN was reporting that the F14 is actually one of thier main stays and most advance fighters..

elsid13 · 03-14-2007, 08:03 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic...Iran_Air_Force
Post Iran Iraq War
Immediately after the end of Iran-Iraq War, the IRIAF was partially re-built by limited purchases of MiG-29 fighters and Su-24 bombers from the Soviet Union, as well as F-7M and FT-7 fighters from China. While a welcome reinforcement, these types never replaced the older, U.S.-built F-4 Phantoms or F-14 Tomcats (now the only air arm in the world to continue using the fighter), or even Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs. Instead, the IRIAF continued efforts to maintain these types in service, and began a number of projects with the intention to refurbish and upgrade them.
A Russian attempt to sell a large number of MiG-27s, MiG-31s, and Tupolev Tu-22Ms to Iran, launched in 1993, was spoiled by a lack of interest and money on the part of Iran. Since 2000, on multiple occasions, MiG-31s are rumoured to have been seen in Iran's airspace, though no official declaration confirming this has been made by the IRIAF.
In the early 1990s, Iran signed a military contract with the USSR to purchase an unknown number of Su-27s; the delivery of the planes wasn't completed for more than a decade due to US pressure. Recently, Iran is rumoured to have received an unknown variant of the Su-27. Unconfirmed reports reveal their deployment at air bases in Tabriz.

Bronco Bob · 03-14-2007, 08:35 PM

Actually I was referring to the Azarakhsh jet fighter that Iran is building.
Iran only has 20 of the F-14s left, in unknown condition. Even
if they were to get all 20 operational it wouldn't seem that there would
be enough to be all that effective in a war.
Apparently Iran is gong full scale production on the Azarakhsh, with plans
to even export some of them to other middle eastern countries like Syria.

Spider · 03-14-2007, 08:38 PM

over reacting titty fed woosies

cutthemdown · 03-15-2007, 01:57 AM

we only wish we could fight these guys in the air lol. Our airforce would absolutly kill any other countries air force in the air. Combine that with are exceptional Navy pilots on carriers and its a mismatch in skill. Throw them in an f-16 or an f-18 and soon the f-22 and its a blowout. But I guess we still have to have really advanced fighters even though no one will really challenge us. Iran has really concentrated on tons of SAM missle sites to try to counter our obvious advantage in the air.

cbs1177 · 03-15-2007, 02:10 AM

I guess next target is indenpence day movie props. who knows. I mean come on.

03-14-2007, 09:31 AM	#1
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,696 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	Top Gun aircraft are seized from US museums in ‘paranoia’ raids Top Gun aircraft are seized from US museums in ‘paranoia’ raids http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1490128.ece Top Gun aircraft are seized from US museums in ‘paranoia’ raids Federal US agents have seized disabled F14 fighter jets from museums in California because of fears that parts would be sold to Iran. The raids reflect the nervousness that is driving policy towards the Islamic republic at a time when the US has stationed two aircraft carriers in the Gulf and is alleging that Iranian Revolutionary Guards are aiding attacks on its soldiers in Iraq. One European diplomat described the raids as evidence of American paranoia. The F14 Tomcat fighters, made famous by the film Top Gun,had been sawn in half and welded together before being sold by the Ventura naval base as scrap metal in 2005 for as little as $2,000 (£1,000) apiece. Three ended up in museums at Chino Airport, while a fourth was acquired as a prop by producers of the TV show JAG. Although there is no evidence that the aircraft had been plundered for parts, US customs conducted a 17-month operation to stop any components from entering the black market. Iran’s ageing squadron of F14s dates to before the 1979 Revolution and Tehran has become increasingly desperate to find spare parts despite a US arms embargo against it. The Pentagon has said repeatedly that Iran’s military could seek to wreck the world’s economy by closing the Strait of Hormuz through which much of the West’s oil supplies are shipped. (Cont'd on site)

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03-14-2007, 11:12 AM	#2
Bronco Bob Tastee Freeze Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 9,464 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Bailey	Isn't Iran making their own homegrown jet fighters anyway? It would seem after the Iraq-Iran war all the other things that have gone on since 1979 that Iran probably doesn't have too many F-14s left over anyway.

03-14-2007, 08:03 PM	#4
elsid13 Lost In Space Bóg, Honor, Ojczyzna Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: DC Posts: 19,096	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic...Iran_Air_Force Post Iran Iraq War Immediately after the end of Iran-Iraq War, the IRIAF was partially re-built by limited purchases of MiG-29 fighters and Su-24 bombers from the Soviet Union, as well as F-7M and FT-7 fighters from China. While a welcome reinforcement, these types never replaced the older, U.S.-built F-4 Phantoms or F-14 Tomcats (now the only air arm in the world to continue using the fighter), or even Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs. Instead, the IRIAF continued efforts to maintain these types in service, and began a number of projects with the intention to refurbish and upgrade them. A Russian attempt to sell a large number of MiG-27s, MiG-31s, and Tupolev Tu-22Ms to Iran, launched in 1993, was spoiled by a lack of interest and money on the part of Iran. Since 2000, on multiple occasions, MiG-31s are rumoured to have been seen in Iran's airspace, though no official declaration confirming this has been made by the IRIAF. In the early 1990s, Iran signed a military contract with the USSR to purchase an unknown number of Su-27s; the delivery of the planes wasn't completed for more than a decade due to US pressure. Recently, Iran is rumoured to have received an unknown variant of the Su-27. Unconfirmed reports reveal their deployment at air bases in Tabriz.

03-14-2007, 08:35 PM	#5
Bronco Bob Tastee Freeze Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 9,464 Adopt-a-Bronco: Champ Bailey	Actually I was referring to the Azarakhsh jet fighter that Iran is building. Iran only has 20 of the F-14s left, in unknown condition. Even if they were to get all 20 operational it wouldn't seem that there would be enough to be all that effective in a war. Apparently Iran is gong full scale production on the Azarakhsh, with plans to even export some of them to other middle eastern countries like Syria.

03-14-2007, 08:38 PM	#6
Spider Mr Diplomacy I survived Tebow Mania at the Mane Join Date: May 2001 Location: Elway was just an arm =MacGruder Posts: 84,438 Adopt-a-Bronco: Von Miller	over reacting titty fed woosies

03-15-2007, 01:57 AM	#7
cutthemdown A verbis ad verbera Zimm to HOF Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Beach Posts: 32,531	we only wish we could fight these guys in the air lol. Our airforce would absolutly kill any other countries air force in the air. Combine that with are exceptional Navy pilots on carriers and its a mismatch in skill. Throw them in an f-16 or an f-18 and soon the f-22 and its a blowout. But I guess we still have to have really advanced fighters even though no one will really challenge us. Iran has really concentrated on tons of SAM missle sites to try to counter our obvious advantage in the air.

03-15-2007, 02:10 AM	#8
cbs1177 Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,209	I guess next target is indenpence day movie props. who knows. I mean come on.