500 jets for Tehran? Srsly?
Since the fall of the Shah, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has been stuck in 1979. Sure they have cranked out a few indig designs but those have just really been for propaganda purposes. The last big influx of foreign combat aircraft they got (24 Mirage F1s, 30 MiG-29s, 30 Su-24/25s) was in 1990 when half of Saddam’s jets beat feet ahead of Shock and Awe and Tehran said, “Thanks for the donation!”
IRIAF Mirage
Other than those aging and hard to maintain (sanctions) warbirds, the Iranians have become pretty adept at keeping a handful (100~ operational of all types) of the Shah’s F-14s, F-4s and F-5s in the air by hook or crook.
But now with the sanctions falling away, the mullahs are a-shopping.
Iran will reportedly allow China to develop its largest oilfield for two decades in return for the delivery of 24 Chengdu J-10 fourth-generation multi-role fighter jets under a deal estimated to be worth $1 billion, the Taiwan-based Want Daily newspaper reported.
The J-10 is very F-16/Grippen-like and is reportedly based (ironically) on the Israeli Lavi program fighter concept.
Speaking of Israel, Debka is reporting that another 150 J-10s are on the table for Iran through outright purchase.
And they have this gem:
Iran has additionally weighing the purchase in Moscow of 250 highly-advanced Sukhoi-Su-30MK1 twinjet multirole air superiority fighters, known in the West as Flanker-H.
The IRIAF is also looking into the possibility of picking up surplus Mirage 2000 5-EI fighters from France.
So if you add it up, Iran could be looking at 500~ new combat aircraft according to reports.
Of course they would have to shit out 300~ or so new combat pilots while type qualifying everyone they have now on the new jets, and set up a huge infrastructure system to support it all from suppliers with less than stellar post-sale support, but hey, why poke holes in balloons.