Iran Looking To Russia And China To Help Modernise Air Force

[Purveyor]

* Reports say Tehran is negotiating with Moscow and Beijing to buy 250 Su30s and 40 J-10s

BRUSSELS: Iran, seeking to bolster its air defences amid rising tensions over its nuclear programme, is likely to turn to Russia and China for the warplanes needed to replace its obsolete US jets, analysts say.

Both Moscow and Beijing refuse to comment on reports in the Israeli and Russian media, along with Western aviation publications, that Iran aims to order Russian Sukhoi Su-30 and Chinese Chengdu J-10 combat aircraft. But analysts note that Tehran is already committed to a sweeping modernizing programme for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) and that Tehran cannot obtain top-of-the-line jets from any other source due to a Western arms embargo. They also say that all three nations are very secretive when it comes to defence sales.

“It is clear that Iran has been trying for some time now to buy the last generation of jet fighters,” said Claude Moniquet, president of the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center, a Brussels-based think-tank. “Most of their equipment is from the 1970s, so they cannot confront a modern air force.” The Su-30 - a highly capable multi-role fighter-bomber - has been widely exported. Hundreds have been ordered by India, Malaysia, Algeria, China, Venezuela, Indonesia and Vietnam.

“Iran has got to get an air defence capability somewhere, and China and Russia are the best sources to get it from,” said Steven Trimble, Washington correspondent for the trade magazine Flight International. The magazine reported that Iran was negotiating to buy 250 Su30s and about 40 J-10s. Paradoxically, if Tehran succeeds in upgrading its air force, it may end up with technology from archenemy Israel. The J-10 is strikingly similar to Israel’s defunct Lavi fighter project. There has long been speculation that the Lavi’s technology somehow found its way to China.

“If reports (that Israel provided the technology to China) turned out to be true, it wouldn’t be particularly surprising or unexpected,” said Prof Gerald Steinberg, chairman of political sciences at Bar Ilan University, in Tel Aviv. “For Israel the international arms market is quite limited, and its only real customers are China, India and Turkey.” Mark Ayton, editor of Air Forces Monthly, said there have been a flurry of reports in recent months suggesting that IRIAF is close to signing a huge order with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms trader.

“This would be the largest single order ever placed for the (Su-30),” Ayton said. Russia has previously sold other advanced weaponry to Iran, including 24 MiG-29 interceptors, a dozen Su-24 attack jets, and several dozen short-range Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems. Iran’s Foreign Ministry would neither confirm nor deny on reports that Iran was seeking to purchase jets from Russia and China. “Cooperation between Iran, Russia and China is within the framework of international regulations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.

---EOE---

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C11%5C14%5Cstory_14-11-2007_pg4_14

[hack89]

1. Pretty shiny toys - nothing more

As many other third world countries have discovered, Iran will soon realize that the planes are the least important part of gaining a credible military capability. What distinguishes top notch modern air forces (NATO, Israel and Japan mainly, with India not far behind) from the rest is not the planes but the pilots. Which means tremendous cost in gas and maintenance to provide the necessary flight hours. The US and NATO standard is a minimum of 200 hours per year (not including combat hours) - Chinese pilots average about 100, Russian pilots a little more. Most third world countries find that the cost of keeping modern fighters operational and flight worthy is beyond their means.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

2. REPORTS FROM THE FUCKING ASSHOLES IN THE u.s. ADMINSTRATION,....

,...TRYING TO PERPETUATE THEIR PROFITEERING SCHEME!!!!!

These fuckers are going to MAKE a situation where this country is vulnerable.

They don't care.

[wuushew]

3. Has this story shown up any where besides the Times of Pakistan?

:shrug:

Not that I care if it was true, I have no problem with nations taking steps to oppose Israeli-American hegemony.

[Purveyor]

4. I've read and posted several articles in the past with the topic of Iran/China/Russia military

purchases and agreements.

The forum's searching software is quite limited so pointing you to those articles is nearly impossible.

The Russian sale of the TOR-M1 Air Defense System to Iran was quite well reported.

[Purveyor]

5. Now the Associated Press is running wire on this development. Link:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/13/europe/EU-GEN-Iran-Air-Force.php

[Perseid]

6. my understanding

is that they have been buying advanced weapons since at least 1999, and could destroy the 5th fleet in the event of an attack.

and then some........