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For years F14s have been the backbone of Iranian interceptor and air superiority fighter aircrafts. At beginning of Iran-Iraq war, most of these amazing fighters were geounded for lack of spare parts and also American advisors abandoning them. Put it beside sanctions on Iran, given the fact that no country in the World operated Tomcats except Iran and USA, it was truly hard for Iranian side to keep its F14 fleet Flight worthy and also finding spare parts for Tomcats in the black Market became an impossible task.
Those hard days ended and IRIAF leaders learnt a hard lesson from eight years war that no one will help them if a war against Iran happens again. They also learnt that whatever you make, even if technologically inferior to the opponent's airforce, its better to be an airforce operating locally made fighter jets, nothing beats the homemade ones.
So priorities of IRIAF was to keep its top Notch fighters airworthy beside developing local fighters until they reach a level of technology which would make them replace foreign fighter jets.
The First part was upgrading the F14 fleet and especially its avionics.
It was planned to completely overhaul F14s. A new radar and new missiles for this longer range radar.
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One specific capability was added to Iranian Tomcats which the purchased versions badly lacked. Anti ground/surface capability,
Nowadays we can surely claim that Iran is the sole operator of this beast which is only identical to American F14s. Every engine Components and every piece of its avionics are made in Iran.
Iranian replacement for Phoenix Aim54 missiles. Fakour 90, estimated range 180 KM.
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How many F 14 that Iran is still operating now ???