The Chinese and Russian nuclear deterrence structures that you mentioned - those names are translated and so we cannot be sure on their intentions. But that is not my point.
The Fateh-313 is still not an artillery rocket. Most commentators wouldn't even describe it as a rocket, since it is guided. Guided rockets are generally called missiles in the defence community (weapon classifications are not clear cut as you proved, so please don't bring up any dictionary definitions).
An artillery rocket is generally a short range (<50 km) unguided rocket. Prime example is the Katyusha. They are designed to saturate an area with a lot of firepower.
The Fateh-313 has a 500 km and is very accurate.
Again, it doesn't matter. Besides, Vevek onl referred to Fateh 110 in his post.
Interesting you should explain to me the difference between a rocket and a missile as the latter having guidance, right after I posted that the difference between the two is that the latter has guidance. And since this is a free webspace, I will bring up whatever material I choose. I have in previous posts already indicated how and for what rockets are used.
An artillery rocket is a rocket used in rocket artillery. Rocket artillery is a type of artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortars. That is, the term is defined by how and what for the rocket is used, not the physical characteristic of the rocket perse. The idea that an artillery rocket is of limited range, or can only do saturation fire is outdated. See the increased ranges, the introduction of e.g. GPS guided warheads, sometimes combined with the use of unitary warheads etc. The boundary with a tactical ballistic missile is increading blurred.
BM-30 Smerch > 80 km
9A52-4 Tornado > 100km
M270 G-MLRS > 120 km
Astros II / SS-150 > 150km
Weishi-1B (WS-1B) > 180km
Weishi-2 (WS-2) > 200-400km, depending on whether A/B/C/D version
Weishi SY-400 > 400km (specifically designed as a low cost alternative to ballistic missiles)
VEVAK was using Operation Kaman 99 as an example, in which the targets were decidedly non-stationary airfields.
Fatehs would be used to conduct precision strikes on aircraft shelters/bunkers (like in Kaman 99), as well as air defence radars/TELs and other targets within reach. They are not CAS aircraft or attack helicopters. So I don't know why you were saying they should do the job of them.
IMO, the qualitative edge missiles grant is indispensable. Difference is that we prefer ballistic types, whereas the American doctrine uses cruise missiles. Missiles can be used to take out the high value tactical targets I mentioned, and also heavily defended strategic targets like oil faculties.
A good use of missiles and air force would be for the missiles to pin down the enemy early on, granting breathing space for the air force. If everything goes to plan, the air force does not need to worry about ground based air defences, because the missiles will have destroyed them. They would also face a weakened enemy air force due to strikes on command & control and aircraft on the ground. The missiles would aid the air force in gaining air superiority (and in turn, hopefully, air supremacy), and from thereon in, the air force can delivery the real heavy firepower, because in the long run bombs dropped by aircraft are cheaper than single use missiles.
I didn't start an off-topic discussion on the relative merits of F-5 or of the capabilities if Iran's military industrial complex. Or of the relative merit of wikipedia versus e.g a regular encyclopedia or any others source (while neglecting that this is a webforum and not the writing of an academic paper, to which different standards might well apply e.g. because looking up something from an encyclodepia - any encyclopedia - does not constitute 'literature review'). Or that I suggested Iran had or should have huge numbers of F-5 or F-5 derived aircraft. All BS points.
When he looses poor attitude, we can discuss friendly.
As for you own reply
What exactly are 'decidedly non-stationary airfields'? Mobile airfields? Like runways, bunkers and permanent radar/tel positisions are stationary (radars and tels themselves may be more mobile)
Indeed, rockets/missile are not CAS aircraft or attack helicopters. But if one suggests to advanced rocket artillery or tactical ballistic missiles are better to have than tactical fighter ground-attack aircraft, one does have to solve the problem of how to deal with fleeting targets ujsing missiles/rockets.
The F-5A first flew in 1959 and the F-5E in 1972. So, in essence a late 1950s design. Both Fateh-110 and -313 date to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Clearly, today, after 40 more years of developments rockets and missiles are capable of more than they were in the late 1950s. So, yes, some roles previously performed by aircraft from those days can now also be conducted with rockets/missiles, perhaps some even better. Then again, a modern light fighter in the weightclass of the F-5, like.g. the South Korean T-50 based TA-50 and FA-50, or armed Aeromacchi M-346/Yak130, Hongdu JL-15,
and Guizhou JL-9 (FTC-2000) can be very usefull and capable assets e.g. in ground attack (light strike, CAS) with PGMs and targeting pods but also in air defence (e.g. to protect airfields, or to take care of leakers coming through a screen of heavier air defence fighters) particularly using longer range IIRH or ARH missiles in combination with IRST. The trainers of today can do things the trainers of the 1950s ara wouldn't be able to do. This applies even to slower ones like L-159 Alca or Hawk 100/200.
But let me suggest you go back to how the discussion with Vevek got started. Because HE took it very much off course because of HIS chip on HIS shoulder.
The Chinese and Russian nuclear deterrence structures that you mentioned - those names are translated and so we cannot be sure on their intentions. But that is not my point.
See for yourself using the website of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation:
_________________________________________________________________
Sergei Karakaev Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, colonel general
http://eng.mil.ru/en/management/types_of_troops.htm
Каракаев Сергей Викторович Командующий Ракетными войсками стратегического назначения, генерал-полковник
http://structure.mil.ru/management/types_of_troops.htm
Karakayev Sergey Viktorovich Commander of the Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel-General
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&u=http://structure.mil.ru/management/types_of_troops.htm&edit-text=
The
Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) are an Arm of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the main component of its Strategic Nuclear Forces (SNF).
http://eng.mil.ru/en/structure/forces/strategic_rocket.htm
Ракетные войска стратегического назначения (РВСН) — род войск Вооруженных Сил Российской Федерации (ВС РФ), главный компонент ее стратегических ядерных сил (СЯС).
http://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/strategic_rocket.htm
(nb. note the use of ROCKET in the url)
Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN) - branch of the Armed Forces (the Armed Forces), a major component of its strategic nuclear forces (SNF).
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=nl&ie=UTF-8&u=http://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/strategic_rocket.htm&edit-text=
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Chinese themselves (MoD) actually speak of the 'PLA Rocket Force'.
http://eng.mod.gov.cn/ArmedForces/second.htm
Alternatively, they use 'Second Artillery Corps' . Check the URL above (second.htm > about PLA-RF). See also:
"Song Zhongping, a Beijing-based military expert who served in the
Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army (
now the Rocket Force), said that military cooperation between China and Syria has a long history."
http://eng.mod.gov.cn/DefenseNews/2016-08/19/content_4714992.htm
Ask my friends over at CDF (China-Defence.com) and see also
http://fas.org/nuke/guide/china/agency/2-corps.htm
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Second-Artillery-Corps.html
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