Forum: Air Power

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 10,00.html

The article pretty much states that. An Operation Opera in Iran's ground.

This sounds impossible to me, not only because they wouldn't really publicly announce it to anyone (remember Operation Opera - secret 'till the moment the bombs hit the ground), but also because of the distance of Israel from these installations.

What's your thoughts - if any ? It's comes from a relatively reliable newspaper, but it sounds downright improbable to my ears.

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All nations have hundreds of secret papers drawn up, "contingency plans", Israel will have dozens of plans to attack and defend against aggression from her neighbours. We can all guess at them but I can guarantee it will not be publicly known....

Sounds more like posturing and threat, designed to make IRAN "wobble" over it`s nuclear ambitions.

I do believe however, that Israel would certainly try to destroy the Iranian nuclear program if she feels particularly at risk... Israel is very resourceful, the range issue would be surmounted.

How will they get there though? Do their Eagles have the legs required for an all round trip with a meaningful payload? I know the Israelis are masters at reconfiguring and customizing, often just at the braking point of a given design, as is evident by their raid on Iraq's reactor, but this time it might just be too far for them to really do anything.

If it can be done, they are the ones that could do it...I salute their efforts, tough neighborhood they live it and they fight hard daily (I can not image what that must be like each and everyday of your life)....got to love that spirit and "can do" attitude.

Meathook , I agree with ya there, they will find a way if they need to... Read somewhere, might have been Yahoo news that IDF aircraft have been regularly flying to and from Gibraltar to prep` for a long range mission...Hmm, that could be rubbish or just operational stuff in co-operation with NATO forces.

Range issues? What range issues?

Reported radius of action of F-15I: 2,225 km (globalsecurity), 1,270 km (http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/airf.pdf)
ditto F-16I: 2,100 km (globalsecurity, http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/airf.pdf)

Only one known nuclear installation would be out of range.

straight shot is no problem getting there. But factor in avoiding radar sites, defense sites, and not pissing off every country in the middle east and it gets a little trickier dont you think. So yes i would say there are range issues.

Considering they go the conventional way (aka bombs over target) that's not enough for an all round trip, even without complications like fighters and SAM's.

Other possible scenarios I've heard are as followed.

Attack with it's Jericho-II (nuclear capable) IRBM - Estimated Range - 1,500-4,500 km with a 2,000 lb payload.

Attack from the sea using the Dolphin class (SSK) to launch a modified version of the Popeye Turbo cruise missile from it's wide torpedo tubes - Estimated Range - 1,500 km with a 200 kg nuclear payload.

Attack from the air using F-15's or F-16's to launch an air version of the Popeye Turbo cruise missile - Estimated Range 200-350 km.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/ ... 65,00.html

just some of the issues to be dealt with. I don't see it happening. Not without US help.

Good map Lasse, I liked it.

If it ever comes to it, I know (or feel) the US would back them (just my gut feeling on it) after all, we helped them become recognized (helped train and equip them too) in the world and I think the Arab world has been ticked off at us ever since, so we need to back them if and when it happens....just my thoughts on it.

Here's an interesting article about the strike posibilities:

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_398.shtml

An Israeli (conventional) air strike is very difficult - nothing like Opera. They would have to circle around the whole Arabian Peninsula with in-flight refuelling. But the main problem is that Iranian nuclear facilities are very well spread around the country. It would be very hard for the IAF to knock all of them out in a single strike, even if they deploy all their F-15I (25) and F-16I (AFAIK not all of the 102 ordered are delivered yet).

akruse21 wrote:

straight shot is no problem getting there. But factor in avoiding radar sites, defense sites, and not pissing off every country in the middle east and it gets a little trickier dont you think. So yes i would say there are range issues.

Pretty sure they'd get overflight rights for Jordan and Iraq, if not official then 'yellow light' okays from Jordan and the U.S., with diplomatically correct 'condemnations' being issued the next day and forgotten the next week. In worst case, they could fly over Turkey which would probably allow them in the same vein.

The range of the aircrafts themselves are enough to reach Iran alone in a straight line - couple them with the KC-707 and the KC-130H, both operated by Israel, and it gets more feasible.

yeah sure, Turkey would allow Israel to attack another muslim country. Don't see that happening officially or unofficially. Probably not with Jordan either.

I'd like to point out a few things.

First: the press aint the final word on a goverments secret military operations.

Second: Opera#2 was pretty much on everyones mind since this Iran nuclear thing came out. Theres no point NOT saying it out loud when everybody has already figured the analogy of present situation with that of 1982.

Third: Israels planes and the tactical situation on the ground has changed alot since then. F-16I's have ALOT more range than F-16A's, AND since the US has strong presence in Iraq, Jordan is no longer a beligerant enemy, who stops the Israeli Aircraft from having a drink high above Iraq? The Iraqi Air force? Very Happy

To disable Iran's nuclear program, you wouldn`t have to take out EVERY facility, just one or two CRITICAL sites that could set the program back a decade. It may even make them think twice about starting up again. Intel` is the most critical factor.

If you think conventionally, range is a huge headache, but the Israeli`s have a habit of thinking outside the box.There is more than one way to skin a cat, etc...Damn right they would have a US green light!

Forum: Air Power

Operation Opera #2 ?