Raptor VS Iranian Phantom

aw2007 · by **aw2007** » 18 Sep 2013, 11:36

In March, an Iranian F-4 flew within 16 miles of an MQ-1 Predator flying off the coast of Iran until a previously undisclosed aircraft escorted the Predator to safety. It turns out that aircraft was an F-22, the Air Force's fifth generation fighter.

Interesting article:

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013 ... 741&rank=6

hornetfinn · by **hornetfinn** » 18 Sep 2013, 13:49

Bet that this was a real "Oh crap" moment for the Iranian F-4 crew when they saw the F-22 on their wing.

Viperdiver · by **Viperdiver** » 18 Sep 2013, 22:29

I find it hard to believe the Iranians even found the RPA and I doubt they even know they were targeted until they saw the Raptor.

discofishing · by **discofishing** » 18 Sep 2013, 23:16

I'm more interested in whether or not the F-4s had radar. The APQ-120 is an old system, so who is hooking Iran up with parts? Egypt? Greece? Turkey? Germany? Japan? I can't imagine Israel helping them and Korea never upgraded their Phantoms much from baseline. Maybe they have Russian radars in them now?

Prinz_Eugn · by **Prinz_Eugn** » 19 Sep 2013, 00:14

Welp, not a fun day for the F-4 crew chief, that's for sure.

lookieloo · by **lookieloo** » 19 Sep 2013, 00:45

Prinz_Eugn wrote:Welp, not a fun day for the F-4 crew chief, that's for sure.

Wouldn't everything be in Reza's flight-suit? :lol:

delvo · by **delvo** » 19 Sep 2013, 02:06

I wonder how long it will be before articles about successful action involving an F-22 can be published without including an obligatory "this is the kind of plane that was grounded for a while for killing pilots" bit.

But I also wonder what exactly happened in this case and why. Isn't 16 miles close enough to have already taken a shot if he wanted to? And if he could have fired and hadn't, where was the need to threaten him off from just following the drone?

zero-one · by **zero-one** » 19 Sep 2013, 05:59

delvo wrote:But I also wonder what exactly happened in this case and why. Isn't 16 miles close enough to have already taken a shot if he wanted to? And if he could have fired and hadn't, where was the need to threaten him off from just following the drone?

Just goes to show that air wars arn't always fought by remote control, firing at radar blips, sometimes you have to get a visual of the target

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 19 Sep 2013, 09:04

zero-one wrote:
delvo wrote:But I also wonder what exactly happened in this case and why. Isn't 16 miles close enough to have already taken a shot if he wanted to? And if he could have fired and hadn't, where was the need to threaten him off from just following the drone?

Just goes to show that air wars arn't always fought by remote control, firing at radar blips, sometimes you have to get a visual of the target

If it was a war situation then that Phantom,would have been obliterated from,well beyond visual range.,That's the smart way to do it, optimizing the Raptor's strengths.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 19 Sep 2013, 09:06

zero-one wrote:
delvo wrote:But I also wonder what exactly happened in this case and why. Isn't 16 miles close enough to have already taken a shot if he wanted to? And if he could have fired and hadn't, where was the need to threaten him off from just following the drone?

Just goes to show that air wars arn't always fought by remote control, firing at radar blips, sometimes you have to get a visual of the target

If it was a war situation then that Phantom,would have been obliterated from,well beyond visual range.,That's the smart way to do it, optimizing the Raptor's strengths.

boff180 · by **boff180** » 19 Sep 2013, 12:27

The report kind of reminds me of a scene from Hot Shots.... ;-)

Topper's (Charlie Sheens) aircraft is sabotaged (in reality, a Gnat) and his weapons won't fire... so appears from cloud above the Iraqi's and wobbles his wings to hit their cockpits.... and in a joke it knocks the pilots out!

Scorpion1alpha · by **Scorpion1alpha** » 19 Sep 2013, 14:02

The F-4 is sooo 3rd Gen...

Iran should have used their most uber Q-313 Qaher for CAP that day! Along with their ultra-capable GCI, they would have spotted the F-22 and quashed Col. Sutterfield's antics long before he even thought about it!

Besides, the idea of seeing a real-deal Q-313 in flight with one of Iran's steely-eyed pilots would intimidate any Raptor jock and make him wish for permanent staff duty.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would have been pleased.

f-22lm · by **f-22lm** » 19 Sep 2013, 17:56

There goes Iran's credibility for tracking LO airframes.
:roll:

neurotech · by **neurotech** » 19 Sep 2013, 20:42

f-22lm wrote:There goes Iran's credibility for tracking LO airframes.

Its possible they could have used some sort of long-range IR tracking, but I doubt they have effective L-band ground radar.

I personally think this incident happened close to what was reported, where the F-22 "appeared" and the F-4 ran for home.

newmanfrigan · by **newmanfrigan** » 19 Sep 2013, 21:54

I'm sure the F-22 dictated the terms of the engagement. That's the point. He came to WVR for precisely the reason that this is NOT an air war.