Forum: General F-16 forum

Quote:

Iran has apparently received an American F-16 fighter from Venezuela. The mercurial and anti-American president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez has, for the last six years, been threatening to sell some of his F-16s to Iran. Finally sending one to Iran was apparently an effort to help Iran prepare its defenses against an air raid by Israeli F-16Is. This Venezuelan gesture is not likely to help much as the Venezuelan F-16s are much older models while the current Israeli F-16s are the most modern model available.

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http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinte ... 20628.aspx

Comments?

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Like the article says, this was an older model. They still have to be able to fly and maintain the A/C.....not to mention spares.

Hmmm.....25 years isn't all that old for the USAF. We fly Blk25's and Blk32's here at Nellis. Most Blk40/42's are close to that old and 50/52's aren't far behind. Didn't they get the memo that 25 years old is the "new" new?

Well since they haven't had support for the F-16 from the US in almost a decade. I'm not sure if any of them are flyable anymore. If they are flyable they won't be much longer due to the amount of maitenance and spares Block 15's need. I'm not too worried, other than the fact that if they are flyable we might have F-16 vs. F-16 dogfights.

Sufa Viper

It doesn't seem like the Iranians are interested in using it, Chavez gave it to them so that they could study it. Of course, it is an older model F-16 but they can probably study its radar signatures so that they can calibrate their air defenses. Also they can get some idea of its performance characteristics. Maybe they can even do some DACT exercises. That could be of some concern as the IRIAF pilots would be better prepared to face F-16s than they otherwise would have.

icemaverick wrote:

It doesn't seem like the Iranians are interested in using it, Chavez gave it to them so that they could study it. Of course, it is an older model F-16 but they can probably study its radar signatures so that they can calibrate their air defenses. Also they can get some idea of its performance characteristics. Maybe they can even do some DACT exercises. That could be of some concern as the IRIAF pilots would be better prepared to face F-16s than they otherwise would have.

Very true, but considering the state of the IRIAF in general, I have a hard time believing a fight against them would end in any other way than their complete slaughter... even if the US and it's fifth-gens weren't involved.

Although knowing some things about the butcher may make the cow fear him a bit more. Cool

Im venezuelan and I dont think Chavez has sold or given an F-16 to Iran. First of all They (Iranians) have seen all the F-16's fleet here in Venezuela.

These F-16's have some interestings parts such as Pod Litening II, Python 4 missiles, AIM-9L including MK's Bombs. In 2001 the F-16's were gonna received an upgrade called ACE offered by IAI.

Us Goverment didnt allow them to apply this upgrade wich included a new Radar ELTA 2032, BVR missiles Rafael Derby and There were things that IAI could apply like a new RWR Elisra SPS-1000V-5, 600 Gallons Tanks and also The Pythons and Litening Pods.

Due to IAI wasnt allowed to apply this upgrade we decided to buy in 2006 Russian Built Su-30MK2.

A few days ago I was reading that the F-16 was sent using a Boeing 707. We can see that the article is wrong cause we dont have any Boeing 707 flying, the one we have is a Tanker and also is grounded. Last time I saw this KC-707 flying was in 2008 at CRUZEX military exercises.

Forum: General F-16 forum

Venezuela sold an F-16A/B Block 15 to Iran?