Do Iranian F-5Es have air-refueling capabilities?

[J Barr]

Header pretty much says it all, I have seen Saudi F-5Es with the refueling probe, was wondering if the Iranian F-5Es
had/have that option also.

Thanks
Jim Barr

[Stephen FPilot Bierce]

J Barr > wrote:

>Header pretty much says it all, I have seen Saudi F-5Es with the refueling probe, was wondering if the Iranian F-5Es
>had/have that option also.

I recall a picture from World Air Power Journal that showed Iranian F-5Fs and
F-5Es refueling from one of their Boeing 707 tankers.

Stephen "FPilot" Bierce/IPMS #35922
{Sig Quotes Removed on Request}

[Mark]

Not sure this is definitive evidence of F-5F capability....

http://www.afwing.com/gallery/iran/4.jpg

FWIW

Mark


"J Barr" > wrote in message
...
> Header pretty much says it all, I have seen Saudi F-5Es with the refueling
probe, was wondering if the Iranian F-5Es
> had/have that option also.
>
> Thanks
> Jim Barr
>

[Tom Cooper]

"J Barr" > wrote in message
...
> Header pretty much says it all, I have seen Saudi F-5Es with the refueling
probe, was wondering if the Iranian F-5Es
> had/have that option also.
>
Jim,

as delivered in the mid-1970s, the Iranian F-5E/Fs had no such installations
(nor any other "sophisticated" equipment, like AGM-65s). The reason was that
they were considered a "short term solution", and were planned to be sold
out to other air forces, once the results of the USAF's LWF project would
become known (and, this was how the matter developed in the end: after the
USAF and NATO countries picked the F-16, the IIAF ordered it even before
Israel; however, none were delivered due to the revolution in 1979).

And so, the Iranian F-5s had to soldier on and a fight a long and bitter war
against the Iraqis without any "nice to have" stuff aboard.

In the mid-1990s, however, a number of them has got Iranian-built
IFR-probes, _roughly_ similar to those on RSAF and some other Tiger IIs
(plus quite some other interesting stuff).

Tom Cooper
Co-Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php
and,
Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat:
http://www.osprey-publishing.co.uk/title_detail.php/title=S6585

[J Barr]

Thanks for the information

Jim

Tom Cooper wrote:

> "J Barr" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Header pretty much says it all, I have seen Saudi F-5Es with the refueling
> probe, was wondering if the Iranian F-5Es
> > had/have that option also.
> >
> Jim,
>
> as delivered in the mid-1970s, the Iranian F-5E/Fs had no such installations
> (nor any other "sophisticated" equipment, like AGM-65s). The reason was that
> they were considered a "short term solution", and were planned to be sold
> out to other air forces, once the results of the USAF's LWF project would
> become known (and, this was how the matter developed in the end: after the
> USAF and NATO countries picked the F-16, the IIAF ordered it even before
> Israel; however, none were delivered due to the revolution in 1979).
>
> And so, the Iranian F-5s had to soldier on and a fight a long and bitter war
> against the Iraqis without any "nice to have" stuff aboard.
>
> In the mid-1990s, however, a number of them has got Iranian-built
> IFR-probes, _roughly_ similar to those on RSAF and some other Tiger IIs
> (plus quite some other interesting stuff).
>
> Tom Cooper
> Co-Author:
> Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
> http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php
> and,
> Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat:
> http://www.osprey-publishing.co.uk/title_detail.php/title=S6585