Elite Iranian Republican Guard

[Dizel8]

Ya just what improvement did they make? Another vert stab? Is that really all they've got?

Well, supposedly they installed a different radar, probably scavenged of something else, that now can track out to 25 miles. They supposedly dropped a laser guided bomb and supposedly, the engine might be upgraded.

It may work for the average Iranian, showing might and all, but I cannot see any US pilot losing sleep about going up against an F-5+.

Elite probably doesn't say much with respect to Iran, just like Saddams "elite". Seems like the average US grunt is more "elite" than anything the ME can field.

 

[Mamma]

AIR2MUD,
I was indeed being sarcastic.

 

[HoursHore]

Elite is code for "Head up the ass of the head mullah"

Nothing to do with fighting prowess.

 

[AirBadger]

I don't think anyone is concerned about a symmetrical war... if we did go to throws, it would be asymmetrical, correct? In that case I think it would be dangerous to underestimate these guys. They obviously know how to attack our guys by proxy in Iraq so it's not hard to imagine them escalating operations and further destabilizing the region. I guess I wouldn't be worried about their Frankenstein F-5s or Soviet-era tanks but rather their ability to hit civilians, soldiers, and Marines the same way insurgents have been doing but with better training and equipment.

 

[Dizel8]

I don't think anyone is concerned about a symmetrical war... if we did go to throws, it would be asymmetrical, correct? .

I think, that it would be over rather quick, if it were to happen, although I certainly hope it doesn't.

Right now, they have the luxury of time and stability if you will, to assist those in Iraq, that assistance would probably go by the way side rather quickly, within days.

I suppose the question is, what is the lesser of two evils.

Is it: Iran having a deliverable nuclear weapon, which will completely change the powerstructure in the ME. Obviously, the credible threat of a US attack is diminished immensely, they will always be able to threaten a nuclear attack as a response, doubt the US is willing to use nukes again unless it is due to a nuclear attack on US soil.

Or is the lesser of two evils to attack Iran now, before they aquire the weapon, knowing how far we are already stretched in Iraq/Afghanistan?

The Israelis might be able to accomplish the goal, but who knows what the response of Iran and the other ME countries will be. If Israel fails, it only makes them so much more likely to be attacked with nuke, probably one of the first of the Iranian assembly line.

I read some retired general making a statement to the effect, that if Iran wants the bomb, they will aquire it and to start thinking about how to live with that reality.

If Iran was in the darkest africa and they didn't have oil, then things would be different, but they are not. Iran sits in a very powerfull position location wise, straits of Hormuz and they are the second largest oil producer, I think, this has the potential of getting really ugly, really fast.

 

[LearLove]

Ya just what improvement did they make? Another vert stab? Is that really all they've got?

hey buddy - it takes engineering talent to remove the single verticle tail and replace it with 2 similar ones and tilt them outward in F18 fashion. It would involve wrenches and bolts and nuts and stuff. What is it, lefty loosely - righty tighty. Not to mention bolt/nut torque spects. And how Iran didn't put a man on the moon first I will never know.

Do you know how hard it is in Iran to come by a "Janes All the Worlds Combat Aircraft, VOL 2" that clearly shows a pic of an F18 stab outward tilt?

Not to mention it can be a real bitch to paint your "improved F5" similar to the Blue Angles. Iran is comming to an airshow near you soon.

instead of useing computaional fluid dynamics applied to kutta-jukowski theory to model flow around the aft section they simpily consulted ALAH or whoever it is they pray too. He told them as long as the mean aspect ratio of the left stab was the square root of the combined weight of the 72 virgins that can fit in the cockpit of the unmodified F-5 that the new design would easily out fly anything from the F22 on down.

super duper F-5 pics:

http://www.airliners.net/search/pho...rop F-5E Saeghe (Thunder)&distinct_entry=true

other Iran air force equip pics:

http://www.airliners.net/search/pho...limit=15&sort_order=photo_id+DESC&nr_pages=12

 

[AIR2MUD]

AIR2MUD,
I was indeed being sarcastic.

Whew!

For a minute there I was worried!

 

[rickair7777]

Elite is code for "Head up the ass of the head mullah"

Nothing to do with fighting prowess.

Winnah, Winnah, Chicken Dinnah!

 

[Dizel8]

Durka, Durka, Durka!

 

[Stifler's Mom]

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/capt.1059000823.migrants_truck_boat_mh106.jpg

I'd be more concerned about the elite branch of their navy. These guys look like they could give the SEALS a run for their money.