IIAF F-14A + AIM-9J + AIM-7E?

[Lusitanian]

I was watching a very interesting, in depth interview with Iranian F-14 ace, Col. Fereidoun Ali-Mazandaran on YouTube (which is very interesting, and well worth watching).  He states that the AIM-9J and AIM-7E that Iran had for its F-4 and F-5 fleets were “incompatible” with the F-14, so they only used their limited stock of AIM-54As and 20mm cannon rounds in combat.  That’s the first I’ve heard of that, and you can find a number of references that show them armed with the AIM-9J and AIM-7E.  Iran had ordered the AIM-9L and AIM-7F, but (per the video) none were delivered before the 1979 revolution.

 

On my project to-do list is F-14A 160322, IIAF serial 3-6024, which was one of a pair of Tomcats that successfully intercepted and tracked a MiG-25RBS over the Caspian Sea in October of 1978 (before the Foxbat floored it and left them in the dust).  My uncle was working on Project IBEX at the time, and said it caused quite the to-do in the IIAF and at NSA and DIA.  

 

I’d been planning on arming the model with 2x AIM-54, 2x AIM-9J, and 2x AIM-7E, but now I’m wondering if it should just have the AIM-54s.

 

Anyone have any better intel?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOElPy7CfE0

[Martinnfb]

Nice find, thanks for posting. A local guy who did an  inspection on my cars is a former Iranian F-4 pilot. Long shot by far, but I can still zoom by and ask him. Also piecing together info for my Iranian 1/48 tomcat build.

Cheers

Martin

[Martinnfb]

Just in case