Map of Where the Middle East gets their Air Force

submitted by magnora7 from (i.redd.it)

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[–]fred_red_beans 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Syria and Yemen are Russian, but it seems strange that Iran's are American.

[–]magnora7[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

The US had control over Iran from 1954 to 1979, and I think we armed the heck out of them during that time. (Like how we've done with Saudi Arabia. But then in 1979 they had a counter-revolution to the US-installed Shah, and they've been anti-US from 1979. I wouldn't be surprised if their air force is from the 70s. That'd be my guess. It is strange though.

[–]fred_red_beans 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I was thinking that too, seems like pretty old planes.

According to wikipedia:

The Air Force has attempted with some success to maintain in service the large number of American-built aircraft which Iran acquired during the Shah's regime. The Air Force has turned to purchases of Soviet and Chinese aircraft, as well as pressing ex-Iraqi aircraft into service, and indigenously built aircraft, in order to maintain a capable force. As of June 2016, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force possesses 348 fighters, making it the ninth most powerful air arm in the world, on paper.

[–]magnora7[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

as well as pressing ex-Iraqi aircraft into service

I wonder if they're buying new-ish American planes via Iraq, that'd be something.

Sounds like a pretty rag-tag air force though. I bet the reality is a lot worse than how it looks "on paper", if I had to guess.