Iran Military Begins Biggest Ever Naval Maneuvers


December 09, 2005
The Associated Press
The Billings Gazette

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's armed forces began their biggest ever military maneuvers Friday to demonstrate "national solidarity," state-run television reported. The maneuvers in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean are the same that a plane that crashed in Tehran on Tuesday - killing 94 crew and passengers - was heading to. They also come amid concerns over Iran's nuclear program and its hard-line policy toward Israel.

The exercises cover an area of 33,000 nautical miles from the strategic Strait of Hormouz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Gowater on Iran's territorial waters close to Pakistan and involve submarines, warships, missiles, jet fighters and helicopter gunships.

"The maneuvers are aimed at testing the preparedness of the armed forces and demonstrate national unity in defending the country," a state-run TV announcer said without elaborating.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad drew international criticism after saying Thursday that Israel should be moved to Europe and questioning whether the Holocaust took place. He has previously called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

It was unclear how long the maneuvers would last, how many troops would take part nor what specific weapons would be used, but state-run TV said they will be Iran's biggest ever military maneuvers.

The broadcast said the drills include forces from Iran's Regular Army, the elite Revolutionary Guards, the paramilitary volunteer forces known as Basijis and police.

http://www.iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/n...m=12&d=09&a=12

a video of this military game can be seen here:

http://www.iribnews.ir/video/01/09/12/a281.wmv

F-4Es, Le Combatant ships, F-14As armed with AIM-54As, C-130s, B-212s and F-5s (Flying By) are the equipments that one may see in this short video!

At least we'll be able to see how many, if any, of their F-14s are still operational.

"We can't let you see the F-14s, they're... uh... top secret, yeah, so you can't see them fly. But they do fly I swear!"

2nd day of the exercise can be seen here:

http://www.iribnews.ir/video/01/09/12/a307.wmv

Cool, Nice video, its good to see Iranian Forces.

Cool, Nice video, its good to see Iranian Forces.

Maybe in your opinion, i wouldnt mind seeing one of those helicopters crash.

Why?

Third day of the exercise can be seen here

http://www.iribnews.ir/video/01/09/12/a311.wmv

((Short Video))

http://www.iribnews.ir/video/01/09/12/a335.wmv

Silkworm Missile test in the Persian Gulf

Huh, since when has Iran had marine hovercraft technology?

And they featured their sumbarine but arn't they notoriously loud?

Last thing, I saw F-4s in that video but are they still worth anything? I mean, it's a pretty old design and without any US support are they really even worth flying in a modern air-war?

Last question, am I the only one who'se noticed that in all their propoganda videos comming out of this exercise we haven't seen a single F-14?

Originally Posted by Whispering Death

Huh, since when has Iran had marine hovercraft technology?

And they featured their sumbarine but arn't they notoriously loud?

Iran has had Hovercrafts since early 1970s. Bought from Britain.

hmmmm, the Russian made Kilo class submarines that Iran has are among the most silent ones!

http://www.iinavy.org/

http://www.iinavy.org/havanavsqdn.htm

Well that's cool, not many countries have hovercraft and I didn't know that Iran really had much in the way of marine-land-attack capabilities. I put two more questions up there if you knew anything about either of those.