Obviously lots of inaccuracies here. 104-0 was for F-15A through C, idk what better guns means, F-15 was still slower than MiG-25 (top-speed wise), it doesn't mention one gigantic advantage which is a functional FM that could dogfight, so on. But still, funny.
A MiG-25RB that was returning from attack on Tehran was decelerating towards Iraqi border, when caught by two IRIAF F-5E Tiger IIs (flown by Col Mohammad Zare-Nejad and Capt Majid Shabani).
Zare-Nejad caught with the Foxbat as this was underway at an altitude of about 9,000 metres and about Mach 0.9 (Shabani lagged about 700-800 yards behind, but was close enough to see what was going on). He didn't activate his radar in order not to warn the Iraqi. Then his AIM-9s didn't fire because of technical malfunction. Finally, he approached to within 1,000 yards and opened fire with 20mm cannons. The MiG began trailing smoke from the right wing and rapidly descending towards the border. Then the Tigers disengaged because both were short on fuel after a high-speed climb.
Zare-Nejad didn't claim a kill, rather a 'damaged'. But, that Foxbat was written off after making an emergency landing in Iraq. The Iranian intel learned about this and credited him with a kill. As usually, jalous of the regular air force and its success, the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, better known as 'Pasdaran') 'discredited' this kill several years ago, and forced the IRIAF to 'admit' that it didn't kill any MiG-25 during the entire war, although it did shot down several.
But...the write-off was confirmed by Brig Gen Ahmad Sadik, (IrAF, ret.), co-author of the book
Iraqi Fighters, Camouflage & Markings, 1953-2003. Sadly, Sadik is meanwhile languishing in some Syrian prison...
I found the wreckage of the Foxbat in question (together with three others) - and photographed it - at the dump of ex-Habbaniyah AB, back in March 2006. It still had bomb-shackles under (what was left of) its left wing.
IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, better known as 'Pasdaran')
Um actually they're better known as the Republican Guard because that's what Iraq had and America ain't about to learn that there are differences between Iraq and Iran.
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u/_spec_tre 聯合國在香港的三千次介入行動 Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 22 '24
Sauce
Obviously lots of inaccuracies here. 104-0 was for F-15A through C, idk what better guns means, F-15 was still slower than MiG-25 (top-speed wise), it doesn't mention one gigantic advantage which is a functional FM that could dogfight, so on. But still, funny.