This alleged run-in between an Iranian F-14 and an American drone is not their first encounter.
Iran’s armed forces remain on “high alert” after a U.S. spy drone allegedly flew near Iranian airspace last week. According to Iranian state-run media, the American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) retreated only after encountering Iranian Navy F-14 fighter jets and reconnaissance drones. Tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high as Iran’s regional proxy affiliates continue to harass American warships in the Red Sea. In February, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) flew a pair of B-52 bombers over the Middle East alongside the Israeli Air Force, demonstrating its strength and resolute to counter Tehran’s malign behavior.
The Last Time Iranian Jets Tried to Take Out a U.S. Recon UAV
Notably, this alleged run-in between an Iranian F-14 and an American drone would not mark the first time such an interaction has occurred. In 2012, two Iranian Air Force Su-25 pilots attempted to shoot down an American MQ-1 Predator UAV near Iran’s coastline, stirring up an interaction that would become quite the story. Since the Predator drone is primarily designed for reconnaissance operations, the UAV would have been unprepared to defend itself if actually shot down by the Iranian pilots. However, the Su-25s were unsuccessful in their attempts to take out the UAV with their 30mm cannons. Even though the Predator UAV remained intact, the United States made sure to provide future Predator drones with fighter jet protection in the region going forward.
One year later, a pair of Iranian pilots flying the American-made F-4 Phantom would again try to take down a Predator drone. This time, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors were present. In fact, unbeknownst to the Iranian pilots, an F-22 piloted by Lt. Col. Kevin “Showtime” Sutterfield was eying the Iranian airframes the whole time. Then-Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh explained what happened next: “He [the Raptor pilot] flew under their aircraft [the F-4s] to check out their weapons load without them knowing that he was there, and then pulled up on their left wing and then called them and said ‘you really ought to go home.’”
Why Does Iran Have F-4s and F-14s to Begin With?
Though it seems odd, Tehran still flies age-old American aerial platforms like the Phantom and Tomcat. Prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979, previous U.S. administrations desired to garner support from the Middle East as the Cold War was heating up. After visiting former Iranian head of state Mohamed Reza Shah in the 1970s, President Richard Nixon set up a deal that would give Iran dozens of F-14s and Phantoms. Obviously, this exchange was later regretted. Though these platforms are very old and outdated, Tehran has continued to maintain its fleets of F-14s and F-4s and they arguably remain the most formidable element in Iran’s aerial arsenal.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
