In 1974 the Shah of Persia bought from the USA 80 F-14 Tomcat fighters and 284 Phoenix air-to-air missiles. Of the aircraft, 79 were delivered. On January 16, 1979, the shah was ousted by the "Islamic Revolution" of the mullahs.
OF PANTELIS D. KARYKAS
27 Iranian F-14 pilots and American technicians from Hughes, which built the Phoenix killers, left with him. The Americans also sabotaged 16 missiles, which were later repaired. On September 22, 1980, Iraq invaded Iran. In the air, however, the conflicts started earlier. On September 7, an Iranian F-14 shot down an Iraqi helicopter.
War
Iraq had Soviet fighters including the super fast MiG-25 which was a serious headache for the Iranian air force. Only the F-14 could deal with it. When the war broke out Iran had 77 F-14s. Two had been lost in accidents. In the absence of pilots, technicians and mainly weapons systems officers, the Iranian air force made a great effort to make its best fighters operational.
60 pilots were found, but only 24 weapons officers, while flying some F-14s cannibalized others. The Tomcats went straight into action acting as early warning platforms, initially thanks to their powerful Hughes AN/AWG-9 radar.
Iranian F-14s shot down at least 160 Iraqi aircraft in this war including 58 MiG-23, 33 Mirage F1, 23 MiG-21, 23 Su-20s/22, 9 MiG-25, 5 Tu-22, 2 MiG-27, 1 Mirage 5, 1 Super Frelon, 1 B-6D, 1 helicopter etc. Their pilots claimed over 200 successes.
The F-14s became the Iraqis' nightmare and their air command ordered their pilots to avoid the Tomcats . Especially since the F-14s started using the AIM-54 Phoenix missiles things became more difficult for the Iraqis.
It is worth noting that the Iranian F-14s did not initially have Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles. Phoenix killers were normally launched from long distances. In the absence of an alternative solution, however, the Iranians also used them at relatively close distances. Sparrow and Sidewinder were then purchased.
9-16 (sources disagree) F-14s were lost in the war, one by friendly fire. The Iraqis claimed the downing of 70 F-14s… Parts shortages due to the US embargo meant that by 1984 only 15 F-14s remained operational. But the Iranian technicians performed miracles and not only kept the fighters operational but also made them capable of carrying bombs.
Continuing the effort, perhaps with covert American help as it sounds, in exchange for the release of American hostages, the Iranians, in 1988, had 34 operational F-14s. Iranian F-14s performed wonders during the war. Commander Zadi was the top ace with 11 downs – 4 MiG-23, 2 Su-22, 2 MiG-21, 3 Mirage F1. Rostami and Afsar followed with 6. Saram Rostami shot down 3 Mirage F1s, 1 MiG-21, but also 2 MiG-25s. Afsar shot down 2 MiG-21, 2 Mirage F1, 1 Mig-23 and 1 Su-22.