Iranian Air Force in Syrian Skies?

[TLAM Strike]

From The Aviationist (http://theaviationist.com/2012/09/26/iranian-f5/)

The following image was uploaded on the Syrian Revolution Memory Project Flickr photostream. The photograph... is the last of a set reportedly describing a day spent by Abu Jafaar “the citizen journalist” with the Al-Farouk Brigade of the FSA.
http://imageshack.us/a/img690/6655/iriaff5overhoms.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img841/4318/iriaff5overhomscloseup.jpg

Less likely, the image could have been taken near the border with Turkey, thus showing a TuAF NF-5…

So Turkish Trainer close to the border or Iranian fighter over Homs? :hmmm:

[eddie]

I'm going with the idea it is a Turkish F-5. Don't believe the Iranians would expose the few aircraft they have in the skies over Syria. They have been flying in Republican Guards, mainly as Advisers,lol I don't know the exact number, not sure anyone knows.

[Gerald]

Surely a coincidence.....:hmm2:

[Kloef]

F-5 Freedom Fighter 2000, Turkish Airforce..

[Oberon]

Are the Turks trying to get their aircraft shot down again?

It wouldn't surprise me if the Iranians had aircraft over Syrian airspace, they have a vested interest in Assad staying in power.

[Jimbuna]

My money is on Turkish.

[Kloef]

Are the Turks trying to get their aircraft shot down again?

A little provoking with an expendable aircraft i guess:hmmm:

[Jimbuna]

Are the Turks trying to get their aircraft shot down again?

It wouldn't surprise me if the Iranians had aircraft over Syrian airspace, they have a vested interest in Assad staying in power.

I should imagine if that happened there would be a quick retaliatory response this time around.

[eddie]

I might believe Iranian pilots might be there, but with so few fighters in the Iranian Air Force, I still think they wouldn't expose them in Syria. The insurgents there have shot down a couple of Syrian Migs, can you imagine the news if they shot down an Iranian fighter?

With only 280 fighters of mixed types in the Iranian inventory, still don't believe they are in Syria.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce-equipment.htm

[Jimbuna]

I might believe Iranian pilots might be there, but with so few fighters in the Iranian Air Force, I still think they wouldn't expose them in Syria. The insurgents there have shot down a couple of Syrian Migs, can you imagine the news if they shot down an Iranian fighter?

With only 280 fighters of mixed types in the Iranian inventory, still don't believe they are in Syria.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce-equipment.htm

Id it's Iranian it could be a defector :03:

[TLAM Strike]

The TuAF only uses the F-5 for Training and for its Flight Demonstration Team (the Turkish Stars).

I don't see why the TuAF would send a Trainer or a Aerobatics aircraft near or in to Syrian airspace. :hmmm:

[Stealhead]

Without being able to to clearly identify the aircraft you can not say for certain who the owner of that aircraft is.I would only say that it is Turkish if I can clearly see Turkish markings on the fuselage like wise for it to be considered Iranian.

From the photo it seems not to be the Saeqeh the highly modified F-5 with twin tails.

Given that there is no way to prove that the photo was truly taken in Syria and perhaps not near some Turkish airbase makes the certainty of its identity even more questionable to me.

The only thing I can say for certain from that photo is that the aircraft is not a USAF T-38 because it has wing tip drop tanks.