Cached/copied 03-29-10 for original link click here - http://www.iraq-war.ru/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=220728 An Israeli attack on Iran via the Saudi route is practically impossible By: again by sealion lifted by IC on: posted at WarInIraq 23.03.2010 [17:22 ] (1617 reads) An Israeli airborne attack on Iran via the Saudi route is practically impossible because of the long distance to prime target at Natanz, near Esfahan and the ability to safely refuel in mid-air, at least twice... Map of route: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2913/499/400/iaf-map.jpg This of course assumes that the Saudis - who do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, are actively boycotting its economy and have publicly rejected the claim - would allow overflight of their country by Israel. Personally, I believe that Iran has such vast asymmetric warfare capabilities, that it will not be attacked by the Zionists or the US... http://iraqwar.mirror-world.ru/article/220509 - Distance and aircraft range: The Israeli aircrafts with the longest range are the F-16I (100 units) and F-15I (25 units) both capable of covering approximately 1000 miles with external tanks, which is just enough to reach the Persian Gulf for refueling before attacking, as I doubt the Saudis would want lingering Israeli aircrafts refueling over its territory at low speed... However, the distance to target is at least 1,200 miles in direct line, or around 2,600 miles in total, including some expected maneuvers, which will require at least 2 refueling operations over the Persian Gulf, one before and the other after the attack... - Refueling problems: Israel has only 8 old KC-707 single boom tankers converted from Boeing 707 airframes that are between 36 and 50 years old, as the US turned down its request to buy modern twin booms tankers based on the Boeing 767 design... Tanker pic: http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2913/499/400/iaf-refuel.0.jpg The ratio of fighters to tankers is as low as 2 fighters for the F-117 and between 3 and 4 fighters per tanker for the F-15/F-16 when all is going well. Assuming the higher ratio of 4 to 1, means that the 8 tankers can only support 32 aircrafts at best. Since the tankers will need protection over the Persian Gulf, at least 2 fighters per tanker will be required, leaving only 16 fighter/bombers to engage land targets... - Iranian aircraft defense: The Russian will have detected the Israeli move early on and alerted Iran, which has its own surveillance satellites deployed over the region. Iran will scramble its own fighters in addition to mobilizing its 29 Thor-M1 and S-300 batteries (S-300PMU-1 and S-300PMU-2), so before reaching target, the 16 Israeli fighter/bombers will have to fight - with their full fuel and weapons payload - through 40 MIG-29, 37 Sukhoi, 24 Mirage F1 and about 50 F-14 Tomcats armed with 100 miles range missiles... Meanwhile, some of the Iranian fighters - the F-14 Tomcats with their long range missiles and radars being best suited - will be busy engaging the Israeli tanker fleet and its escort over the Persian Gulf: if half the tankers fleet goes down, as could reasonably be expected, then at least half of the fighter/bombers won't make it back home... Such outcome would be a disaster for IsraHell after its recent loss in Lebanon and the political consequences of such a failed attack would in all likelihood signal the beginning of the end for the criminal enterprise called IsraHell. This quick analysis reinforces my belief that there will be no attack on Iran any time soon... PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN IN 2006 AND IS BEING USED IN 2010 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ====== For more articles on this issue see below.... Israel: A Handful of Aerial Tankers and More Regional Sway - Alt Israel Bolsters KC-707 Refueling Fleet - Alt Ankara won’t allow Israel to use Turkish airspace in attacking Iran Israeli Air Force increases KC-707 Tanker Fleet - contains video - Alt/Vid How would Israel attack Iran? EADS: Saudis will double order for A330 aerial refueling tanker EADS tanker program affirms maturity with refueling of NATO AWACS aircraft Saudis Seek E-3 Fleet Upgrades |