The Iranians are at it again. The Iranian air force general claims that their aircraft can now fly 3,000 km without refueling.
It would be quite the technological leap for the Iranians to make such boastful claims.
Here's what the Iranians currently have in their inventory: Azarakhsh; F-4D/E Phantom II; F-5E/F Tiger II; F-14A Tomcat; F-6 (China J-6); F-7M (China J-7); MiG-29A*; Mirage F-1; Saeqeh; Su-25K; Su-24MK; and the Shafaq (a training aircraft).
You'll quickly note that the F-4, F-5 and F-14 are all former US equipment that has been removed from US service because they are obsolete and replaced by superior aircraft. Parts for those aircraft cannot be obtained because of the US arms embargo, which means that it's likely those planes are incapable of flying. None of those planes had a 3,000 km range without refueling, even in ferry mode.
The F-7M and F-6 are Chinese inspired versions of the MiG-21 and MiG-17.
The range on those aircraft are 685km (2,200 km ferry mode) and 550km/875km (2,200 km ferry mode). Ferry mode is not a combat capable aircraft, but rather loaded up with fuel.
The SU-25 has a range of about 1,250 km, which is enough for a one-way trip without refueling. The SU-24 has a combat range maximum of 1,250 km as well.
The Azaraksh and Saeqeh are both Iranian homegrown planes, but based on the F-5 design. It is highly unlikely that those planes could have the extended range that the general claims.
In other words, consider these latest claims to be nothing more than hot air.
However, if the Iranians want to conduct one-way suicide strikes against Israel with their aircraft, they conceivably have the range to do so - as Israeli is 1,000 km from Iran.
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