The underground base is alleged to be the primary giant sufficient to host fighter jets and certainly one of a number of extra being constructed.
As a part of the celebrations for the forty fourth anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Iran unveiled an underground air pressure base, dubbed “Eagle 44”, which, in response to Iranian information businesses, is the primary of this sort large enough to host fighter jets, bombers and drones. The Iranians declare that is certainly one of their most essential bases, constructed deep underground to guard from air strikes its jets geared up with long-range missiles.
In line with Fars News Agency, the bottom “consists of varied sections, corresponding to an alert space, command put up, warplane hangars, restore and upkeep heart, navigation and airport tools, and gasoline tanks. The underground bases accommodate jets in protected places and furnish the planes with digital warfare methods and varied bombs and missiles, which permit for standoff aerial operations and prolong the strategic vary of assaults in opposition to distant targets.”
“Any assault on Iran from our enemies, together with Israel, will see a response from our many air pressure bases together with Eagle 44,” Iran’s armed forces’ Chief of Workers Mohammad Bagheri instructed state TV. Photos shared with the press present high-ranking officers strolling via the tunnels, that are lined in slogans each in Arabic and English.
Right this moment as #Iran‘s regime marks the forty fourth anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, it unveiled its first underground Air Drive base known as “Eagle 44.” One other variation of the Bond villain lair theme we now have seen in different IRI underground bases.https://t.co/sWKvibESMD pic.twitter.com/BvsR05Aj5e
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) February 7, 2023
Iran claims that no form of bomb can have an effect on these tunnels, with state TV exhibiting footage of a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb hitting a goal inside a hardened shelter and a B-2A Spirit bomber dropping the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator. Let’s do not forget that the MOP, with its 30,000 lb (14,000 kg) of weight and 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) high-explosive warhead, can penetrate as much as 200 ft (61 m) via strengthened concrete earlier than detonating.
Through the go to of the officers, the aging F-4 Phantoms jets of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force have been proven beginning up and taxiing via the tunnels to succeed in the runway exterior of the underground base. The F-4s, acquired from the USA earlier than the Iranian Revolution in 1979, is essentially the most quite a few fighter jet of the IRIAF, with about 60 in service because the nation’s primary fight plane.
Iran sees its air force struggling attributable to long-running sanctions and arms embargoes, however considerably the IRIAF continues its efforts to maintain these sorts in service, and commenced quite a few tasks to refurbish and improve them. Among the many upgrades there are indigenous glide weapons and anti-ship missiles proven in some pictures alongside US-made weapons such because the Mk-82 “dumb” bombs, AGM-65 Maverick guided missiles and GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs.
نیروی هوایی ارتش از پایگاه هوایی زیرزمینی خود با نام عقاب ۴۴ رونمایی کرد. این پایگاه قابلیت پذیرش و عملیاتیکردن انواع جنگندههای شکاری و بمبافکن و همچنین پرندههای بدون سرنشین را دارد. pic.twitter.com/JXSC6V1Amr
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) February 7, 2023
Iranian information businesses reported that that is simply the primary base of this sort, with others being constructed throughout the nation. The pictures and movies shared on-line fastidiously prevented something that might present landmarks to find this base. “These bases which were constructed in proportion to the wants and with excessive security issue are situated below a mountainous areas, in order that they can be utilized for shock aerial operations,” reported the state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.
Tasnim additionally reported the revealing of a brand new indigenous air-launched cruise missile named “Asef”, which is able to reportedly be utilized by Soviet-era Su-24 Fencer bombers of the IRIAF. According to Tasnim, the brand new missile was placed on show within the new underground base, however Su-24s and the “Asef” missile have been nowhere to be seen within the pictures and movies shared by the information businesses.
Stefano D’Urso is a contract journalist and contributor to TheAviationist primarily based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he is additionally learning to realize a Grasp Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Digital Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT strategies utilized to the world of army operations and present conflicts are amongst his areas of experience.
