Article

2007-01-16 Home Front: WoT

Have Iran and China been shopping at Penatgon surplus auctions?

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Seafarious 2007-01-16 06:32|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I'd sell them the parts - as long as they all have invisible flaws. Embrittled plastic, fatigued metal, overheated electronics. Stuff that looks ok & works now, but won't survive much stress.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-01-16 07:04|| 2007-01-16 07:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Are these guys retards?
Do they have no pre-qualifications to do business with the pentagon?

The iranians must really think we're dolts for selling them fighter parts to fight against us.

Posted by bigjim-ky 2007-01-16 07:57|| 2007-01-16 07:57|| Front Page Top

#3 Why settle for surplus parts when you can buy the factory?

Posted by ed 2007-01-16 07:59|| 2007-01-16 07:59|| Front Page Top

#4 Iran uses the F-14s as sort of an AWACS, due to their superior radar system. They are too precious to waste in air-to-air combat.

On the other hand, the Navy's retiring of F-14s means no possible misidentification incidents.

Posted by gromky 2007-01-16 08:50|| 2007-01-16 08:50|| Front Page Top

#5 Agreed all around. We sold the soviets purposely flawed chips in the 80s and it resulted in blown up oil pumping stations. I say - take their money, sell 'em junk spares for their junk aircraft and cash the checks immediately...

Posted by M. Murcek">M. Murcek 2007-01-16 12:17|| 2007-01-16 12:17|| Front Page Top

#6 ed- the factory is a former Mcdonnell- Douglas one and the Tomcat was built by the fabled Grumman Iron Works (notice my subtle bias), the your premise is solid.
Better question is: since Iran is the only other country w/Tomcats, then just why in the hell are we even selling any F-14 parts? The end user, no matter how circuitious is going to be the Iranians. These FMS guys are clear front runners in the "Today's Idiots" race.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-01-16 14:23|| 2007-01-16 14:23|| Front Page Top

#7 We have to sell the parts by law : part of Congress's "Peace Dividend". Congress has passed laws mandating the sale of spares unless the US decides to give the equipment and spares to a friendly foreign power.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2007-01-16 21:31|| 2007-01-16 21:31|| Front Page Top

#8 We do not sell front line equipment. Any F-16s. or F/A 18s on the block are early models and are subordinate to the current inventory. The A-6s in FMS have had the weapons computer and ancillary equipment pulled; they were listed one time as a daytime visual bomber or as a tanker. Any F-14 parts sold should only be for basic airframe or engine, any weapons system, especially related to the Phoenix should not be. That part is well within our scope regarding 'demilitarizing' equipment prior to sale. When the navy retired its A-7s we had to run a D-9 over the wing spar to ensure that they would never fly again. you could then buy the engine, and all the other parts, but unless you were a friendly (Greece at that time) you couldn't have a flyable asset.
Still think its stupid to assist our enemy.

Posted by USN, ret. 2007-01-16 22:37|| 2007-01-16 22:37|| Front Page Top

23:45 Verlaine
23:39 ex-lib
23:34 ex-lib
23:32 ex-lib
23:12 Anguper Hupomosing9418
23:12 Elmert Crosh5077
23:05 Anguper Hupomosing9418
22:59 Mike N.
22:55 Anguper Hupomosing9418
22:52 Spith Whinerong1263
22:42 Whiskey Mike
22:38 Angie Schultz
22:37 USN, ret.
22:30 Anguper Hupomosing9418
22:26 KBK
22:25 USN, ret.
22:01 DMFD
21:50 Penguin
21:48 Pappy
21:47 Chuck Darwin
21:43 Shieldwolf
21:39 Shieldwolf
21:31 trailing wife
21:31 Shieldwolf