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In late
January 1981 two F-14's from Khatami Air Force Base were on
combat
patrol over the southwest region of the Persian Gulf. At around
noon, Iranian ground
radar picked up a target approximately 100 to 200 feet above
sea level in the southern region of the Gulf, moving at a
high rate of speed toward Bushehr. The ground radar operator
directed the F-14's to the incoming object. At this time the
lead F-14 radar picked up the same aircraft and secured a
radar lock on the target. After confirming the target was
definitely hostile, and flying at a very low altitude and
only a little over 30 miles away, the lead F-14 fired an AIM-54A
Phoenix missile. The Phoenix hit the Iraqi SU-22 in the middle
of the fuselage, cutting it in half.
Later the Radar Interception Officer in the lead F-14 reported
seeing a fireball followed
by an immediate splash down in the ocean, confirming the very
low altitude of the Iraqi SU-22. The RIO also observed a second
SU-22 at this time, which was not picked up by radar earlier.
However the second SU-22 managed to evade the scene.
Submitted by F-14 RIO
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