The destruction of the missile by the Iranian MiG-29 was shown on video.
A video was posted online where an Iranian MiG-29 is practicing the destruction of a missile launched by an F-5 Tiger II aircraft.
As The Drive portal notes, it is not often possible to see such footage, especially when it comes to one of the most classified air forces in the world.
In the video, the MiG-29 and F-5 begin flying side by side, with Fulcrum located behind the left wing of the American fighter. When the MiG aligns with the F-5, the latter launches an aerial target and goes to the right. A moment later, the MiG-29 fires one missile from under the right wing. The time between the launch of the second missile and the defeat of the first is no more than four seconds.
The observer of the portal has no doubt that the MiG-29 used a Soviet R-73 Vympel air-to-air missile with thermal guidance. It was adopted in 1984, but remains in service due to its high maneuverability and the fact that it can be tracked through a helmet-mounted targeting system, as well as using radar or an infrared search and tracking system. The maximum flight range of the R-73 rocket is about 30 kilometers
Although the MiG-29s are old fighters, they represent a relatively powerful potential of the Iranian Air Force, which has been severely limited by sanctions for a long time, the author notes.
The fact that the MiG-29s are included in Tehran's missile defense system and are also involved in escorting VIP aircraft shows how important they are for Iran.
Such live-fire exercises are valuable, as they give pilots a rare opportunity to get real experience using an infrared-guided missile, writes The Drive
Oleg Koryakin