Jerusalem: Iran’s first direct attack on Israel on April 13 has brought renewed focus on their air defence capabilities as Israeli leaders decide how best to respond.Below is a look at both countries’ air forces and aerial defence systems:IRANThe Iranian air force has 37,000 personnel, but decades of international sanctions have largely cut the country off from the latest high-tech military equipment, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London (IISS).The Air Force only has a few dozen working strike aircraft, including Russian jets and ageing US models acquired before the Iranian revolution of 1979.Tehran has a squadron of nine F-4 and F-5 fighter jets, one squadron of Russian-made Sukhoi-24 jets, and some MiG-29s, F7 and F14 aircraft, IISS said.The Iranians also have pilotless planes designed to fly into targets and explode. Analysts believe this drone arsenal numbers in the low thousands. In addition, they say, Iran has more than 3,500 surface-to-surface missiles, some of which carry half-tonne warheads. The number capable of reaching Israel may be lower, however.Iran’s Air Force Commander, Amir Vahedi, on Wednesday said the Sukhoi-24s, were in their “best state of preparedness” to counter any potential Israeli attack.But Iran’s dependence on Sukhoi-24s jets, first developed in the 1960s, shows the relative weakness of its air force.
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