Two Pilots On Board "Martyred"

An Iranian Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed into the Oman Sea early Monday, killing both pilots onboard.

The 1960s-era vintage fighter crashed off Iran's southeastern coast, near the port of Konarak. The cause of the accident is still unknown, reports the semi-official Fars news agency.

In a release to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, military officials confirmed "both pilots ... were martyred."

The belligerent Islamic republic is taking steps to update its air force, currently comprised of US-made F-14s Tomcats, F-4s and F-5 Tigers. Those aircraft were sold to Iran in the 1970s, during the pro-Western rule of Shah Reza Pahlavi. When Islamic rulers took over in 1979, the US cut off the flow of spare parts for those planes.

As a result, Iran has reportedly turned to Russia and China for warplanes. Though no one will officially comment, it is widely reported in Israeli and Russian media Iran plans to order a mix of Sukhoi Su-30s, and China's new Chengdu J-10 fighter planes to replace obsolete US-made aircraft.

The country also hopes to puts its own light fighter into operational service soon. The Saegheh -- or "lightning" -- appears to be based heavily on the Northrop F- 5 -- though equipped with twin tails -- and recently entered production.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org