Could militarized 737s like the Boeing P-8 be used to surprise Iran?

The first Boeing P-8's, military versions of the 737-800, are delivered to US forces.

boeing.mediaroom.com...
en.wikipedia.org...

Could this kind of converted civilian airplanes be used for surprise bombing attacks, for instance on nuclear production targets in Iran? Is it possible to convert cargo planes to bombers?

Firstly, these are not "converted" civilian planes. They are purpose-buillt military planes built on the 737 platform. This has been done with many Boeing and prior manufacturer's products. DC-10s become tankers - you've definitely seen those. Even in WW2, DC3s became C-47s.

I don't think attacking Iran would be surprise enough. I don't think anyone has to be sneaky about it.

i'm sure the radar operator who first detects it will probably be more worried about the 100 missiles that are about to hit his place of work to ensure that the plane can fly safely than informing his superiors about the plane..aka he's gonna run out of the radar tower like a bat outa hell

If we really, really, really wanted to surprise Iran do you know what we would do? We would force Israel to give up their nuclear arms as well as Iran giving up theirs in order to achieve nuclear parity in the middle east.

It is far safer for NO countries in the middle east to have nuclear arms. As long as Israel has them, their enemies are going to want them as well.

The stated use of this aircraft is pretty clear. It is a logistics/intelligence platform and may also be used as a real time combat control system.

Bombing is not in it's MO. There's more than enough aircraft in the US Navy's fleet to bomb Iran or any other theater of war.

Originally posted by projectvxn
The stated use of this aircraft is pretty clear. It is a logistics/intelligence platform and may also be used as a real time combat control system.

"A short bomb bay for torpedoes and other stores opens behind the wing. ...
Armament (5 internal and 6 external) SLAM-ER missiles, Mines and Torpedoes."

en.wikipedia.org...-8A.29


If a plane can drop a torpedo it could also drop a bomb.

reply to post by greyhat


Anti submarine capabilities is not the same as sustained bombing capabilities. Sorry but this aircraft isn't for mass bombing. It would be shot out of the air if it were used for those purposes. And as I said we have more capable aircraft than this for the purposes of bombing.

Let's see.....On the one hand, we have a P-8 Poseidon, which has the RCS of a large barn door. On the other hand, we have 20 B-2s, and 180 F-22s, which have the RCS of a very small metal ball bearing. Why would we use the Poseidon to "surprise" Iran, when we could have B-2s and F-22s that are SO much harder to detect and shoot down wandering over their airspace with relative impunity until the first bombs hit.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
Why would we use the Poseidon to "surprise" Iran, when we could have B-2s and F-22s

Thats right. But what would a smaller country do without B-2s and F-22s if they wanted to bomb a well secured enemy?

Would converted civilian 737s (or any other Models) be a secure way for the IAF to get into Iran?

reply to post by greyhat


No. For one thing, they'd never make it into Iranian airspace. You are talking to controllers the entire way in, and they're watching you even before you cross the border into their airspace. I almost guarantee you that there are no air routes that go anywhere near their nuclear facilities, and as soon as you deviate towards them, you are going to draw the attention of every military person in the area, and they're going to be after you. That's if you could even sneak in. I believe all the international flights into and out of Iran are by IranAir planes. So you'd have to remove the Iranian plane, and replace it with yours, plus know any procedures that might have in place for identifying the plane (IFF codes, etc)..... Why go to all the trouble when you can just blast the door open with F-15 and F-16Is.

much easier to just send in cruise missiles. Trident II's pack quite the punch and can be launched comfortably from an Ohio Class Sub.

Originally posted by greyhat
"A short bomb bay for torpedoes and other stores opens behind the wing. ...
Armament (5 internal and 6 external) SLAM-ER missiles, Mines and Torpedoes."

en.wikipedia.org...-8A.29


If a plane can drop a torpedo it could also drop a bomb.

I would say the SLAM-ER is the only possible way it might be able to attack them, though not sure if they'd make it out...
and "if you can carry a torpedo you can carry a bomb" not necessarily, torpedoes are much thinner, maybe a SDB or the new small munitions, but nothing that would be useful against a likely very hardened target

It's a supplement/replacement for the P3 Orion. Maritime Surveillance/anti shipping-anti submarine.

Yes it can carry SLAM-ER and mines and torpedo's....(torpedo's would be it's main load). It would not be used (barring some sort or really strange situation) to attack land/inland targets.

Man I figured surprise attack using 737s slightly differently. I was going for the old trojan horse trick. Paint the 737 like any other iranian airline. Land at Tehran's international airport. and instead of passengers coming down the jet way it will be two companies of US Marines and ARMY Rangers to take over the airport.

Let's see. the SLAM-ER is the land attack version of the Harpoon missile, so I guess that it would male sense that a Maritime Patrol Plane could carry them. The P-8 is the replacement for the P-3. It would make more sense to paint up some old P-3s in Iranian markings and attack with them than it would to use the P-8.

As far as using a civilian aircraft to attack somebody, I seem to recall that when the Lear Jet first came out, it was offered to some countries as a missile armed interceptor. Lear 24s and 25s have weapons hardpoints built into their wings.

reply to post by greyhat


P8 designed as long range maritime recon/ASW platforms. Equipped to carry mines, torpedoes, depth charges
for use against submarines

Not designed to operate in high threat environments where there are enemy fighters/air defense missiles or guns

That said P8 could be used to driop mines along Iranian coast to bottle up regular navy ships or IRGC gunboats

P8 also carry SLAMMER land attack missiles, derived from Harpoon anti ship missile. Weigh 1500 lbs
with range of 150 miles, could be used to attack land targets. P8 have 5 internal and 6 external weapon
stations