Babak Taghvaee

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Mirage 2000-5F pilots score first post-WW2 aerial victories for France

Two French Air and Space Force pilots flying Mirage 2000-5F multi-role fighters have scored the first successful aerial victories against enemy aircraft since the end of World War 2, after the two jets engaged in air-to-air combat with Houthi-operated kamikaze drones over the Red Sea on March 9

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Where did the Houthis get anti-ship ballistic missiles from?

With the Houthi rebels in Yemen now using a mix of Iranian-made weapons to disrupt commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden – with such attacks having increased by 500% between November and December – Babak Taghvaee explores which anti-ship ballistic missiles are being employed by the Iran-backed militant group

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Iran agrees to buy Su-35SEs and Mi-28NMEs from Russia

​In a dramatic announcement on November 28, the Iranian Defense Minister, Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, said the agreement between Iran and Russia over the procurement of Su-35SE Flanker-E multi-role fighters for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force was back on, but added that the nation will also be acquiring Mi-28NME Havoc attack helicopters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Army Aviation

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How do Iranian cruise missiles pose a major threat to Israel?

As Israel wages war on Hamas it has come under increased attack from Iran’s cruise missiles and suicide drones. Babak Taghvaee looks at the threat posed by these weapons and the proxy groups using them

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French Mirage 2000-5Fs deploy for fifth Baltic Air Policing mission

For the fifth time since the initiative’s inception in 2004, Mirage 2000-5Fs from the French Air and Space Force have once again deployed to Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, where they will support NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission from December 1

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How does Iran use airliners to secretly fly weapons into Syria?

Babak Taghvaee reveals how Iran, aided by the Syrian Arab Air Force, has used airliners to fly weapons into Syria to help arm terrorist groups fighting Israel

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Welcoming the A220: Air France's short-haul fleet transformation

Two years on from receiving its first Airbus A220, Babak Taghvaee looks at how Air France prepared for its arrival and the impact it has had on the aircraft it will replace

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All eyes on Ramstein as NATO nations gathered for fifth Ukraine summit

As defence ministers and military officials flew in for a NATO meeting on Ukraine, Babak Taghvaee was at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to witness the comings and goings

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Why has Iran bailed on purchasing Su-35SEs from Russia?

Babak Taghvaee explains why Iran has backed out of its acquisition of 25 Su-35SEs from Russia and how the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force has struggled to effectively operate its existing Fulcrum and Fencer fleets due to Moscow’s political strategies

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Everything you need to know about Iran’s new armed Mohajer-10 drone

As the Qods Mohajer-10 armed drone is unveiled in Tehran, Babak Taghvaee discusses its capabilities and its competition in Iran