David,

I do not consider any of Jane's publications as authoritative on the topic
of Iran: they are full of terrible mistakes, and most of their (and most of
those published elsewhere) articles and publications to the topic of Iran -
actually all of them - are completely wrong.

The fact that they wrote in 2001 that the Su-25 is in service is already a
very good confirmation for this: the plane is in service only since earlier
this year.

That they say the Su-27s is not operated by Syria was probably a mistake of
a sort.

Also, I was disturbed by Tom Cooper's comments about not trusting
aviation reference books since he, himself, is the co-author of two on
Iranian aircraft. A bit hypocritical Tom? You should have just said to
properly make the distinction between aircraft reference books that
are to be used as guides and serious authoritative books like Jane's
to settle disputes.

Well, that's actually exactly what I said (minus that about Jane's: as said
above, they're never correct when it comes to Iran). I guess that you should
have read the post in question more carefully, instead just the line that
informed you, "...that Tom Cooper is .now stating that they are all wrong
about Iran and Syria..."

Tom Cooper
Co-Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php
and,
Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat:
http://www.osprey-publishing.co.uk/t...hp/title=S6585