I'm not an expert in naval hardware as many others are. My expertise lies in
policy, admin, and personnel issues. However, I believe we need to keep in
mind that this aircraft was built with 1960's technology.

Yea....they might have been upgraded...and the Iranians sent many guys my
age to western engineering schools (I knew quite a number in college...good
students too!!) But many a Tomcat was defeated by an aggressor squadron A-4
and F-5 flown by a well trained and seasoned pilot. How well trained are
Iranian pilots and how adept are they in fighting the aircraft?

In my mind the biggest concern would be their long range air-air missile
capability. What is it? What are our counter measures? It's easy to awe
civilians and observers. What I'm curious is what our aviators were
thinking. Was it "uh oh!" or "those poor paisons will be dead if they fly
against us"?