fatman17
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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Iran - Air Force
Summary
STRENGTH
30,000
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
MiG-29 'Fulcrum', F-14A Tomcat, CAC F-7M, F-4 Phantom II, F-5 Tiger II, Mirage F1, Su-24 'Fencer', Su-25 'Frogfoot'
TRANSPORT
C-130 Hercules, Il-76MD 'Candid', F27 Friendship/Troopship, HAI Y-12, Boeing 747, Boeing 707, An-74T-200 'Coaler', XAC Y-7
Assessment
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has managed to keep a substantial portion of its fleet of US-supplied aircraft flying through black market purchases of spares which resulted in 18 US companies being investigated for breaching US export controls during the summer of 2003. Despite failing to prevent Iran from finding spares, the US has thwarted attempts to buy second-hand equipment from Russia and other former Soviet countries, forcing Iran to turn to China. In 2003, for example, Georgia refused to supply Su-25s as a result of US pressure. Later that year, Tehran hinted that it might purchase combat aircraft such as the Shenyang J-8 IIM strike aircraft, but no order ensued.
Itemised deliveries are virtually impossible to confirm but they are known to have included at least 65 F-7M Airguard fighters (a Chinese version of the MiG-21), with associated PL-2 and PL-7 air-to-air missiles, following earlier F-6 (MiG-19) deliveries. A major windfall for the IRIAF occurred in early 1991, with the unexpected arrival of over 100 Iraqi Air Force aircraft - including a substantial number of warplanes - fleeing to avoid destruction by the coalition air offensive during the first Gulf war.
It has since become clear that many of the combat aircraft were taken over for IRIAF use, although their current disposition and serviceability are unknown. Evidence that ex-Iraqi Su-22 'Fitter' ground-attack fighters were being flown in Iran was confirmed in early 1993 when one suffered a mid-air collision with an Iran Air Tour Tu-134B at Tehran, killing more than 130 passengers; these, however, are now believed to have been grounded. Iran is also understood to have retained 15 Ilyushin Il-76 'Candid' freighters. Major spares packages for the remainder are believed to have formed part of Iranian arms purchases from Russia and Ukraine.
In a significant development, Iran announced in September 1997 that the Iranian Air Force had launched a production line for the Tazarve jet trainer and the country's first jet strike fighter, the Azarakhsh ('Lightning'), which is apparently intended to replace the F-5. In a more radical effort, single-seat F-5As have been converted by Hevapeimasazi (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Company: HESA) into Simorgh (Phoenix) two-seat trainers. It was also announced that production work would start on two Iranian-designed training aircraft, the jet-powered Dorna ('Lark') and the propeller-driven Parastu ('Swallow'). There is still insufficient data available to assess the potential capabilities of these aircraft, although there is little or no evidence of any of them having entered service in quantity.
HESA is also responsible for manufacturing reverse-engineered components for the legacy F-4 Phantom, F-5 Tiger II and F-14 Tomcat, enabling Iran to maintain these aircraft in operational service despite the US embargo.
Iran's exercises, military literature and procurement efforts also make it clear that its air planners understand the value of airborne early warning and C4I systems, airborne intelligence, electronic warfare platforms, Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) and airborne refuelling. Iran is pursuing a longer-range strike capability for its air assets to support the delivery of more powerful strategic weapons systems. To this end, Tehran has invested considerable resources in generating enhanced operational aerial refuelling capabilities to support strike assets capable of delivering such weapons, most notably the Sukhoi Su-24MK 'Fencer' strike aircraft.
Defending Iranian Airspace
Since the Shah's era, Iranian planners have recognised that defending the country's airspace is challenging. This is due to the expansive size of the country and its mountainous character, which necessitates hundreds of ground-based radar stations and surface-to-air missile (SAM) units in order to create an integrated radar picture and fill in the large gaps (or radar 'shadows') created by the terrain. The past solution adopted by Iran - culminating in the 1977 Seek Sentry arms deal - sought instead to procure E-3A Sentry AWACS aircraft and F-14A Tomcat fighters (each of the latter type carrying a powerful long-range AWG-9 radar system) to build a large airborne early-warning (AEW) network. Although the Sentry never reached Iran, 79 F-14As were delivered before the revolution, giving Iran a fleet of 'mini-AWACS' aircraft that remain in service to this day.
Fusing elements of the Shah's grandiose plans with over 25 years of improvisation, cannibalisation and, most recently, modernisation, Iran's air defences have evolved uniquely. Interceptor aircraft and SAMs play an equal role in the system, which derives most of its radar coverage from airborne rather than ground-based sensors. Iran has only added one ground-based surveillance radar station since 1979, which was on the Afghan border. Instead, Iran's air defence forces continue to rely on the F-14A Tomcat force, which keeps 30 aircraft on active duty at any time through a carefully maintained system of phased rotation of the fleet of 45 to 50 operational aircraft.
Extensive maintenance efforts are likely to keep these aircraft, and their vital AWG-9 radar systems, active until at least 2015, by which time Iran could be experienced in operating a new fleet of locally licence-produced Antonov An-140 AEW aircraft. These small AWACS aircraft are likely to enter service in sufficient numbers to permit full 24-hour radar coverage along Iran's Gulf coast during crisis periods.
Despite this, Iran is unlikely to seek to develop a fully integrated nationwide air defence system like the Iraqi model of the 1980s. Instead, it seems to prefer a point defence strategy, with its strongest defences located around key strategic centres such as Tehran, Esfahan, Kharq Island, Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. Highly integrated local networks of interceptor aircraft and ground-based SAMs provide layered protection for these areas.
They will employ a mobile defence involving the regular relocation of SAMs and a network of low-flying fighters screened by mountain ranges and teamed with F-14A controllers operating at higher altitudes and further inland. The system would aim to ambush penetrating attackers and their supporting AWACS or tankers with salvos of long-range SAM, beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) fired by F-14As and shorter-ranged air-to-air missiles (AAM) launched by other fighters.
In seeking to continue to present a meaningful air-to-air threat, Iran is well aware that Western air arms have successfully eliminated the counter-air threat in every major regional conflict since the 1980s.
Iran's lone airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) platform, based on an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft airframe, crashed in September 2009, killing all seven people on board. However, as Jane's reports the aircraft's radar system was not operational, the crash will have little impact on overall capabilities.
Readiness
In spite of Iran's efforts, readiness and force quality remain major issues. The Iranian Air Force still has many qualitative weaknesses and it is far from clear if its current rate of modernisation can offset the increasing age of its Western-supplied aircraft as well as qualitative improvements in US and southern Gulf forces (GCC states), especially the Royal Saudi Air Force. Iran's air arm also faces serious problems in terms of sustainment, command and control, and training.
The Iranian Air Force lacks advanced training facilities and has only limited capability to conduct realistic training for beyond-visual-range combat and stand-off attacks with air-to-surface munitions. Ground crew training and proficiency generally seem mediocre - although the layout of Iranian air bases, aircraft storage and parking, the deployment of equipment for maintenance cycles and the other physical signs of air unit activity appear to be generally better organised than those of most Middle Eastern air forces, which is largely due to its Shah-era affiliations with and training from the US Air Force.
As is the case with most aspects of Iranian military forces, estimates of capability and strength differ by source, but all appear to agree that Iran continues to operate US-supplied F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II, and Soviet-supplied Su-24 'Fencer' strike/attack aircraft as well as some Su-25K 'Frogfoot' and Mirage F1 aircraft obtained from Iraq. In the specialist air defence role, it employs US-supplied F-14 Tomcats, Russian/Iraqi-supplied MiG-29 'Fulcrums' and Chinese-supplied F-7M Airguard fighters.
Iran's F-14s have, however, not been able to use the long-range AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missile since the early 1980s. Iran has claimed that it is modernising its F-14s by equipping them with I-Hawk missiles adapted for the air-to-air role, but it is far from clear that this is the case - even if it is correct, it appears doubtful if such adaptations could have more than limited effectiveness. With respect to its indigenously produced aircraft - such as the Tazarve - little is known about their quantity or performance.
In early 2007, the air defence command tested the inter-operability of newly acquired Russian Almaz-Antey Tor M1 (SA-15 'Gauntlet') short-range air-defence system with other surface-to-air missiles, with the aim of demonstrating how Iranian nuclear facilities could be protected against air attack.
Deployments, tasks and operations
Role and Deployment
Air Defence Forces
IRIAF air defence resources include aircraft obtained from both the USA and Russia. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat and MiG-29 'Fulcrum' are arguably the most potent machines in the Iranian inventory. In support are numerous F-4 Phantom IIs, F-5 Tiger IIs and a modest number of Mirage F1EQs that were among more than 100 aircraft evacuated from Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. Reports that Iran was to acquire at least 24 MiG-31 'Foxhound' fighters do not appear to have any foundation.
With respect to land-based assets, known deployments include three S-200 Angara (SA-5 'Gammon') sites covering the northern border and the area around Tehran. A fourth covers the Esfahan region, a site at Bandar Abbas covers the Straits of Hormuz and a site at Bushehr covers the northern half of the Persian Gulf. There are HQ-2s at Tehran, also near Esfahan, and the nuclear facility at Natanz and at Bandar Abbas. HAWKs are deployed at Tehran, again, near Esfahan, near the nuclear facility at Natanz, in the Bushehr region and at Bandar Abbas. These sites have been publicly identified, although there could well be others. One curious feature of Iran's SAM deployments is the presence of at least 19 prepared but unoccupied sites for the HQ-2 or HAWK. These may represent planned dispersal sites or deployment sites for hardware that is currently in storage.
Romania allegedly delivered ISA-6 SAM missiles in 2003. Iran has developed and deployed its own domestically manufactured SAM dubbed the Shahab Thaqeb. The SAM requires a four-wheeled trailer for deployment and closely resembles the R440 SAM. Iran's holdings of lighter air defence weapons include five Rapier squadrons with 30 fire units, five to 10 Chinese FM-80 launchers, 10 to 15 Tigercat fire units and a few RBS-70s. Iran also holds large numbers of man-portable 9K32/9K32M Strela-2/Strela 2M (SA-7 'Grail'), HN-5s, and 91C36 Stela-3 (SA-14 'Gremlin'), plus about 2,000 anti-aircraft guns - including some Vulcans - and 50 to 60 radar-guided and self propelled ZSU-23-4 weapons. Iran further enhanced its air defence capabilities by taking delivery from Russia of 29 Tor-M1 (SA-15 'Gauntlet') road-mobile shelter-mounted low-to-medium altitude surface-to-air missiles in 2006. According to Russian defence sources, the missile systems would be deployed for the protection of vital military and civilian assets, firstly in Esfahan and then Bushehr, Tehran, and the east of the country. In terms of air defence guns, Iran deploys the 23 mm towed ZSU-23, and the 37 mm Oerlikon.
Iran is known to have two Boeing 707-3J9C tanker/transports modified to undertake signals intelligence (SIGINT) missions. Reportedly code-named Project Ibex, these aircraft originated prior to the overthrow of the Shah from a joint initiative involving Iran, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA). At least one still appeared to be active in March 2008, the aircraft concerned featuring numerous appendages and antenna apparently allied to the SIGINT task.
Iran is slowly improving its capability for joint land-air and air-sea operations. Military manoeuvres and official statements provide strong indications that Iran wishes to develop advanced air defence systems; acquire the ability to operate effectively in long-range maritime patrol and attack missions; evolve effective joint warfare capabilities; and sustain strike/attack forces with the ability to penetrate deep into Iraq, the southern Gulf states, and other neighbouring powers.
Strike Forces
Unconfirmed reports that Iran ordered a number of Tu-22M-3 'Backfire C' long-range strategic bombers from Russia or Ukraine appear unfounded and there is no evidence that any examples of this formidable warplane have been delivered. Nevertheless, Iran does possess considerable strike potential, this primarily being vested in the Su-24 'Fencer'. The first examples of this type to be operated were drawn from about 24 aircraft that fled from Iraq during the first Gulf War, although it appears that some additional aircraft have since been obtained from Russia. The first Iranian Su-24 pilots are understood to have graduated in August 1994.
In June 1997, it was reported that Iran had successfully test-fired two air-launched versions of the Chinese C-801K anti-ship cruise missile, with these trials apparently being conducted by F-4 Phantoms, giving rise to concern that the missiles could pose a threat to US naval forces in the Gulf. US military sources pointed to the fact that Iran posed a '360 degree threat', with a combination of cruise missiles that can be fired from air, land and sea.
Maritime Capability
The IRIAF also has responsibility for maritime-reconnaissance and shore-based anti-submarine warfare, for which it operates three or four P-3F Orions and an RC-130 Hercules.
Command and control
Commander, Air Force: Brigadier General Ahmad Miquani
Commander, IRGC Air Wing: Brigadier General Hossein Salami
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Brigadier General Ahmad Miquani as commander of the regular air force. Miquani oversees three regional air force commands, while the IRGC air wing is commanded by Brigadier General Hossein Salami.
Organisation
The Iranian Air Force is headquartered in Tehran with training, administration, and logistics branches, and a major central Air Defence Operations Centre. It has a political directorate and a small naval co-ordination staff.
The IRIAF is organised on geographical lines and has three regional commands, namely the Western Area Command (WAC), the Southern Area Command (SAC) and the Eastern Area Command (EAC). The WAC holds the bulk of the combat assets, with interceptors and/or close support aircraft based at Mehrabad, Tabriz, Hamadan, Dezful, Omidiyeh, Shiraz and Esfahan. Some of the squadrons assigned to the WAC have a particular focus on the air space along the sensitive frontier with Iraq. The WAC also covers the north of Iran and the region around Tehran. The SAC covers air bases along the shores of the Persian Gulf, at Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and Chah Bahar. The EAC has a focus on the border with Afghanistan, with Mashhad being the main air base in the frontier region, while facilities at Birjand and Zahedan are forward operating bases lacking permanent units but capable of rapid reinforcement by aircraft from other commands
Estimates of the number of combat squadrons have varied greatly. On paper at least, there are close to 30 squadrons, (of which two-thirds are combat units) according to data that emerged in 2001. These have been identified in terms of their home base and, in most cases, by unit number and aircraft deployed. However, it is unclear how many of them are fully manned and operational - one recent estimate suggests a figure of about 16 active combat squadrons. A complicating factor is that some aircraft (notably the F-7 fighter) are reported to be operated by the air arm of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) or Pasdaran.
Order of Battle
Eastern Area Command
Unit Base Type Role
Tactical Air Base Birjand n/a Forward operating base
Tactical Air Base 11 Zahedan n/a Forward operating base
Tactical Air Base 14 Mashad
141 Fighter Squadron Mashad Mirage F1 Air Defence / Attack
141 Fighter Squadron Mashad F-5E Air Defence / Attack
Most airfields have a Base Flight for miscellaneous duties, such as communications and search-and-rescue. These usually operate helicopters (Bell 214 mostly) and some have light aircraft like the Bonanza.
Southern Area Command
Unit Base Type Role
Tactical Air Base 6 Bushehr
61 Fighter Squadron Bushehr F-4E Air Defence / Attack
62 Fighter Squadron Bushehr F-4E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 9 Bandar Abbas
91 Fighter Squadron Bandar Abbas F-4E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 10 Chah Bahar
101 Fighter Squadron Chah Bahar F-4D Air Defence / Attack
Most airfields have a Base Flight for miscellaneous duties, such as communications and search-and-rescue. These usually operate helicopters (Bell 214 mostly) and some have light aircraft like the Bonanza.
Western Area Command
Unit Base Type Role
Tactical Air Base 1 Tehran-Mehrabad
11 Fighter Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad MiG-29 Interceptor
11 Helicopter Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad CH-47C Transport
11 Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad C-130 Transport
Transport Squadron (1) Tehran-Mehrabad Boeing 707 Tanker / Transport
Transport Squadron (1) Tehran-Mehrabad Boeing 747 Tanker / Transport
Transport Squadron (2) Tehran-Mehrabad Friendship Transport
VIP Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad Boeing 707 Communications
VIP Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad Falcon 50 Communications
VIP Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad Jetstar Communications
Special Duties Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad RC-707 Electronic Intelligence
Special Duties Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad RC-130 Electronic Intelligence
Tactical Air Base 2 Tabriz
21 Fighter Squadron Tabriz F-5E Air Defence / Attack
21 Fighter Squadron Tabriz F-5F Air Defence / Attack
23 Fighter Squadron Tabriz MiG-29 Interceptor
Tactical Air Base 3 Hamadan
31 Reconnaissance Squadron Hamadan RF-4E Reconnaissance
31 Fighter Squadron Hamadan F-4E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 4 Dezful
41 Fighter Squadron Dezful F-5E Air Defence / Attack
43 Fighter Squadron Dezful F-5E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 5 Omidiyeh
51 Fighter Squadron Omidiyeh F-7M Air Defence / Attack
52 Fighter Squadron Omidiyeh F-7M Air Defence / Attack
53 Fighter Squadron Omidiyeh F-7M Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 7 Shiraz
71 Fighter Squadron Shiraz F-5E Air Defence / Attack
72 Fighter Squadron Shiraz Su-24MK Attack
Fighter Squadron Shiraz Su-25 Attack
71 Transport Squadron Shiraz C-130 Transport
72 Transport Squadron Shiraz C-130 Transport
73 Transport Squadron Shiraz Il-76 Transport
71 Patrol Squadron Shiraz P-3F Maritime Patrol
Tactical Air Base 8 1 Esfahan
81 Fighter Squadron Esfahan F-14A Air Defence / Attack
82 Fighter Squadron Esfahan F-14A Air Defence / Attack
85 Fighter Squadron Esfahan F-5E Air Defence / Attack
Notes:
Most airfields have a Base Flight for miscellaneous duties, such as communications and search-and-rescue. These usually operate helicopters (Bell 214 mostly) and some have light aircraft like the Bonanza.
Bracketed numbers are not part of the unit name. They indicate that they are different units.
The F-5E squadron at Tactical Air Base 8 also appears to be equipped with the F-5B Simorgh; a detachment of Su-24 attack aircraft has also been reported here, while F-14s from Esfahan appear to be deployed to alert facilities at other bases (including Bushehr and Shiraz).
Bases
Bandar Abbas (27° 13' 05" N; 56° 22' 40" E)
Birjand (32° 53' 36" N; 59° 17' 10" E)
Bushehr (28° 56' 37" N; 50° 50' 09" E)
Chah Bahar (25° 26' 36" N; 60° 22' 55" E)
Dezful (32° 26' 04" N; 48° 23' 51" E)
Esfahan (32° 45' 02" N; 51° 51' 42" E)
Ghale Morghi (35° 38' 41" N; 51° 22' 50" E)
Hamadan (35° 12' 21" N; 48° 40' 07" E)
Mashad (36° 14' 06" N; 59° 38' 27" E)
Omidiyeh (30° 50' 06" N; 49° 32' 05" E)
Shiraz (29° 32' 21" N; 52° 35' 22" E)
Tabriz (38° 07' 58" N; 46° 14' 05" E)
Tehran-Doshan Tappeh (35° 42' 10" N; 51° 28' 30" E)
Tehran-Mehrabad (35° 41' 21" N; 51° 18' 48" E)
Zahedan (29° 28' 34" N; 60° 54' 21" E)
Iran: Air Force Bases
1158292
Training
Military Exercises
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy (IRGN) began a series of naval exercises under the 'Ettehad 87' ('Unity 87') banner in the Sea of Oman on 4 December 2008, according to local news reports. Iran's Fars News Agency stated that IRGN missile boats and other craft practised surface warfare using anti-ship missiles and guns against simulated attacking ships and aircraft. Air force F-4E jets were also employed during the exercises, using air-to-ground missiles against land and sea targets.
Air Force procurement
Despite rapid improvements in front-line fighter and interceptor assets in the 1990s, the force remains weak in relation to its neighbours. The bulk of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) fleet is made up of US types such as the Northrop F-5 Tiger II, Grumman F-14A Tomcat and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, all of which were delivered before the 1979 Islamic revolution. These were supplemented to some extent by Iraqi aircraft of Soviet and Chinese origin that were flown to Iran during the 1990-91 Gulf War. While the serviceability of many of these systems is open to question, there is evidence that Iran is striving to keep as much of it as possible in operation.
It was reported in April 2001 that Iran was planning the phased withdrawal of its remaining C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, which are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Some are expected to be replaced by the Iran 140 (a licence-built version of Ukraine's Antonov An-140), although this process could take many years. Meanwhile, it emerged that an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) version of the Iran 140 was being developed.
Subsequently, in December 2002, it became known that Iran was planning to develop new military variants of the license-built Antonov An-140 commercial airliner. Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (HESA) confirmed that it was working with foreign partners, including Antonov, to develop two specialist military versions - the IR.AN 140MP maritime patrol and the IR.AN 140TC tactical transport.
Combat
It was learned during 2006 that Iran had taken delivery of six Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' attack aircraft from Russia, this small quantity being equally split between the Su-25UBK two-seat combat trainer version and the Su-25T single-seater. This delivery brought the number of Su-25s operated by Iran to 13 and it was reported at the time that consideration was being given to further acquisitions of this type to augment the new deliveries and seven older Su-25K/UBKs which had been flown to Iran from Iraq in 1991. The seven aircraft were initially held in storage for several years before being taken over by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Air Force (IRGCAF) and returned to service by Georgian technicians in 2003.
There have also been numerous reports that Iran has sought to obtain Tu-22M 'Backfire' strategic bombers to supplement the Su-24 'Fencer' aircraft already in its inventory, but these appear unfounded. Meanwhile, Iran has been seeking to meet some of its requirements by developing its own indigenous combat aircraft. Some progress has been made on developing a fighter aircraft named the Azaraksh (Lightning), which is similar to the American Northrop F-5, albeit with the wings moved to a mid-set position. At least one prototype Azaraksh has flown, this being displayed in public for the first time in August 2007. Other projects based on the F-5 include the twin-tailed Saeghe (Thunderbolt) and the Simorgh (Phoenix) - several examples of the Saeghe have apparently been built, although it appears unlikely to enter quantity production, while the Simorgh is essentially an F-5A that has been converted to F-5B two-seat configuration, with some sources alluding to a total of about 13 aircraft having been modified.
In October 2007, reports in the Russian media suggested that Iran could buy J-10 fighters from China between 2008 and 2010, although this does not appear to have happened as of late 2009. Quoting sources within HESA, Kommersant said the Iranian military was to take delivery of 24 J-10s to equip two squadrons, although this report was vehemently denied by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao just two days later.
Iran was previously thought to be negotiating the acquisition of a substantial number (as many as 250, according to some reports) of Sukhoi Su-30MK fighters from Russia, although, once again, these reports were subsequently denied by both Iran and Russia.
Iran's Shahed Aviation Industries Research Centre (SAIRC) handed over a number of newly developed Shahed 285 armed helicopters to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to press reports in May 2009. The Shahed 285 is a previously unknown variant of the Shahed helicopter family, all of which are derived from the elderly Bell Model 206 JetRanger design. Drawing on the extensive resources of the Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company, the SAIRC has established a limited production facility at Isfahan. The Shahed 285 is the first military helicopter it has built in any quantity.
Analysis of images displayed on Iran's PressTV show that the Shahed 285's fuselage has been substantially redesigned. Now a single-seat aircraft, its forward section has been narrowed to reduce the head-on profile. The angular slab-sided helicopter has been armoured, with flat plate-armoured glass fitted to the cockpit. Iranian sources say the fuselage and rotor blades use composite materials. Some of the outer skin panels may be composite, but it is not clear whether SAIRC has this capability. The helicopter is almost certainly powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C20B turboshaft, like its predecessors: a single-engined design that leaves it vulnerable in combat.
The Shahed 285 has a single 7.62 mm machine gun, which closely resembles a Russian PKTM, that is housed in a crude dustbin turret under the nose. It also features short weapon pylons, each with a single (articulated) suspension unit for simple unguided weapons like Mk 40 2.75-inch rockets. In what may point to a significant future capability, one Shahed 285 prototype has flown carrying a dummy Kosar 3 (Iran's version of the Chinese-developed C-701R) anti-ship missile.
UAV
It was claimed in early 2007 that Iran had begun "mass-producing and using" a stealth UAV with a range of 700 km (435 miles). The claim was made by IRGC Commander Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi. Iran's drive to mature an indigenous UAV capability started during the 1980-88 war with Iraq, primarily under the auspices of HESA. HESA's Ababil family of UAVs includes the Ababil-S medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance variant and the short- to medium-range Ababil-T attack UAV. Earlier models include the Ababil-B - used primarily as a target for air-defence units - and the Ababil II close-range UAV, early operational deployments of which were reported to have included shadowing US Navy operations in the Persian Gulf. Qods Aviation Industries, a subsidiary of HESA, manufactures the Mohadjer family of reconnaissance and surveillance UAVs. These include the baseline Mohadjer 2; the Mohadjer 3 (also known as Dorna); and the Mohadjer 4 (also known as Hodhod), which can be used to relay communications and is said to have an "impressive" electronic countermeasures capability.
Missiles & Weapons Systems
In terms of anti-aircraft defence at low, medium and high altitudes, one of Iran's priorities has been to produce its own versions of foreign-designed surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). The Iranian Armed Forces successfully tested their indigenous version of the Russian S-75 Dvina/Volkhov SAM, the Sayyed-1 missile. They have had advanced and improved guidance hardware incorporated into the design but other than their motors and outward appearance, they share little else in common with the Russian missile according to the Iranian Ministry of Defence. Sayyed-1 will be deployed against medium-to-high altitude targets in combination with the S-200 Angara (SA-5 'Gammon') low-to-high altitude SAM system. Iran has also reverse engineered British Aerospace Rapier SAMs, Iranian missile engineers having successfully tested eight of these after a complete rebuild and upgrade. It is thought that this upgrade and the subsequent test firing are a prelude to a more comprehensive plan to reproduce a version of the Rapier system locally. Iran has developed and deployed its own domestically manufactured SAM, dubbed the Shahab Thaqeb, which requires a four-wheeled trailer for deployment and closely resembles the R440 weapon.
In early May 2007, Iran declared operational a new air defence missile system, designed by army ground forces, based on Russian-origin and indigenous assets. The system is capable of engaging targets while both stationary or mobile, and firing two missiles simultaneously (although whether this is at two separate targets or simply a two-round salvo is unknown). The system successfully engaged air targets during an exercise in February 2007.
Modernisation
Such modernisation as has occurred since 1989 has relied on Soviet Union/Russia and China, with the former supplying state-of-the-art hardware and the latter being a source of older generation aircraft based on Soviet designs. For a while, Russia observed a 1995 commitment to the US not to supply arms to Iran, under which Moscow agreed that it would fulfil only existing contracts by the end of 1999, and not sign any new ones. However, in November 2000, Russia abandoned this pledge and resumed arms transfers to Iran. During the period when arms supplies from Russia were disrupted, Iran tended increasingly to check out the market in China, although in the event this did not translate into any firm orders for combat aircraft. As regards Russia, it emerged in late 2006 that it had concluded an agreement with Iran on returning the fleet of Ilyushin IL-76 heavy transport aircraft (many of which were originally owned by Iraq) to service.
Iran has kept its fleet of US-supplied aircraft flying by black market purchases of spares which resulted in 18 US companies being investigated for breaching US export controls during the summer of 2003. Despite these efforts to circumvent the embargo, it is estimated that only a small proportion of the 200+ F-4D, F-4E and RF-4E Phantoms delivered before 1979 are in service and less than half of the F-5E/F Tiger IIs and F-14A Tomcats that were received are still airworthy. The F-14s have been modified locally to carry bombs. Some reports suggest that Iran can fly up to seven F-14s at any one time, but that each aircraft can only fly once in every three days. Additionally, many F-4s, F-5s and F-14s are unserviceable, largely because they have been cannibalised for spare parts.
Due to difficulties in obtaining parts and services for its predominantly US-made fleet - more than 70 per cent of the IRIAF's active inventory consists of US-built aircraft - the Iranian military establishment has sought to develop an indigenous manufacturing and service capacity. In 2001, Iranian military and industry officials announced several new projects as part of the country's continuing drive to domestically maintain and improve its military aviation assets, principally executed by the Iranian Armed Forces Aviation Industries Organisation (IAFAIO). While still facing considerable obstacles, it should be noted that Iran has been able to equip much of its fleet with long-range air-to-air missiles, external fuel tanks and modern electronics. In addition, Iran has modified all of its front-line combat aircraft (with the exception of the F-14, which needed no additional work) to be compatible with a new air-to-air refuelling (AAR) system. Aircraft such as the MiG-29 and F-5 that were not fitted with AAR probes have had new ones developed; while aircraft like the Su-24 'Fencer' have been modified to work with the NATO-standard probe gauge used by a Hose-and-Drogue Unit (HDU).
Upgrading US-Built Aircraft
Despite having purchased equipment from China and Russia, Iran remains largely dependent on US-built military aircraft procured before the Islamic revolution of 1979. The predominantly US-built aircraft are kept aloft through the local production and covert procurement of spare parts. Local upgrades with varying degrees of success have been developed for much of this ageing hardware, but solutions sought to remedy the service's vaunted capabilities have in turn created new logistical complications.
Tehran's claim that it is capable of producing around 70 per cent of the spare parts required to keep its F-14 fleet airworthy fall well short in reality; the IAFAIO is thought capable of manufacturing only around 15 per cent of the spares needed for IRIAF F-4, F-5 and F-14 aircraft. IAFAIO by its own admission manufactured only 167 of the 1,027 parts needed to repair the port wing of a fire-damaged RF-4E that was returned to service in 1995. The aircraft required more than 4,900 items of spares after suffering damage in 1978.
Most Iranian aviation expertise falls into the mechanical and metallurgy fields. The country is believed to manufacture wing leading edge, undercarriage wheel base and hydraulic support components, plus fan blades, fan blade casings and possibly titanium casings and associated parts for its US-supplied fighters. IAFAIO has also devised and developed a circulation chromium plating technique to increase the life of F-4 and F-5 engine components.
Air-to-Air Missiles
IAFAIO has in the past proved itself capable of repairing, overhauling and upgrading much of the IRIAF's Western-supplied missiles. Several reported sightings of F-14s on air defence sorties have confirmed that at least part of the force may still be capable of deploying the AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile. As Iran does not possess the source codes required to operate and upgrade the AN/AWG-9 fire control system's complex avionics, it is likely that it received foreign assistance if the reported sightings prove correct.
The IRIAF's Self-Sufficiency Group of engineers was also reported to have carried out a modification to its inventory of Hawk surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) permitting them to be fired by the F-14. In fact, in 1997, Iran released pictures of IRIAF F-14s carrying Hawk SAMs which had allegedly been modified for air-to-air or air-to-surface roles, but it is possible that this effort could have been part of post-overhaul avionics calibration trials.
Equipment in service
Fixed Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
F-14A Tomcat Grumman Fighter - Interceptor / Air Defence 79 451 n/a
MiG-29 'Fulcrum-A' MiG Fighter - Interceptor / Air Defence n/a 482 1990
Mirage F1EQ Dassault Fighter - Interceptor / Air Defence n/a 244 1991
Su-24MK 'Fencer-D' Sukhoi Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 303 295 1991
Su-25 'Frogfoot' Sukhoi Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 13 136 1991
F-5B Simorgh Northrop/IAMI Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 137 12 n/a
F-7M Airguard CAC Fighter - Multirole n/a 30 1987
F-4E Phantom II McDonnell Douglas Fighter - Multirole 177 50 1971
F-4D Phantom II McDonnell Douglas Fighter - Multirole 32 5 1968
F-5E Tiger II Northrop Fighter - Multirole 141 31 1974
F-5F Tiger II Northrop Fighter - Multirole 28 18 1974
P-3F Orion Lockheed Martin Maritime Patrol 6 48 1974
RF-4E Phantom II McDonnell Douglas Reconnaissance 16 4 1971
An-74TK-200 'Coaler-B' Antonov Transport 12 119 1996
Y-7 XAC Transport n/a 2 1998
747 Boeing Transport n/a 710 1975
747-2J9F Boeing Transport n/a 410 1977
F27-400M Troopship Fokker Transport 15 10 1972
F27-600 Friendship Fokker Transport 5 n/a11 1972
Y-12 (II) HAI Transport n/a 9 1996
Il-76MD 'Candid' Ilyushin Transport 153 1412 1991
C-130E Hercules Lockheed Martin Transport 28 22 1965
C-130H Hercules Lockheed Martin Transport 32 n/a13 1971
IR.AN-140 Faraz IAMI (HESA) Transport n/a 3 n/a
707-3J9C Boeing Tanker / Transport 14 12 1974
Falcon 20E Dassault Utility n/a 1 1976
Falcon 50 Dassault Utility n/a 34 1991
L-1329 Jetstar Lockheed Utility n/a 1 1969
PC-6/B Turbo Porter Pilatus Utility 15 8 1982
TB-21 Socata Trainer 8 8 1996
TB-200 Socata Trainer 4 4 1996
F33 Bonanza Beech Trainer n/a 20 n/a
EMB-312 Tucano Embraer Trainer n/a 15 1989
PC-7 Turbo Trainer Pilatus Trainer n/a 35 1983
Mushshak PAC Trainer 25 229 1991
Parastu IAMI Trainer n/a 1414 1993
Tazarve IRIAF Trainer n/a 2515 n/a
Notes: Iran still possesses large numbers of aircraft and helicopters of US origin obtained before overthrow of Shah; most are unserviceable and figures quoted refer only to those believed capable of operation at time of writing. Inventory totals given above include those of the Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Total strength; only about 35 maintained in operational status at any given time.
Total includes 21 impounded Iraqi aircraft; some MiG-29UB 'FulcrumB' two-seaters are operated; 35 to be overhauled and upgraded.
This figure is the lowest estimate of the number of aircraft in service.
Impounded Iraqi aircraft; in case of Mirage, at least six F1BQ two-seaters and 15 F1EQ single-seaters are believed to be operated.
Total includes 18 impounded Iraqi aircraft; more allegedly received from requirement for 100 ex-Russian aircraft; armed with Fajr-e-Darya AShMs; 24 to be overhauled and upgraded.
Includes examples of the Su-25K, Su-25UBK and Su-25T versions, with at least five Su-25K/UBK being former Iraqi Air Force aircraft.
F-5B converted from F-5A; at least 13 reported to have been completed.
To be replaced by version of IR.AN-140 Faraz.
Pasdaran aircraft according to recent reports.
Some converted to tanker.
Included in total quoted for F27-400M Troopship.
Including 11 ex-Iraqi; confirmed in service.
Included in total quoted for C-130E Hercules.
Based on Beech Bonanza.
Total requirement.
Rotary Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
AS-61A-4 Agusta-Sikorsky Utility n/a 2 n/a
CH-47C Chinook Boeing Utility n/a 2 n/a
206B JetRanger Agusta-Bell Utility n/a 2 n/a
212 Agusta-Bell Utility n/a 6 n/a
214 Bell Utility n/a 20 n/a
412 Bell Utility n/a 2 n/a
Shahed 274 IRGC Utility n/a 2 1999
Missiles
Type Manufacturer Role
AIM-9P Sidewinder Lockheed Martin Air-to-Air
AA-8 'Aphid' Vympel Air-to-Air
AA-9 'Amos' Vympel Air-to-Air
AA-10 'Alamo' Vympel Air-to-Air
AA-11 'Archer' Vympel Air-to-Air
AIM-7F Sparrow Raytheon Air-to-Air
AIM-54 Phoenix Raytheon Air-to-Air
MIM-23B HAWK 1 Raytheon Air-to-Air
R 550 Magic Matra BAE Air-to-Air
PL-2 'Atoll' CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-5 CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-7 CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-9 CPMIEC Air-to-Air
(Iran) Sattar-1 n/a Air-to-Surface
(Iran) Sattar-2 n/a Air-to-Surface
AGM-65 Maverick Raytheon Air-to-Surface
AS-10 'Karen' Zvezda Air-to-Surface
AS-11 'Kilter' Raduga Air-to-Surface
AS-12 'Kegler' Zvezda Air-to-Surface
AS-14 'Kedge' Vympel Air-to-Surface
AS-16 'Kickback' Raduga Air-to-Surface
YJ-6 (CAS-1) CPMIEC Anti-Ship Attack
C-801C Sardine CPMIEC Anti-Ship Attack
(Iran) Fajr-e-Darya (CPMIEC C-802K) n/a Anti-Ship Attack
RIM-66 Standard 1 Raytheon Anti-Ship Attack
Note:
Sic.
UPDATED
Dec-2009
Summary
STRENGTH
30,000
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
MiG-29 'Fulcrum', F-14A Tomcat, CAC F-7M, F-4 Phantom II, F-5 Tiger II, Mirage F1, Su-24 'Fencer', Su-25 'Frogfoot'
TRANSPORT
C-130 Hercules, Il-76MD 'Candid', F27 Friendship/Troopship, HAI Y-12, Boeing 747, Boeing 707, An-74T-200 'Coaler', XAC Y-7
Assessment
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has managed to keep a substantial portion of its fleet of US-supplied aircraft flying through black market purchases of spares which resulted in 18 US companies being investigated for breaching US export controls during the summer of 2003. Despite failing to prevent Iran from finding spares, the US has thwarted attempts to buy second-hand equipment from Russia and other former Soviet countries, forcing Iran to turn to China. In 2003, for example, Georgia refused to supply Su-25s as a result of US pressure. Later that year, Tehran hinted that it might purchase combat aircraft such as the Shenyang J-8 IIM strike aircraft, but no order ensued.
Itemised deliveries are virtually impossible to confirm but they are known to have included at least 65 F-7M Airguard fighters (a Chinese version of the MiG-21), with associated PL-2 and PL-7 air-to-air missiles, following earlier F-6 (MiG-19) deliveries. A major windfall for the IRIAF occurred in early 1991, with the unexpected arrival of over 100 Iraqi Air Force aircraft - including a substantial number of warplanes - fleeing to avoid destruction by the coalition air offensive during the first Gulf war.
It has since become clear that many of the combat aircraft were taken over for IRIAF use, although their current disposition and serviceability are unknown. Evidence that ex-Iraqi Su-22 'Fitter' ground-attack fighters were being flown in Iran was confirmed in early 1993 when one suffered a mid-air collision with an Iran Air Tour Tu-134B at Tehran, killing more than 130 passengers; these, however, are now believed to have been grounded. Iran is also understood to have retained 15 Ilyushin Il-76 'Candid' freighters. Major spares packages for the remainder are believed to have formed part of Iranian arms purchases from Russia and Ukraine.
In a significant development, Iran announced in September 1997 that the Iranian Air Force had launched a production line for the Tazarve jet trainer and the country's first jet strike fighter, the Azarakhsh ('Lightning'), which is apparently intended to replace the F-5. In a more radical effort, single-seat F-5As have been converted by Hevapeimasazi (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Company: HESA) into Simorgh (Phoenix) two-seat trainers. It was also announced that production work would start on two Iranian-designed training aircraft, the jet-powered Dorna ('Lark') and the propeller-driven Parastu ('Swallow'). There is still insufficient data available to assess the potential capabilities of these aircraft, although there is little or no evidence of any of them having entered service in quantity.
HESA is also responsible for manufacturing reverse-engineered components for the legacy F-4 Phantom, F-5 Tiger II and F-14 Tomcat, enabling Iran to maintain these aircraft in operational service despite the US embargo.
Iran's exercises, military literature and procurement efforts also make it clear that its air planners understand the value of airborne early warning and C4I systems, airborne intelligence, electronic warfare platforms, Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) and airborne refuelling. Iran is pursuing a longer-range strike capability for its air assets to support the delivery of more powerful strategic weapons systems. To this end, Tehran has invested considerable resources in generating enhanced operational aerial refuelling capabilities to support strike assets capable of delivering such weapons, most notably the Sukhoi Su-24MK 'Fencer' strike aircraft.
Defending Iranian Airspace
Since the Shah's era, Iranian planners have recognised that defending the country's airspace is challenging. This is due to the expansive size of the country and its mountainous character, which necessitates hundreds of ground-based radar stations and surface-to-air missile (SAM) units in order to create an integrated radar picture and fill in the large gaps (or radar 'shadows') created by the terrain. The past solution adopted by Iran - culminating in the 1977 Seek Sentry arms deal - sought instead to procure E-3A Sentry AWACS aircraft and F-14A Tomcat fighters (each of the latter type carrying a powerful long-range AWG-9 radar system) to build a large airborne early-warning (AEW) network. Although the Sentry never reached Iran, 79 F-14As were delivered before the revolution, giving Iran a fleet of 'mini-AWACS' aircraft that remain in service to this day.
Fusing elements of the Shah's grandiose plans with over 25 years of improvisation, cannibalisation and, most recently, modernisation, Iran's air defences have evolved uniquely. Interceptor aircraft and SAMs play an equal role in the system, which derives most of its radar coverage from airborne rather than ground-based sensors. Iran has only added one ground-based surveillance radar station since 1979, which was on the Afghan border. Instead, Iran's air defence forces continue to rely on the F-14A Tomcat force, which keeps 30 aircraft on active duty at any time through a carefully maintained system of phased rotation of the fleet of 45 to 50 operational aircraft.
Extensive maintenance efforts are likely to keep these aircraft, and their vital AWG-9 radar systems, active until at least 2015, by which time Iran could be experienced in operating a new fleet of locally licence-produced Antonov An-140 AEW aircraft. These small AWACS aircraft are likely to enter service in sufficient numbers to permit full 24-hour radar coverage along Iran's Gulf coast during crisis periods.
Despite this, Iran is unlikely to seek to develop a fully integrated nationwide air defence system like the Iraqi model of the 1980s. Instead, it seems to prefer a point defence strategy, with its strongest defences located around key strategic centres such as Tehran, Esfahan, Kharq Island, Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. Highly integrated local networks of interceptor aircraft and ground-based SAMs provide layered protection for these areas.
They will employ a mobile defence involving the regular relocation of SAMs and a network of low-flying fighters screened by mountain ranges and teamed with F-14A controllers operating at higher altitudes and further inland. The system would aim to ambush penetrating attackers and their supporting AWACS or tankers with salvos of long-range SAM, beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) fired by F-14As and shorter-ranged air-to-air missiles (AAM) launched by other fighters.
In seeking to continue to present a meaningful air-to-air threat, Iran is well aware that Western air arms have successfully eliminated the counter-air threat in every major regional conflict since the 1980s.
Iran's lone airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) platform, based on an Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft airframe, crashed in September 2009, killing all seven people on board. However, as Jane's reports the aircraft's radar system was not operational, the crash will have little impact on overall capabilities.
Readiness
In spite of Iran's efforts, readiness and force quality remain major issues. The Iranian Air Force still has many qualitative weaknesses and it is far from clear if its current rate of modernisation can offset the increasing age of its Western-supplied aircraft as well as qualitative improvements in US and southern Gulf forces (GCC states), especially the Royal Saudi Air Force. Iran's air arm also faces serious problems in terms of sustainment, command and control, and training.
The Iranian Air Force lacks advanced training facilities and has only limited capability to conduct realistic training for beyond-visual-range combat and stand-off attacks with air-to-surface munitions. Ground crew training and proficiency generally seem mediocre - although the layout of Iranian air bases, aircraft storage and parking, the deployment of equipment for maintenance cycles and the other physical signs of air unit activity appear to be generally better organised than those of most Middle Eastern air forces, which is largely due to its Shah-era affiliations with and training from the US Air Force.
As is the case with most aspects of Iranian military forces, estimates of capability and strength differ by source, but all appear to agree that Iran continues to operate US-supplied F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II, and Soviet-supplied Su-24 'Fencer' strike/attack aircraft as well as some Su-25K 'Frogfoot' and Mirage F1 aircraft obtained from Iraq. In the specialist air defence role, it employs US-supplied F-14 Tomcats, Russian/Iraqi-supplied MiG-29 'Fulcrums' and Chinese-supplied F-7M Airguard fighters.
Iran's F-14s have, however, not been able to use the long-range AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missile since the early 1980s. Iran has claimed that it is modernising its F-14s by equipping them with I-Hawk missiles adapted for the air-to-air role, but it is far from clear that this is the case - even if it is correct, it appears doubtful if such adaptations could have more than limited effectiveness. With respect to its indigenously produced aircraft - such as the Tazarve - little is known about their quantity or performance.
In early 2007, the air defence command tested the inter-operability of newly acquired Russian Almaz-Antey Tor M1 (SA-15 'Gauntlet') short-range air-defence system with other surface-to-air missiles, with the aim of demonstrating how Iranian nuclear facilities could be protected against air attack.
Deployments, tasks and operations
Role and Deployment
Air Defence Forces
IRIAF air defence resources include aircraft obtained from both the USA and Russia. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat and MiG-29 'Fulcrum' are arguably the most potent machines in the Iranian inventory. In support are numerous F-4 Phantom IIs, F-5 Tiger IIs and a modest number of Mirage F1EQs that were among more than 100 aircraft evacuated from Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. Reports that Iran was to acquire at least 24 MiG-31 'Foxhound' fighters do not appear to have any foundation.
With respect to land-based assets, known deployments include three S-200 Angara (SA-5 'Gammon') sites covering the northern border and the area around Tehran. A fourth covers the Esfahan region, a site at Bandar Abbas covers the Straits of Hormuz and a site at Bushehr covers the northern half of the Persian Gulf. There are HQ-2s at Tehran, also near Esfahan, and the nuclear facility at Natanz and at Bandar Abbas. HAWKs are deployed at Tehran, again, near Esfahan, near the nuclear facility at Natanz, in the Bushehr region and at Bandar Abbas. These sites have been publicly identified, although there could well be others. One curious feature of Iran's SAM deployments is the presence of at least 19 prepared but unoccupied sites for the HQ-2 or HAWK. These may represent planned dispersal sites or deployment sites for hardware that is currently in storage.
Romania allegedly delivered ISA-6 SAM missiles in 2003. Iran has developed and deployed its own domestically manufactured SAM dubbed the Shahab Thaqeb. The SAM requires a four-wheeled trailer for deployment and closely resembles the R440 SAM. Iran's holdings of lighter air defence weapons include five Rapier squadrons with 30 fire units, five to 10 Chinese FM-80 launchers, 10 to 15 Tigercat fire units and a few RBS-70s. Iran also holds large numbers of man-portable 9K32/9K32M Strela-2/Strela 2M (SA-7 'Grail'), HN-5s, and 91C36 Stela-3 (SA-14 'Gremlin'), plus about 2,000 anti-aircraft guns - including some Vulcans - and 50 to 60 radar-guided and self propelled ZSU-23-4 weapons. Iran further enhanced its air defence capabilities by taking delivery from Russia of 29 Tor-M1 (SA-15 'Gauntlet') road-mobile shelter-mounted low-to-medium altitude surface-to-air missiles in 2006. According to Russian defence sources, the missile systems would be deployed for the protection of vital military and civilian assets, firstly in Esfahan and then Bushehr, Tehran, and the east of the country. In terms of air defence guns, Iran deploys the 23 mm towed ZSU-23, and the 37 mm Oerlikon.
Iran is known to have two Boeing 707-3J9C tanker/transports modified to undertake signals intelligence (SIGINT) missions. Reportedly code-named Project Ibex, these aircraft originated prior to the overthrow of the Shah from a joint initiative involving Iran, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA). At least one still appeared to be active in March 2008, the aircraft concerned featuring numerous appendages and antenna apparently allied to the SIGINT task.
Iran is slowly improving its capability for joint land-air and air-sea operations. Military manoeuvres and official statements provide strong indications that Iran wishes to develop advanced air defence systems; acquire the ability to operate effectively in long-range maritime patrol and attack missions; evolve effective joint warfare capabilities; and sustain strike/attack forces with the ability to penetrate deep into Iraq, the southern Gulf states, and other neighbouring powers.
Strike Forces
Unconfirmed reports that Iran ordered a number of Tu-22M-3 'Backfire C' long-range strategic bombers from Russia or Ukraine appear unfounded and there is no evidence that any examples of this formidable warplane have been delivered. Nevertheless, Iran does possess considerable strike potential, this primarily being vested in the Su-24 'Fencer'. The first examples of this type to be operated were drawn from about 24 aircraft that fled from Iraq during the first Gulf War, although it appears that some additional aircraft have since been obtained from Russia. The first Iranian Su-24 pilots are understood to have graduated in August 1994.
In June 1997, it was reported that Iran had successfully test-fired two air-launched versions of the Chinese C-801K anti-ship cruise missile, with these trials apparently being conducted by F-4 Phantoms, giving rise to concern that the missiles could pose a threat to US naval forces in the Gulf. US military sources pointed to the fact that Iran posed a '360 degree threat', with a combination of cruise missiles that can be fired from air, land and sea.
Maritime Capability
The IRIAF also has responsibility for maritime-reconnaissance and shore-based anti-submarine warfare, for which it operates three or four P-3F Orions and an RC-130 Hercules.
Command and control
Commander, Air Force: Brigadier General Ahmad Miquani
Commander, IRGC Air Wing: Brigadier General Hossein Salami
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Brigadier General Ahmad Miquani as commander of the regular air force. Miquani oversees three regional air force commands, while the IRGC air wing is commanded by Brigadier General Hossein Salami.
Organisation
The Iranian Air Force is headquartered in Tehran with training, administration, and logistics branches, and a major central Air Defence Operations Centre. It has a political directorate and a small naval co-ordination staff.
The IRIAF is organised on geographical lines and has three regional commands, namely the Western Area Command (WAC), the Southern Area Command (SAC) and the Eastern Area Command (EAC). The WAC holds the bulk of the combat assets, with interceptors and/or close support aircraft based at Mehrabad, Tabriz, Hamadan, Dezful, Omidiyeh, Shiraz and Esfahan. Some of the squadrons assigned to the WAC have a particular focus on the air space along the sensitive frontier with Iraq. The WAC also covers the north of Iran and the region around Tehran. The SAC covers air bases along the shores of the Persian Gulf, at Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and Chah Bahar. The EAC has a focus on the border with Afghanistan, with Mashhad being the main air base in the frontier region, while facilities at Birjand and Zahedan are forward operating bases lacking permanent units but capable of rapid reinforcement by aircraft from other commands
Estimates of the number of combat squadrons have varied greatly. On paper at least, there are close to 30 squadrons, (of which two-thirds are combat units) according to data that emerged in 2001. These have been identified in terms of their home base and, in most cases, by unit number and aircraft deployed. However, it is unclear how many of them are fully manned and operational - one recent estimate suggests a figure of about 16 active combat squadrons. A complicating factor is that some aircraft (notably the F-7 fighter) are reported to be operated by the air arm of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) or Pasdaran.
Order of Battle
Eastern Area Command
Unit Base Type Role
Tactical Air Base Birjand n/a Forward operating base
Tactical Air Base 11 Zahedan n/a Forward operating base
Tactical Air Base 14 Mashad
141 Fighter Squadron Mashad Mirage F1 Air Defence / Attack
141 Fighter Squadron Mashad F-5E Air Defence / Attack
Most airfields have a Base Flight for miscellaneous duties, such as communications and search-and-rescue. These usually operate helicopters (Bell 214 mostly) and some have light aircraft like the Bonanza.
Southern Area Command
Unit Base Type Role
Tactical Air Base 6 Bushehr
61 Fighter Squadron Bushehr F-4E Air Defence / Attack
62 Fighter Squadron Bushehr F-4E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 9 Bandar Abbas
91 Fighter Squadron Bandar Abbas F-4E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 10 Chah Bahar
101 Fighter Squadron Chah Bahar F-4D Air Defence / Attack
Most airfields have a Base Flight for miscellaneous duties, such as communications and search-and-rescue. These usually operate helicopters (Bell 214 mostly) and some have light aircraft like the Bonanza.
Western Area Command
Unit Base Type Role
Tactical Air Base 1 Tehran-Mehrabad
11 Fighter Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad MiG-29 Interceptor
11 Helicopter Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad CH-47C Transport
11 Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad C-130 Transport
Transport Squadron (1) Tehran-Mehrabad Boeing 707 Tanker / Transport
Transport Squadron (1) Tehran-Mehrabad Boeing 747 Tanker / Transport
Transport Squadron (2) Tehran-Mehrabad Friendship Transport
VIP Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad Boeing 707 Communications
VIP Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad Falcon 50 Communications
VIP Transport Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad Jetstar Communications
Special Duties Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad RC-707 Electronic Intelligence
Special Duties Squadron Tehran-Mehrabad RC-130 Electronic Intelligence
Tactical Air Base 2 Tabriz
21 Fighter Squadron Tabriz F-5E Air Defence / Attack
21 Fighter Squadron Tabriz F-5F Air Defence / Attack
23 Fighter Squadron Tabriz MiG-29 Interceptor
Tactical Air Base 3 Hamadan
31 Reconnaissance Squadron Hamadan RF-4E Reconnaissance
31 Fighter Squadron Hamadan F-4E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 4 Dezful
41 Fighter Squadron Dezful F-5E Air Defence / Attack
43 Fighter Squadron Dezful F-5E Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 5 Omidiyeh
51 Fighter Squadron Omidiyeh F-7M Air Defence / Attack
52 Fighter Squadron Omidiyeh F-7M Air Defence / Attack
53 Fighter Squadron Omidiyeh F-7M Air Defence / Attack
Tactical Air Base 7 Shiraz
71 Fighter Squadron Shiraz F-5E Air Defence / Attack
72 Fighter Squadron Shiraz Su-24MK Attack
Fighter Squadron Shiraz Su-25 Attack
71 Transport Squadron Shiraz C-130 Transport
72 Transport Squadron Shiraz C-130 Transport
73 Transport Squadron Shiraz Il-76 Transport
71 Patrol Squadron Shiraz P-3F Maritime Patrol
Tactical Air Base 8 1 Esfahan
81 Fighter Squadron Esfahan F-14A Air Defence / Attack
82 Fighter Squadron Esfahan F-14A Air Defence / Attack
85 Fighter Squadron Esfahan F-5E Air Defence / Attack
Notes:
Most airfields have a Base Flight for miscellaneous duties, such as communications and search-and-rescue. These usually operate helicopters (Bell 214 mostly) and some have light aircraft like the Bonanza.
Bracketed numbers are not part of the unit name. They indicate that they are different units.
The F-5E squadron at Tactical Air Base 8 also appears to be equipped with the F-5B Simorgh; a detachment of Su-24 attack aircraft has also been reported here, while F-14s from Esfahan appear to be deployed to alert facilities at other bases (including Bushehr and Shiraz).
Bases
Bandar Abbas (27° 13' 05" N; 56° 22' 40" E)
Birjand (32° 53' 36" N; 59° 17' 10" E)
Bushehr (28° 56' 37" N; 50° 50' 09" E)
Chah Bahar (25° 26' 36" N; 60° 22' 55" E)
Dezful (32° 26' 04" N; 48° 23' 51" E)
Esfahan (32° 45' 02" N; 51° 51' 42" E)
Ghale Morghi (35° 38' 41" N; 51° 22' 50" E)
Hamadan (35° 12' 21" N; 48° 40' 07" E)
Mashad (36° 14' 06" N; 59° 38' 27" E)
Omidiyeh (30° 50' 06" N; 49° 32' 05" E)
Shiraz (29° 32' 21" N; 52° 35' 22" E)
Tabriz (38° 07' 58" N; 46° 14' 05" E)
Tehran-Doshan Tappeh (35° 42' 10" N; 51° 28' 30" E)
Tehran-Mehrabad (35° 41' 21" N; 51° 18' 48" E)
Zahedan (29° 28' 34" N; 60° 54' 21" E)
Iran: Air Force Bases
1158292
Training
Military Exercises
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy (IRGN) began a series of naval exercises under the 'Ettehad 87' ('Unity 87') banner in the Sea of Oman on 4 December 2008, according to local news reports. Iran's Fars News Agency stated that IRGN missile boats and other craft practised surface warfare using anti-ship missiles and guns against simulated attacking ships and aircraft. Air force F-4E jets were also employed during the exercises, using air-to-ground missiles against land and sea targets.
Air Force procurement
Despite rapid improvements in front-line fighter and interceptor assets in the 1990s, the force remains weak in relation to its neighbours. The bulk of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) fleet is made up of US types such as the Northrop F-5 Tiger II, Grumman F-14A Tomcat and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, all of which were delivered before the 1979 Islamic revolution. These were supplemented to some extent by Iraqi aircraft of Soviet and Chinese origin that were flown to Iran during the 1990-91 Gulf War. While the serviceability of many of these systems is open to question, there is evidence that Iran is striving to keep as much of it as possible in operation.
It was reported in April 2001 that Iran was planning the phased withdrawal of its remaining C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, which are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Some are expected to be replaced by the Iran 140 (a licence-built version of Ukraine's Antonov An-140), although this process could take many years. Meanwhile, it emerged that an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) version of the Iran 140 was being developed.
Subsequently, in December 2002, it became known that Iran was planning to develop new military variants of the license-built Antonov An-140 commercial airliner. Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (HESA) confirmed that it was working with foreign partners, including Antonov, to develop two specialist military versions - the IR.AN 140MP maritime patrol and the IR.AN 140TC tactical transport.
Combat
It was learned during 2006 that Iran had taken delivery of six Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' attack aircraft from Russia, this small quantity being equally split between the Su-25UBK two-seat combat trainer version and the Su-25T single-seater. This delivery brought the number of Su-25s operated by Iran to 13 and it was reported at the time that consideration was being given to further acquisitions of this type to augment the new deliveries and seven older Su-25K/UBKs which had been flown to Iran from Iraq in 1991. The seven aircraft were initially held in storage for several years before being taken over by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Air Force (IRGCAF) and returned to service by Georgian technicians in 2003.
There have also been numerous reports that Iran has sought to obtain Tu-22M 'Backfire' strategic bombers to supplement the Su-24 'Fencer' aircraft already in its inventory, but these appear unfounded. Meanwhile, Iran has been seeking to meet some of its requirements by developing its own indigenous combat aircraft. Some progress has been made on developing a fighter aircraft named the Azaraksh (Lightning), which is similar to the American Northrop F-5, albeit with the wings moved to a mid-set position. At least one prototype Azaraksh has flown, this being displayed in public for the first time in August 2007. Other projects based on the F-5 include the twin-tailed Saeghe (Thunderbolt) and the Simorgh (Phoenix) - several examples of the Saeghe have apparently been built, although it appears unlikely to enter quantity production, while the Simorgh is essentially an F-5A that has been converted to F-5B two-seat configuration, with some sources alluding to a total of about 13 aircraft having been modified.
In October 2007, reports in the Russian media suggested that Iran could buy J-10 fighters from China between 2008 and 2010, although this does not appear to have happened as of late 2009. Quoting sources within HESA, Kommersant said the Iranian military was to take delivery of 24 J-10s to equip two squadrons, although this report was vehemently denied by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao just two days later.
Iran was previously thought to be negotiating the acquisition of a substantial number (as many as 250, according to some reports) of Sukhoi Su-30MK fighters from Russia, although, once again, these reports were subsequently denied by both Iran and Russia.
Iran's Shahed Aviation Industries Research Centre (SAIRC) handed over a number of newly developed Shahed 285 armed helicopters to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, according to press reports in May 2009. The Shahed 285 is a previously unknown variant of the Shahed helicopter family, all of which are derived from the elderly Bell Model 206 JetRanger design. Drawing on the extensive resources of the Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company, the SAIRC has established a limited production facility at Isfahan. The Shahed 285 is the first military helicopter it has built in any quantity.
Analysis of images displayed on Iran's PressTV show that the Shahed 285's fuselage has been substantially redesigned. Now a single-seat aircraft, its forward section has been narrowed to reduce the head-on profile. The angular slab-sided helicopter has been armoured, with flat plate-armoured glass fitted to the cockpit. Iranian sources say the fuselage and rotor blades use composite materials. Some of the outer skin panels may be composite, but it is not clear whether SAIRC has this capability. The helicopter is almost certainly powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C20B turboshaft, like its predecessors: a single-engined design that leaves it vulnerable in combat.
The Shahed 285 has a single 7.62 mm machine gun, which closely resembles a Russian PKTM, that is housed in a crude dustbin turret under the nose. It also features short weapon pylons, each with a single (articulated) suspension unit for simple unguided weapons like Mk 40 2.75-inch rockets. In what may point to a significant future capability, one Shahed 285 prototype has flown carrying a dummy Kosar 3 (Iran's version of the Chinese-developed C-701R) anti-ship missile.
UAV
It was claimed in early 2007 that Iran had begun "mass-producing and using" a stealth UAV with a range of 700 km (435 miles). The claim was made by IRGC Commander Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi. Iran's drive to mature an indigenous UAV capability started during the 1980-88 war with Iraq, primarily under the auspices of HESA. HESA's Ababil family of UAVs includes the Ababil-S medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance variant and the short- to medium-range Ababil-T attack UAV. Earlier models include the Ababil-B - used primarily as a target for air-defence units - and the Ababil II close-range UAV, early operational deployments of which were reported to have included shadowing US Navy operations in the Persian Gulf. Qods Aviation Industries, a subsidiary of HESA, manufactures the Mohadjer family of reconnaissance and surveillance UAVs. These include the baseline Mohadjer 2; the Mohadjer 3 (also known as Dorna); and the Mohadjer 4 (also known as Hodhod), which can be used to relay communications and is said to have an "impressive" electronic countermeasures capability.
Missiles & Weapons Systems
In terms of anti-aircraft defence at low, medium and high altitudes, one of Iran's priorities has been to produce its own versions of foreign-designed surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). The Iranian Armed Forces successfully tested their indigenous version of the Russian S-75 Dvina/Volkhov SAM, the Sayyed-1 missile. They have had advanced and improved guidance hardware incorporated into the design but other than their motors and outward appearance, they share little else in common with the Russian missile according to the Iranian Ministry of Defence. Sayyed-1 will be deployed against medium-to-high altitude targets in combination with the S-200 Angara (SA-5 'Gammon') low-to-high altitude SAM system. Iran has also reverse engineered British Aerospace Rapier SAMs, Iranian missile engineers having successfully tested eight of these after a complete rebuild and upgrade. It is thought that this upgrade and the subsequent test firing are a prelude to a more comprehensive plan to reproduce a version of the Rapier system locally. Iran has developed and deployed its own domestically manufactured SAM, dubbed the Shahab Thaqeb, which requires a four-wheeled trailer for deployment and closely resembles the R440 weapon.
In early May 2007, Iran declared operational a new air defence missile system, designed by army ground forces, based on Russian-origin and indigenous assets. The system is capable of engaging targets while both stationary or mobile, and firing two missiles simultaneously (although whether this is at two separate targets or simply a two-round salvo is unknown). The system successfully engaged air targets during an exercise in February 2007.
Modernisation
Such modernisation as has occurred since 1989 has relied on Soviet Union/Russia and China, with the former supplying state-of-the-art hardware and the latter being a source of older generation aircraft based on Soviet designs. For a while, Russia observed a 1995 commitment to the US not to supply arms to Iran, under which Moscow agreed that it would fulfil only existing contracts by the end of 1999, and not sign any new ones. However, in November 2000, Russia abandoned this pledge and resumed arms transfers to Iran. During the period when arms supplies from Russia were disrupted, Iran tended increasingly to check out the market in China, although in the event this did not translate into any firm orders for combat aircraft. As regards Russia, it emerged in late 2006 that it had concluded an agreement with Iran on returning the fleet of Ilyushin IL-76 heavy transport aircraft (many of which were originally owned by Iraq) to service.
Iran has kept its fleet of US-supplied aircraft flying by black market purchases of spares which resulted in 18 US companies being investigated for breaching US export controls during the summer of 2003. Despite these efforts to circumvent the embargo, it is estimated that only a small proportion of the 200+ F-4D, F-4E and RF-4E Phantoms delivered before 1979 are in service and less than half of the F-5E/F Tiger IIs and F-14A Tomcats that were received are still airworthy. The F-14s have been modified locally to carry bombs. Some reports suggest that Iran can fly up to seven F-14s at any one time, but that each aircraft can only fly once in every three days. Additionally, many F-4s, F-5s and F-14s are unserviceable, largely because they have been cannibalised for spare parts.
Due to difficulties in obtaining parts and services for its predominantly US-made fleet - more than 70 per cent of the IRIAF's active inventory consists of US-built aircraft - the Iranian military establishment has sought to develop an indigenous manufacturing and service capacity. In 2001, Iranian military and industry officials announced several new projects as part of the country's continuing drive to domestically maintain and improve its military aviation assets, principally executed by the Iranian Armed Forces Aviation Industries Organisation (IAFAIO). While still facing considerable obstacles, it should be noted that Iran has been able to equip much of its fleet with long-range air-to-air missiles, external fuel tanks and modern electronics. In addition, Iran has modified all of its front-line combat aircraft (with the exception of the F-14, which needed no additional work) to be compatible with a new air-to-air refuelling (AAR) system. Aircraft such as the MiG-29 and F-5 that were not fitted with AAR probes have had new ones developed; while aircraft like the Su-24 'Fencer' have been modified to work with the NATO-standard probe gauge used by a Hose-and-Drogue Unit (HDU).
Upgrading US-Built Aircraft
Despite having purchased equipment from China and Russia, Iran remains largely dependent on US-built military aircraft procured before the Islamic revolution of 1979. The predominantly US-built aircraft are kept aloft through the local production and covert procurement of spare parts. Local upgrades with varying degrees of success have been developed for much of this ageing hardware, but solutions sought to remedy the service's vaunted capabilities have in turn created new logistical complications.
Tehran's claim that it is capable of producing around 70 per cent of the spare parts required to keep its F-14 fleet airworthy fall well short in reality; the IAFAIO is thought capable of manufacturing only around 15 per cent of the spares needed for IRIAF F-4, F-5 and F-14 aircraft. IAFAIO by its own admission manufactured only 167 of the 1,027 parts needed to repair the port wing of a fire-damaged RF-4E that was returned to service in 1995. The aircraft required more than 4,900 items of spares after suffering damage in 1978.
Most Iranian aviation expertise falls into the mechanical and metallurgy fields. The country is believed to manufacture wing leading edge, undercarriage wheel base and hydraulic support components, plus fan blades, fan blade casings and possibly titanium casings and associated parts for its US-supplied fighters. IAFAIO has also devised and developed a circulation chromium plating technique to increase the life of F-4 and F-5 engine components.
Air-to-Air Missiles
IAFAIO has in the past proved itself capable of repairing, overhauling and upgrading much of the IRIAF's Western-supplied missiles. Several reported sightings of F-14s on air defence sorties have confirmed that at least part of the force may still be capable of deploying the AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile. As Iran does not possess the source codes required to operate and upgrade the AN/AWG-9 fire control system's complex avionics, it is likely that it received foreign assistance if the reported sightings prove correct.
The IRIAF's Self-Sufficiency Group of engineers was also reported to have carried out a modification to its inventory of Hawk surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) permitting them to be fired by the F-14. In fact, in 1997, Iran released pictures of IRIAF F-14s carrying Hawk SAMs which had allegedly been modified for air-to-air or air-to-surface roles, but it is possible that this effort could have been part of post-overhaul avionics calibration trials.
Equipment in service
Fixed Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
F-14A Tomcat Grumman Fighter - Interceptor / Air Defence 79 451 n/a
MiG-29 'Fulcrum-A' MiG Fighter - Interceptor / Air Defence n/a 482 1990
Mirage F1EQ Dassault Fighter - Interceptor / Air Defence n/a 244 1991
Su-24MK 'Fencer-D' Sukhoi Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 303 295 1991
Su-25 'Frogfoot' Sukhoi Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 13 136 1991
F-5B Simorgh Northrop/IAMI Fighter - Ground Attack / Strike 137 12 n/a
F-7M Airguard CAC Fighter - Multirole n/a 30 1987
F-4E Phantom II McDonnell Douglas Fighter - Multirole 177 50 1971
F-4D Phantom II McDonnell Douglas Fighter - Multirole 32 5 1968
F-5E Tiger II Northrop Fighter - Multirole 141 31 1974
F-5F Tiger II Northrop Fighter - Multirole 28 18 1974
P-3F Orion Lockheed Martin Maritime Patrol 6 48 1974
RF-4E Phantom II McDonnell Douglas Reconnaissance 16 4 1971
An-74TK-200 'Coaler-B' Antonov Transport 12 119 1996
Y-7 XAC Transport n/a 2 1998
747 Boeing Transport n/a 710 1975
747-2J9F Boeing Transport n/a 410 1977
F27-400M Troopship Fokker Transport 15 10 1972
F27-600 Friendship Fokker Transport 5 n/a11 1972
Y-12 (II) HAI Transport n/a 9 1996
Il-76MD 'Candid' Ilyushin Transport 153 1412 1991
C-130E Hercules Lockheed Martin Transport 28 22 1965
C-130H Hercules Lockheed Martin Transport 32 n/a13 1971
IR.AN-140 Faraz IAMI (HESA) Transport n/a 3 n/a
707-3J9C Boeing Tanker / Transport 14 12 1974
Falcon 20E Dassault Utility n/a 1 1976
Falcon 50 Dassault Utility n/a 34 1991
L-1329 Jetstar Lockheed Utility n/a 1 1969
PC-6/B Turbo Porter Pilatus Utility 15 8 1982
TB-21 Socata Trainer 8 8 1996
TB-200 Socata Trainer 4 4 1996
F33 Bonanza Beech Trainer n/a 20 n/a
EMB-312 Tucano Embraer Trainer n/a 15 1989
PC-7 Turbo Trainer Pilatus Trainer n/a 35 1983
Mushshak PAC Trainer 25 229 1991
Parastu IAMI Trainer n/a 1414 1993
Tazarve IRIAF Trainer n/a 2515 n/a
Notes: Iran still possesses large numbers of aircraft and helicopters of US origin obtained before overthrow of Shah; most are unserviceable and figures quoted refer only to those believed capable of operation at time of writing. Inventory totals given above include those of the Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Total strength; only about 35 maintained in operational status at any given time.
Total includes 21 impounded Iraqi aircraft; some MiG-29UB 'FulcrumB' two-seaters are operated; 35 to be overhauled and upgraded.
This figure is the lowest estimate of the number of aircraft in service.
Impounded Iraqi aircraft; in case of Mirage, at least six F1BQ two-seaters and 15 F1EQ single-seaters are believed to be operated.
Total includes 18 impounded Iraqi aircraft; more allegedly received from requirement for 100 ex-Russian aircraft; armed with Fajr-e-Darya AShMs; 24 to be overhauled and upgraded.
Includes examples of the Su-25K, Su-25UBK and Su-25T versions, with at least five Su-25K/UBK being former Iraqi Air Force aircraft.
F-5B converted from F-5A; at least 13 reported to have been completed.
To be replaced by version of IR.AN-140 Faraz.
Pasdaran aircraft according to recent reports.
Some converted to tanker.
Included in total quoted for F27-400M Troopship.
Including 11 ex-Iraqi; confirmed in service.
Included in total quoted for C-130E Hercules.
Based on Beech Bonanza.
Total requirement.
Rotary Wing
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total In Service First Delivery
AS-61A-4 Agusta-Sikorsky Utility n/a 2 n/a
CH-47C Chinook Boeing Utility n/a 2 n/a
206B JetRanger Agusta-Bell Utility n/a 2 n/a
212 Agusta-Bell Utility n/a 6 n/a
214 Bell Utility n/a 20 n/a
412 Bell Utility n/a 2 n/a
Shahed 274 IRGC Utility n/a 2 1999
Missiles
Type Manufacturer Role
AIM-9P Sidewinder Lockheed Martin Air-to-Air
AA-8 'Aphid' Vympel Air-to-Air
AA-9 'Amos' Vympel Air-to-Air
AA-10 'Alamo' Vympel Air-to-Air
AA-11 'Archer' Vympel Air-to-Air
AIM-7F Sparrow Raytheon Air-to-Air
AIM-54 Phoenix Raytheon Air-to-Air
MIM-23B HAWK 1 Raytheon Air-to-Air
R 550 Magic Matra BAE Air-to-Air
PL-2 'Atoll' CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-5 CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-7 CATIC Air-to-Air
PL-9 CPMIEC Air-to-Air
(Iran) Sattar-1 n/a Air-to-Surface
(Iran) Sattar-2 n/a Air-to-Surface
AGM-65 Maverick Raytheon Air-to-Surface
AS-10 'Karen' Zvezda Air-to-Surface
AS-11 'Kilter' Raduga Air-to-Surface
AS-12 'Kegler' Zvezda Air-to-Surface
AS-14 'Kedge' Vympel Air-to-Surface
AS-16 'Kickback' Raduga Air-to-Surface
YJ-6 (CAS-1) CPMIEC Anti-Ship Attack
C-801C Sardine CPMIEC Anti-Ship Attack
(Iran) Fajr-e-Darya (CPMIEC C-802K) n/a Anti-Ship Attack
RIM-66 Standard 1 Raytheon Anti-Ship Attack
Note:
Sic.
UPDATED
Dec-2009
