NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) (Persian: نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران) is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. Markings of the IRIAF The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. ... Image File history File links Iran_Air_Force_roundel. ... The IRIAF began as the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) which was officially formed in August of 1955 by the Shah of Iran. ... The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. ... See Also Military of Iran The Islamic Republic of Iran ... Here you may find of a partial list of aircraft in the possession of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. ... â€œFarsiâ€ redirects here. ... For a particular Air Force, see List of air forces. ... Military branches: Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces), Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (includes Ground, Air, Navy, Qods, and Basij-mobilization-forces), Law Enforcement Forces Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 17,762...

History

The IRIAF came into being when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) was re-named following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, in February 1979. The IRIAF began as the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) which was officially formed in August of 1955 by the Shah of Iran. ... --Rlandmann 00:50, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC) Categories: Possible copyright violations ...

This "new" Iranian air force largely inherited the equipment and structure of the former IIAF, even losing most of its leading officers in the course of post-revolutionary chaos, as well as due to the prosecution of those considered as loyal to the Shah, pro-U.S. or elsewhere by the new government in Tehran.

Since the Revolution, the exact composition of the IRIAF is hard to determine, but estimates do exist. Many aircraft belonging to the Iraqi Air Force took refuge in Iran during the Persian Gulf War in 1991, and many were put into service with the IRIAF or taken apart for spare parts. The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) is the military branch in Iraq responsible for aerial warfare. ... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

Due to the continuous spare parts shortages faced by the air force, a decision was made in the late 1980s to develop a local aerospace industry to support the air force. The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ...

In 2002, Iran with the co-operation of Ukraine, successfully started the manufacture of the Iran-140; a licence-built version of the Antonov An-140 transport aircraft. Simultaneously, Iran began construction of two 100% domestically-produced fighters, upgraded using technology from the F-14 Tomcat and the F-5 Tiger II. The fighters have been named the Azarakhsh and the Shafaq. Also see: 2002 (number). ... For other uses, see Antonov (disambiguation). ... The Antonov An-140 is a short-range turboprop airliner, first flown on September 17 1997. ... The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. ... The F-5 Freedom Fighter (or Tiger II) is a low cost entry level supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1962. ... The Azarakhsh Persian: Ø¢Ø°Ø±Ø®Ø´, lightning) is Irans first domestically manufactured[1] combat fighter jet. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Since then the country has also become self-sufficient in the manufacture of helicopters. The country claims that it is capable of producing the old U.S. AH-1 Cobra gunship. Additionally, Iran also produces Bell Helicopter Bell 212 and Bell 206 helicopters in serial production. These are known respectively as the Shabaviz 2-75 and the Shabaviz 206. The Bell AH-1 Cobra is an attack helicopter. ... Categories: Aircraft stubs | Corporation stubs | U.S. aircraft manufacturers ... The Bell 212 Twin Huey (also known as the Twin Two-Twelve) is a medium civilian helicopter that first flew in 1968. ... The Bell Helicopter Model 206 JetRanger is a two-bladed main rotor, turbine powered helicopter with a conventional, two-bladed tail rotor. ... A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more large horizontal rotors (propellers). ... The Panha Shabaviz 2-75 (Persian: Owl) is an Iranian utility helicopter built by the Iranian Helicopter Support and Renewal Company [1]. It is a reverse engineered and marginally improved version of the Bell 205. ... The Shabaviz 206 is a locally produced helicopter operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. ...

Iran-Iraq War

A series of purges and forced retirements resulted in the manpower of the service being halved between February 1979 and July 1980, leaving the IRIAF ill-prepared for the Iran-Iraq War (also called the "1st Persian Gulf War"). The sudden Iraqi air strikes against six Iranian airfields and four other military installations, launched on the afternoon of 22 September 1980, came as a complete surprise and caused a shock in the IRIAF. Nevertheless, they caused relatively minimal damage, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force retaliated fiercely to the invasion, flying strikes involving up to 140 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs against main Iraqi airfields, oil industry installations, and communications sites. Intense Iranian activity inside Iraqi air space during the first week of the war managed to prove so successful that it eventually forced the Iraqi Air Force onto the defensive. In addition to striking Iraqi airfields, the IRIAF succeded in managing to badly damage most of the Iraqi oil-producing and exporting facilities; resulting in Baghdad's decision to stop all oil exports for several years. The role of the Iranian Air Force To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Combatants Iran Kurdish Peshmerga Iraq Peoples Mujahedin of Iran Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ali Shamkhani Mostafa Chamran â€ Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Pasdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft 750 helicopters... The F-4 Phantom II (simply F-4 Phantom after 1990) is a two-place (tandem), supersonic, long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ...

Following a one week-long counter-air campaign, and due to a critical situation on the ground in Khuzestan Province, the IRIAF was thrown into the land-battle, mainly in the areas of Khorramshahr, Ahvaz, and Dezful. Here, the IRIAF's performance and superiority over the Iraqi Air Force (IrAF) surprised most informed observers. Its air strikes against armour and supply-columns sapped the offensive strength of the Iraqi military. Due to heavy losses in troops and armour, Iranian air superiority and an interruption of supply systems, the Iraqis had to stop their offensive, and then became involved in extremely bitter land-battles against Iranian ground forces.

However, the IRIAF paid a heavy price for this success, losing dozens of its best pilots and aircraft in the period between September and December 1980.

Although the readiness rates of the IRIAF significantly increased in the following months, its overall role and influence declined, as the clerical government searched to put the emphasis in fighting on the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) militias, but also attempted to develop a separate air arm for this service. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

After the successful liberation of most Iranian areas captured by the Iraqis, in late spring 1982, the situation of the IRIAF changed completely. From an air arm that was offensive by nature, it was largely relegated to air defence and, relatively seldom, tasks of flying bombing attacks against targets of industrial and military significance inside Iraq. Simultaneously, the IRIAF had to learn to maintain and keep operational its large fleet of U.S.-built aircraft and helicopters without outside help, due to American sanctions. Reaching back on equipment purchased from the U.S.A. in the 1970s, the Iranians began establishing their own aerospace industry; their efforts in this remained largely unrecognised until recently.

However, the IRIAF was able to obtain limited amounts of spare parts and weapons for its American-made aircraft, when Iran was able to buy American spare parts and weapons for its armed forces, during the Iran-Contra Affair. Deliveries came via Israel and later, from the USA. The Iran-Contra Affair was a political scandal occurring in 1987 as a result of earlier events during the Reagan administration in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran, an avowed enemy, and illegally used the profits to continue funding anti-Communist rebels, the Contras, in Nicaragua. ...

From 1984 and 1985, the IRIAF found itself confronted by an ever better organised and equipped opponent, as the Iraqi Air force - reinforced by deliveries of advanced fighter-bombers from France and the Soviet Union - launched numerous offensives against Iranian population centres and oil-export hubs. These became better known as "The Tanker War" and "The War of the Cities". To defend against an increasing number of Iraqi air strikes, the IRIAF leaned heavily on its large fleet of Grumman F-14 Tomcat air superiority fighters. Tomcats were mainly deployed in defence of the strategically-important Khark Island (main hub for Iranian oil exports), and Tehran. Over 300 air-to-air engagements against IrAF fighters, fighter-bombers, and bombers, were fought in these areas alone between 1980 and 1988. The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. ...

Confronted with the fact that it could not obtain replacements for equipment lost in what became a war of attrition against Iraq, for the rest of the conflict, the IRIAF remained defence-orientated, conserving its surviving assets as a "force in being". From late 1987, the IRIAF found itself confronted also with U.S. Navy fighters over the Persian Gulf. A number of confrontations that occurred between August 1987 and April 1988, stretched available IRIAF assets to the limit, almost exhausting its capability to defend Iranian air space against Iraqi air strikes.

Post Iran Iraq War

Immediately after the end of the Iran-Iraq War, the IRIAF was partially re-built by limited purchases of MiG-29 fighters and Su-24 bombers from the Soviet Union, as well as F-7M and FT-7 fighters from China. While a welcome reinforcement, these types never replaced the older, U.S.-built F-4 Phantoms or F-14 Tomcats (now the only air arm in the world to continue using the fighter), or even Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs. Instead, the IRIAF continued efforts to maintain these types in service, and began a number of projects with the intention to refurbish and upgrade them. The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) is a Russian fighter aircraft used in the air superiority role. ... Su-24 Fencer of the Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name Fencer) was the Soviet Unions most advanced all-weather interdiction and attack aircraft in the 1970s and 1980s. ... The Chengdu J-7 (export versions are designated F-7) is a Peoples Republic of China-built fighter jet derived from the Russian MiG-21. ... The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable geometry wing aircraft. ... The F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1960s. ...

A Russian attempt to sell a large number of MiG-27s, MiG-31s, and Tupolev Tu-22Ms to Iran, launched in 1993, was spoiled by a lack of interest and money on the part of Iran. Since 2000, on multiple occasions, MiG-31s are rumoured to have been seen in Iran's airspace, though no official declaration confirming this has been made by the IRIAF. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 (NATO reporting name Flogger) is a ground attack aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union and later licence-produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics as the Bahadur (Valiant). It is based on the MiG-23 fighter aircraft, but optimized... Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name Foxhound) is a high-speed interceptor developed to replace the MiG-25. ... The Tupolev Tu-22M (NATO reporting name Backfire) was a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic bomber developed by the Soviet Union. ... Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound The Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name Foxhound) is a high-speed interceptor developed to replace the MiG-25. ...

In the early 1990s, Iran is rumoured to have signed a military contract with the USSR to purchase an unknown number of Su-27s; the delivery of the planes wasn't completed for more than a decade due to US pressure. Recently, Iran is rumoured to have received an unknown variant of the Su-27. Unconfirmed reports reveal their deployment at air bases in Tabriz. The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name Flanker) is a Russian fighter aircraft designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau (SDB). ... Tabriz (Persian and Azari: ØªØ¨Ø±ÛŒØ²; Armenian: Ô¹Õ¡Õ¾Ö€Õ«Õ¦) is the largest city in north-western Iran with an estimated population of 1,597,319 (2007 est. ...

Iraqi aircraft from the Persian Gulf War

Following an agreement between the regimes in Baghdad and Tehran, in February 1991 a significant number of Iraqi Air Force (IrAF) aircraft were evacuated to Iranian airfields, to avoid destruction in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The agreement was for Iran to return them after the war, but the Iranians impounded these aircraft instead, claiming them as reparations for the Iran-Iraq War. The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) is the military branch in Iraq responsible for aerial warfare. ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Reparations refers to two distinct ideas: Reparations for slavery of groups or individuals War reparations: Payments from one country to another as compensation for starting a war under a peace treaty, such as those made by Germany to France under the Treaty of Versailles. ... Combatants Iran Kurdish Peshmerga Iraq Peoples Mujahedin of Iran Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ali Shamkhani Mostafa Chamran â€ Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Pasdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft 750 helicopters...

The IRIAF has pressed into service all of the 36 Su-24MKs, 7 SU-25s and 24 Mirage F.1BQs and F.1EQs flown from Iraq, while all the other types - including 40 Su-20/22s and at least ten MiG-23s of various versions - were stored. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Flogger). ...

Current composition

The IRIAF composition has changed very little since 1979. The first, very limited re-location of several units - including disbandment of some, and establishing of new squadrons - occurred in autumn 1980, when the F-4D-fleet was concentrated at Shiraz, two squadrons of F-4Es moved from Shiraz to Hamedan, and a squadron of F-14 Tomcats deployed to Mehrabad. Other deployments during the war with Iraq were mainly of temporary character, even if a major re-organisation of existing air-defence assets - foremost SAM- and AAA-units - was undertaken in 1985. There has been no major re-organisation during all of the 1990s either.

Equipment, capabilities and combat performance of the IRIAF strongly influenced the development of the Iraqi Air Force (IrAF), during the 1980s, but also that of the United Arab Emirates Air Force, in the 1990s and the most recent times.

Alleged Purchases

Su-30

It has been reported Iran is about to sign an arms with the Russian Rosoboronexport arms group to buy 250 Su-30 MKM warplanes and 20 Il-78 MKI fuel tankers. It is rumored that the first aircraft will be delivered before the end of 2007. This sale would give Iran the largest and probably the most powerful air force in the Middle East. Iran and Russia have both denied this and have rejected these claims as propaganda.^[1]^[2]^[3] Sukhoi-30 (Nato: Flanker-C) The Sukhoi Su-30 is a military aircraft that was produced by the Russian company Sukhoi in 1996. ... The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four-engined inflight refuelling tanker based on the Il-76. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

J-10

The Russian news agency Novosti reported Iran has signed a deal with China to buy two squadrons/24 of J-10 fighter planes with Russian-made AL-31FN engines. The total cost of the planes is estimated at $1 billion, and deliveries are expected between 2008 and 2010. China denied that it had agreed to sell its homegrown fighter jets to Iran, saying no talks had taken place. Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters: "It's not true, it is an irresponsible report, China has not had talks with Iran on J-10 jets."^[4]^[5]^[6] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Chengdu J-10 is a multirole fighter aircraft produced by the Peoples Republic of China Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). ... The Saturn-Lyulka/PAC AL-31 Azadi is a military turbofan engine. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... 2010 (MMX) will be a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Aircraft inventory

A number of other types have been in recent or reported, Iranian service. Many may remain in reserve storage or are operated by the Army or Navy. Some recent types include: The Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO reporting name: Candid) is a 4-engined strategic airlifter designed in the Soviet Union and in widespread use in eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The Kaman HH-43 Huskie is a helicopter used by the United States Air Force, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps in the 1950s through 1970s. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (C-140 in USAF service) is a business jet produced from the early 1960s through the 1970s. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a patrol aircraft of the United States military used primarily for anti-submarine warfare. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II[2] is a two-seat supersonic long-range all-weather fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Douglas. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russian: ) is a fighter aircraft designed for the air superiority role in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a large twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The F-5A/B Freedom Fighter and F-5E/F Tiger II are part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in 1960s. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Fairchild Porter, a licensed version of the Turbo Porter The Pilatus PC-6 Porter (sometimes nicknamed the Jeep of the air) is a civilian utility aircraft built by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... Saab MFI-15 Safari, also known as the Saab MFI-17 Supporter, is a trainer aircraft which is used by several air forces. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... An F-6 of the Pakistan Air Force The Shenyang J-6 (designated F-6 for export versions) was the Chinese-built version of the Soviet MiG-19 fighter aircraft. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Socata TB-9 Tampico Socata TB-10 Tobago GT owned by Martinair vliegschool (flying school) Socata TB-200 Tobago XL Socata TB-20 Trinidad GT The Socata TB aircraft series are light single engine piston aircraft manufactured by Socata and designed in the late 1970s. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name Fencer) was the Soviet Unions most advanced all-weather interdiction and attack aircraft in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The Mikoyan MiG-27 (Russian: ) (NATO reporting name Flogger D) is a ground attack aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan design bureau in the Soviet Union and later licence-produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics as the Bahadur (Valiant). It is based on the MiG-23 fighter aircraft, but optimized... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The Sukhoi Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ...

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (Russian: ; NATO reporting name: Flogger) is a variable geometry, swept-wing fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. ... The Mikoyan MiG-27 (Russian: ) (NATO reporting name Flogger D) is a ground attack aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan design bureau in the Soviet Union and later licence-produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics as the Bahadur (Valiant). It is based on the MiG-23 fighter aircraft, but optimized... Sukhoi (pronounced [suk-oi]) (Ð¡ÑƒÑ…Ð¾Ð¹) is a major Russian military fighter aircraft manufacturer. ... Polish decomissioned Su-20 Front view of Su-20 Polish Su-22 Two aircraft share the designation Su-17 The Sukhoi Su-17 (NATO reporting name Fitter) was a Soviet attack aircraft developed from the Su-7 fighter-bomber. ... The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine commercial jet airliner. ... The Schweizer 300 family of light utility helicopters was formerly produced by Hughes Helicopters and is now manufactured by Schweizer Aircraft, a subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft, and has been in production for almost 50 years. ... Polish decomissioned Su-20 Front view of Su-20 Polish Su-22 Two aircraft share the designation Su-17 The Sukhoi Su-17 (NATO reporting name Fitter) was a Soviet attack aircraft developed from the Su-7 fighter-bomber. ...

Facilities

In the last several years several new airfields have been constructed in central- and eastern Iran. Some of these facilities have since seen full-scale deployments of IRIAF units, and it now appears that at least two became permanent "Tactical Fighter Bases" (TFBs). These are the first such bases established since 1979. Except new airfields, with Chinese support, the IRIAF constructed also a number of new early warning radar sites around the country. Its ability to control the national airspace, however, remains limited - mainly due to the rugged terrain and lack of airborne early warning assets.

Aside from maintaining 14 TFBs, the IRIAF operates numerous temporary detachments on several minor airfields around the country. Ex-Iraqi Mirage F.1EQs, usually based at TFB.14, near Mashhad, were frequently seen over the Persian Gulf, in 2005 and 2006.

Markings

The IRIAF markings are only slightly different to those used by the IIAF. IRIAF Markings This image is ineligible for copyright and therefore in the public domain, because it consists entirely of information that is common property and contains no original authorship. ...

The main difference is addition of the word "Allah" (meaning "God" in Arabic), in red, on the white field of the fin flash, and the text "Allah-u-Akhbar" (translated to "God is great"), in white, on the bottom of the green, and the top of the red field.

The word "Allah" is applied also on a number of F-5 Tiger IIs on the top of the fin, and undersides of the port (left) wing of IRIAF F-14 Tomcats.

Contents

History

Iran-Iraq War

Post Iran Iraq War

Iraqi aircraft from the Persian Gulf War

Current composition

Alleged Purchases

Su-30

J-10

Aircraft inventory

Facilities

Markings

See also

References

External links

Contents

History GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Iran-Iraq War

Post Iran Iraq War

Iraqi aircraft from the Persian Gulf War

Current composition

Alleged Purchases

Su-30

J-10

Aircraft inventory

Facilities

Markings

See also

References

External links

History