Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

This article is about Air Force of Iran's regular military. For Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' similar force, see Aerospace Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force seal trim caption
Active 1925–present
Country Iran Islamic Republic of Iran
Branch Air force
Size 37,000 (estimate)[1]
Part of Artesh
Garrison/HQ Tehran
Nickname(s) Persian: تیزپروازان, Tizparvazan
"Fastflyers"
Motto(s) Persian: بلند آسمان جایگاه من است
"Skyhigh Is My Place"
Colors      Ultramarine Blue
March 18 April
Mascot Eagle
Anniversaries 8 February (Air Force Day)
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander
Brig Gen. Hassan Shah-Safi
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack F-4D/E, Su-24MK, F-5E/F, Saeqeh
Electronic
warfare
RC-130, B707 Elint
Fighter F-14A, MiG-29A/UB, Mirage F1, F-7M
Helicopter CH-47, AB-206, AB-214, AS-61, Mi-17, AH-1J, RH-53D
Patrol P-3F
Reconnaissance RF-4E
Trainer F-5A/B/Simorgh, PC-7, F33C, Fajr-3, FT-7
Transport C-130, IL-76, F27, B 747, B 707, Falcon 20, Falcon 50, JetStar, Y-12, PC-6, Socata TB.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) (Persian: نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران) is the aviation branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The present Air Force came into being in the early 1980s when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed.

The Air Force has attempted with some success to maintain in service the large number of American-built aircraft which Iran acquired during the Shah's regime. The Air Force has turned to purchases of Soviet and Chinese aircraft, as well as pressing ex-Iraqi aircraft into service, and indigenously built aircraft, in order to maintain a capable force.

History

The IRIAF came into being when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) was renamed following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, in February 1979. The British publishing company Orbis' Warplane partwork magazine seems to indicate the renaming did not actually take place until after the Iran–Iraq War had broken out.

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.

Due to strained relations with the west, Iran had to procure new equipment from Brazil, Russia and the People's Republic of China. 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Iran–Iraq War (1980–88)

An IRIAF C-130 Hercules in 1988

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 eight major Iranian airbases 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.

The Iranians retaliated with operation Kaman-99 which involved 206 F-4, F-5 and F-14 aircraft. 23 September 1980, Iran launched Operation Kaman 99 as 40 F-4 Phantoms, armed with Mark 82, Mark 83 and Mark 84 bombs and AGM-65 Maverick missiles, took off from Hamadan. After refueling in mid-air the Phantoms reached the Iraqi capital Baghdad, where they attacked: al-Rashid, al-Habbaniyah and al-Kut airbases. Meanwhile, eight More F-4s took off from Tehran and launched a second attack on the al-Rashid airbase.

Iran launched 58 F-5E Tiger IIs from Tabriz, which were sent to attack Mosul Airbase. After the attack on Mosul Airbase, 50 F-5Es attacked Nasiriyah Airbase, which was heavily damaged.

As all 146 Iranian F-4s and F-5s had been sent for a bombing raid on Iraq, 60 F-14 Tomcats were scrambled to defend Iranian airspace against a possible Iraqi retaliation. Iranian F-14s managed to down 2 Iraqi MiG-21s (1 MiG-21RF and 1 MiG-21MF) and 3 Iraqi MiG-23s (MiG-23MS), an Iranian F-5E also shot down an Iraqi Su-20 during the operation. Iraqi MiG-23s managed to down 2 F-5Es, while Iraqi MiG-21s also downed 2 F-5Es. Iraqis also by mistake shot down one of their own Il-76MD strategic airlifters with a SA-3 SAM.

The Iraqis however were well prepared for the attack and had flown over most of their air force to other Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia, this made sure that most of the Iraqi Air Force survived the operation.

Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi military were dealt a heavy blow when Iranian Air Force vulnerabilities failed to materialize. All Iraqi airbases near Iran were out of order for weeks and, according to Iran, Iraq's aerial efficiency was reduced by 55%. This allowed Iranians to regroup and prepare for the upcoming Iraqi invasion.

Although the readiness rates of the IRIAF significantly increased in the following months, its overall role and influence declined, as the clerical government prioritized resources for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) militias and simultaneously attempted to develop a separate air arm for this service.

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

A P-3F Orion of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

During 1984 and 1985, the IRIAF found itself confronted by an ever better organized 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 centers, industrial infrastructures, powerplants, 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 defense of the strategically important Khark Island (main hub for Iranian oil exports), and Tehran. Over 300 air-to-air engagements against IQAF fighters, fighter-bombers, and bombers, were fought in these areas alone between 1980 and 1988.

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

One of the most notable Iranian fighter pilot was Jalil Zandi. His fame came as a F-14 Tomcat pilot. He has been reliably credited with shooting down 11 Iraqi airplanes.

Post Iran–Iraq War

An Iranian C-130 Hercules in 2010

Immediately after the end of the Iran–Iraq War, the IRIAF was partially rebuilt through 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 providing needed reinforcement to the Iranian Air Force, these types never replaced the older, U.S.-built F-4 Phantoms, F-14s (the IRIAF is now the only air arm in the world using the fighter), or F-5s. Instead, the IRIAF continued its efforts to keep these types in service, and began a number of projects to refurbish and upgrade them.

1990s

During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, numerous Iraqi pilots flew Iraqi Air Force aircraft to Iran to avoid destruction by coalition forces. The Iranians impounded these aircraft and never returned them, putting them in service in the IRIAF[2] and claiming them as reparations for the Iran–Iraq War. The aircraft included several Mirage F1s, MiG-23s, MiG-29s, Su-20s, Su-22Ms, Su-24s, Su-25s and a number of Il-76s, including the secret, one-off AEW-AWACS Il-76 "ADNAN 1" prototype.

Even after the cease-fire with Iraq, the IRIAF carried out several air raids against Kurdish separatist's bases in Northern Iraq. The first of such raids was conducted using eight F-4s armed with rockets and cluster bombs on 6 April 1992 against People's Mujahedin of Iran's Camp Ashraf. During this event one F-4 was shot down by either insurgent or Iraqi military AAA and both pilots (Lt. Col Amini and Cpt. Sharifi) were captured and not freed until 1998. Despite threats of response, Iraq wasn't able to retaliate due to its own fight against Kurdish separatist guerillas and the Western-imposed no-fly zones that crippled and limited its air force's operations.[3][4]


2000s

In 2006, after Iranian media published a series of reports suggesting that Venezuela was interested in selling its 21 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Iran,[5] a Hugo Chavez adviser confirmed to the Associated Press that "Venezuela's military is considering selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, possibly Iran, in response to a U.S. ban on arms sales to President Hugo Chávez's government". In response, Sean McCormack, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, warned Venezuela that "without the written consent of the United States, Venezuela can't transfer these defense articles, and in this case F-16s, to a third country".[6]

Iran Air Forces training in Tehran, 2014

According to Moscow Defense Brief, Russia delivered 6 Su-25UBK ground attack fighter-trainers, 12 Mi-171Sh military transport helicopters, 21 Mi-171 transport helicopters, and 3 Mi-17B-5 medical helicopters to Iran between 2000 and 2006. A $700 million repair and modernization program of the IRIAF MiG-29 and Su-24 fighters was also completed.[7]

On 22 September 2009, an IRIAF Il-76 collided with an F-5E[8] shortly after an annual parade in Tehran and crashed near Varamin, killing all seven people on board.[9]

2010s

At the end of 2014, there were some evidences that IRIAF involved in 2014 military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In a video released by Aljazeera, Iranian F-4 Phantom II bombed some buildings of ISIS in Diyala Governorate.[10]

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-organization of existing air-defense assets—foremost SAM and AAA units—was undertaken in 1985. There has been no major re-organization during all of the 1990s either.

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

An F-14A Tomcat of the IRIAF.
A MiG-29UB of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force in 2011.
An Su-24MK of the IRIAF flying over Shahid Dastghaib International Airport.

Jane's Sentinel Estimate of Units 1993

Source: Jane's Sentinel, Islamic Republic of Iran, 1993, p. 27 – not complete

Tactical Air Base Location Type Unit
TAB 1 Mehrabad F-5E squadron
Mehrabad F-7M squadron
Mehrabad F-14A/MiG-29 squadron
Mehrabad C-130H/Il-76 squadron
Mehrabad F 27/Falcom squadron
TAB 2 Tabriz F-4D/E squadron
Tabriz F-5E squadron
Tabriz F-7M squadron
Tabriz C-130H flight
TAB 3 Hamadan F-6 squadron
Hamadan F-7M squadron
TAB 4 Dezful F-4D/E squadron
TAB 4 Dezful F-5E squadron
TAB 5 not identified
TAB 6 Bushehr F-4D/E squadron
Bushehr F-7M flight
Bushehr C-130H flight
TAB 7 Shiraz Northrop F-5 squadron
Shiraz F-14A/MiG-29 squadron
Shiraz C-130H/Il-76 squadron
Shiraz F-27 flight

Alleged purchases

Su-30

The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran has signed an arms deal with the Russian Rosoboronexport arms group to buy 250 Su-30MKM warplanes and 20 Il-78 MKI aerial tankers. It is reported that Israeli defense officials were investigating the potential Iran–Russia deal, in which Iran would pay $1 billion a dozen squadrons’ worth of the jets.[11] Iran and Russia have both denied this and have rejected these claims as propaganda.[12][13][14] In a recent broadcast the "Mehr News Agency" has reported that they (the reporters) saw a dozen Su 30s in a maneuver that took place on 15 and 16 September 2008; further the report reads: "In this joint maneuver of the IRIAF and the AFAGIR which is called the 'Guardians of the Nations Skies' the Air Forces of Iran have tested domestically developed systems as well as newly purchased systems (from Russia and China)."[15] The harsh warnings of Israel that it could attack Iran at any time and the Russo-American conflict over Georgia have led to reported weapons sales to Iran by Russia, but so far there have no details been revealed by either side.

J-10

The Russian news agency Novosti reported that Business & Financial Markets said 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 home-grown 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."[16][17][18]

JF-17 Thunder

According to Global Security, in July 2003 Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation (CAIC) unveiled the new 'Super-7' or Chao Qi fighter plane to the public, China supposedly received orders from Iran. The plane, now called the FC-1 is an export version of the JF-17 Thunder and entered production in 2006. As of 2014 Iran hasn't received any such plane.[11]

Aircraft

Current inventory

A Mirage F1BQ landing
A MiG-29 sits on the tarmac at Dezful Airport
An Iranian C-130E
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
F-4 Phantom II United States multirole D/E/RF-4EJ 42[19]
Northrop F-5 United States fighter F-5E/HESA Saeqeh 25[19] the Saeqeh is a derivative of the F-5
Chengdu F-7 China/Pakistan fighter / interceptor 17[19] licensed built MiG-21
MiG-29 Russia multirole 20[19]
Sukhoi Su-24 Russia bomber 24[19]
Grumman F-14 United States fighter F-14A 24[19]
Mirage F1 France fighter F1EQ 9[19] obtained from the IQAF fleeing during the Gulf War
Maritime Patrol
P-3 Orion United States maritime patrol P-3F 5[19]
Tanker
Boeing 707 United States aerial refueling / transport 3[19]
Boeing 747 United States aerial refueling / transport 3[19]
Transport
Boeing 707 United States VIP 1[19]
Boeing 747 United States VIP 2[19]
C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130E/H 3[19]
Ilyushin Il-76 Russia heavy transport 5[19]
Fokker F-27 Netherlands transport 10[19]
Pilatus PC-6 Switzerland utility 13[19] STOL capable aircraft
Helicopters
Agusta Bell 206 Italy utility 2[19]
Agusta-Bell 212 Italy utility 2[19]
Trainer Aircraft
Northrop F-5 United States conversion trainer F-5B/F 21[19]
Chengdu F-7 China/Pakistan conversion trainer FT-7 4[19] licensed built MiG-21
Mirage F1 France conversion trainer F1BQ 4[19] obtained from the IQAF fleeing during the Gulf War
Pilatus PC-7 Switzerland trainer 35[19]
Agusta Bell 206 Italy trainer 1[19]

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 from those used by the IIAF.

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 hu Akbar" (translated to "God is greater"), in white, on the bottom of the green, and the top of the red field, though the application of such varies with some aircraft still carrying the simplified tricolor on the tail, it is unknown if this is due to simply saving time and effort, or if these are left overs from the 1970s.

The roundel remains the same as used before.

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.

The roundel and fin flash are also displayed on the aircraft of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army and the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.

Missiles and rockets

On 8 March 2009, Iran declared that it has successfully armed some of its front-line fighter jets with domestically manufactured long-range air-to-surface missiles, which are capable of hitting targets within a range of more than 110 kilometers at sea.[20]

Spellout, Peace Ruby and Peace Net

These three programs were instituted by the United States, (pre revolution), to improve/upgrade the air-defence system of Iran. As well as air defence radars the network was linked using microwave LOS and troposcatter communications networks.[21][22]

Major operations

Iran–Iraq War

See also

References

Notes
  1. Hossein Aryan (November 15, 2011), The Artesh: Iran’s Marginalized and Under-Armed Conventional Military, Middle East Institute, retrieved December 15, 2015
  2. BBC News, mentioned in article
  3. "Iran Strafes Rebels in Iraq - Jet Downed". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  4. "iranian_F_4_Phantom_LOSSES". ejection-history.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  5. چاوز: جنگنده های اف – ۱۶ را احتمالا به ایران می فروشیم (Aftab News)
  6. Venezuela Threatens to Sell F-16 Fleet to Iran, Fox News
  7. Russia on Iran’s Market for Arms Moscow Defense Brief
  8. "Iranian Military Planes Crashes in Annual Parade". Defensenews. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  9. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  10. Iran Bombing Islamic State In Iraq, U.S. Official Confirms Huffington Post
  11. 1 2 John Pike. "Iran Air Force". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  12. DEBKAfile DEBKA Reports: Iran buys 250 long-distance Sukhoi fighter-bombers, 20 fuel tankers, from Russia 1 August 2007
  13. Navy Times Reports: Iran may buy 250 jets from Russia 1 August 2007
  14. defensetech Iran's New Fighter? 2 August 2007
  15. "Iran, world, political, sport, economic news and headlines". MehrNews.com. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  16. Yossi Melman. "Iran to buy from China 24 fighter jets based on Israeli technology" Haaretz, 24 October 2007.
  17. Kommersant. "Iran buys Israeli fighter jets" RIA Novosti, 23 October 2007.
  18. "What the Russian papers say". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "World Air Forces 2016 pg. 20". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  20. Iranian jets will fire long-range missiles, PressTV, Retrieved on 8 March 2009.
  21. "Air Defense Command And Radars". Iiaf.net. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  22. "Web Archive". Exreps.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-14.

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