Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
From Themarshallwiki
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. It has close links to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defence Forces, and the Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.
The Air Force performs a number of roles including providing the airborne element of Iran's air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike, land attack, army support, and transport. It works closely with the Air Defence Forces, AFAGIR, Army, and Navy for all if its missions.
The arms embargo has severely hampered Iran's air force due to the highly technical nature of air forces. Large numbers of Iranian aircraft are not operational due to lack of spare parts, and manufacturer support.
Contents |
Order of Battle
| Aircraft | Role | Number in service | Number acquired | Service entry | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grumman F-14A Tomcat | Fighter/Interceptor | 59 | 79 | 1976 | United States |
| Mikoyan MiG-29A/B/UB Fulcrum | Air superiority fighter | 67 | 75 | 1991 | Russia (55 Iraq) |
| Dassault Mirage F-1EQ/BQ | Multi-role fighter | 13 | 24 | 1991 | France (Iraq) |
| McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II | Multi-role fighter | 18 | 32 | 1968 | United States |
| McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II | Multi-role fighter | 46 | 180 | 1971 | United States |
| Sukhoi Su-24MK Fencer-D | Interdiction/Strike | 33 | 36 | 1991 | Russia (Iraq) |
| Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II | Multi-role fighter | 75 | 169 | 1974 | United States |
| McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phantom II | Reconnaissance | 8 | 32 | 1968 | United States |
| Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter | Reconnaissance | 5 | 16 | 1969 | United States |
| Lockheed P-3F Orion | Maritime Reconnaissance | 3 | 6 | 1974 | United States |
| Ilyushin Il-76 AEW (Adnan-1) | Airborne Early Warning | 2 | 2 | 1991 | Russia/Iraq/France (Iraq) |
| Lockheed C-130E/H Hercules | Tactical transport | 21 | 60 | 1965 | United States |
| Antonov An-74TK-200 Coaler | Tactical transport | 12 | 12 | 1999 | Russia |
| Fokker F27 Friendship | Tactical transport | 14 | 14 | 1972 | Holland |
| Xian Y-7 | Tactical transport | 15 | 15 | 2004 | China |
| Boeing 707 | Strategic transport/tanker | 10 | 14 | 1974 | United States |
| Boeing 747 | Strategic transport/tanker | 8 | 16 | 1975 | United States |
| Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid-B | Strategic transport | 9 | 11 | 1991 | Russia (3 Iraq) |
| Ilyushin Il-76TD Candid-B | Strategic transport | 4 | 4 | 1991 | Uzbekistan |
| Harbin Y-12 | Utility transport | 8 | 8 | 2000 | China |
| Rockwell Commander 690 | Utility transport | 4 | 6 | 1973 | United States |
| Pilatus PC-6B Turbo-Porter | Utility transport | 15 | 15 | 1984 | Switzerland |
| Lockheed Jetstar B | VIP transport | 1 | 3 | 1961 | United States |
| Dassault Falcon/Mystere 20F | VIP transport | 2 | 3 | 1976 | France |
| Dassault Falcon/Mystere 50 | VIP transport | 2 | 3 | 1991 | France |
| Beechcraft Bonanza | Primary trainer | 20 | 57 | 1972 | United States |
| Socata TB | Primary trainer | 15 | 15 | 1996 | France |
| MFI-17 Mushshak | Primary trainer | 40 | 40 | 1990 | Pakistan |
| IAMI F33C Parastou1 | Primary trainer | 26 | 26 | 1993 | Iran |
| Pilatus PC-7 Turbo-Trainer | Basic/advanced trainer | 45 | 52 | 1983 | Switzerland |
| Embraer EMB-312 Tucano | Basic/advanced trainer | 15 | 15 | 1989 | Brazil |
| IRGAI S-682 | Basic/advanced trainer | 10 | 10 | 1983 | Iran |
| HESA Simorgh3 | Fast jet trainer | 20 | 20 | 2004 | Iran (United States) |
| OWJ Tazarv4 | Fast jet trainer | 12 | 12 | 2005 | Iran |
| Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star | Fast jet trainer | 9 | 30 | 1956 | United States |
| Kaman HH-43 Huskie | Rescue helicopter | 10 | 10 | 1967 | United States |
1Iranian-built Beechcraft Bonanza
2Iranian-built Pilatus PC-7 Turbo-Trainer
3Iranian conversion of Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
4See link [1]
Future Aircraft
These aircraft are in the design, development, or testing phases for introduction into service.
- HESA Azarakhsh (Multi-role fighter)
- HESA Saeqeh (Multi-role fighter)
- HESA Shafaq (Fast jet trainer/attack aircraft)
Aerial Weapons
Guns
- M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon
- Pontiac M39 20mm cannon
- DEFA 553 30mm cannon
- GSh-30-1 30mm cannon
- GSh-6-23 23mm cannon
Air to air missiles
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
- AIM-7 Sparrow
- AIM-54 Phoenix
- Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer)
- Vympel R-27 (AA-10 Alamo)
- MIM-23 HAWK conversion
- RIM-66 Standard SM-1 conversion
- Fattar (Iranian AIM-9 derivative)
Air to surface missiles
- AGM-45 Shrike
- AGM-65 Maverick
- AGM-78 Standard ARM
- AGM-84 Harpoon
- Qadr TV-guided missile
- Rocket powered Mk-84 2000lb bomb with TV guidance package derived from AGM-65 Maverick
- Zoobin
- Rocket powered M117 750lb bomb with TV guidance package derived from AGM-65 Maverick
- Noor anti-ship missile
- Iranian-made Chinese C-802
- Sattar-1
- MIM-23 HAWK based ARM
- Sattar-3
- Iranian-made Laser Guided Missile
- Sattar-4
- Iranian-made Laser Guided Missile
- Fajre-Darya anti-ship missile
- Iranian made Marte with EO guidance
Guided bombs
- AGM-62 Walleye
- Iranian made LGB kit for Mk 80 series
Bombs
- Mk 80 series
- M117 750lb bomb
- Mk 20 Rockeye
Other weapons
- Mk 44 Torpedo
- Hydra-70 Rocket System
Markings
The markings of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force have changed little since the 1979 Revolution. The above roundel and tail flash are the standard national markings. Squadron markings are not used. On the fuselage, Air Force aircraft have the lettering IRIAF (pre-1979, the lettering was IIAF for Imperial Iranian Air Force). Navy aircraft have IRIN, and Army have IRIA.
