List of aircraft of the Iranian Air Force

This is a list of aircraft types operated by the Iranian Air Force, including those operated by the air arm of the Iranian Army prior to the foundation of the Air Force as a separate service in August 1955. Coloured cells denote types that are still in active service.

Combat types

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Number! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Years! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Chengdu F-7 Airguard || China || Fighter (F-7M)/trainer (FT-7) || F-7M

---

FT-7 || 36

---

5 || 1986-

---

1986- || 20 operational in 2008"World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2008, "Aviation Week & Space Technology", January 28 2008.]

---

Built by GAIC. 4 operational in 2008
-----
Curtiss Model 75 || USA || Fighter || H75A-9 || 10 || 1941-42 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Dassault Mirage F1 || France || fighter || F1EQ

---

F1BQ || 24 || 1991-present || Detained from Iraq during the first Gulf War
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De Havilland DH.4 || USSR || Bomber || || 4 || 1924 || Built by Dux
-----
De Havilland DH.9A || USSR || Bomber || DH.9A

---

R-1 || 5

---

27 || 1924-26

---

1924-35 || Built by Dux
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Grumman F-14 Tomcat || USA || Interceptor/multi-role fighter || F-14A || 79|| || 20 remain in service in 2008
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Hawker Fury || UK || Fighter || Mk I

---

Mk II || 16

---

6 || 1933-49 ||
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Hawker Hart || UK || Bomber || || || 1933-39 ||
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Hawker Hind || UK

---

Iran || Bomber || || 35

---

20 || 1938-51

---

1941- ||
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Hawker Hurricane || UK || Fighter || Mk I

---

Mk II

---

Mk IIC || 1

---

36

---

2 || 1939-46

---

1946-50

---

1947-51 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
HESA Azarakhsh || Iran || fighter || First Generation (includes twin-seat version) || 6 || || 6 as of 2001, 30 planned by 2004 [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/azarakhsh.htm Azarakhsh ] ]
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
HESA Saeqeh || Iran || fighter || Second Generation Azarakhsh || ? || || at least 3 built [http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8606/ImageReports/8606310456/7_8606310456_L600.jpg]
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
HESA Shafaq || Iran || fighter || || || || 1 prototype built
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II || USA || reconnaissance

---

fighter

---

fighter

---

reconnaissance || RF-4C

---

F-4D

---

F-4E

---

RF-4E || 5

---

32

---

180

---

32 || 1968

---

1968-

---

1968-

---

1971- ||

---

15 operational in 2008

---

29 operational in 2008

---

3 operational in 2008
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Mikoyan MiG-29 || Russia, with local, Russian [http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2006/10/enabling_iran.html WorldwideStandard.com: Enabling Iran ] ] and Indian [ [http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Iran.pdf JCSS] ] upgrades. || fighter

---

trainer || MiG-29A

---

MiG-29UB || 40

---

8 || 1990-

---

1990- || 35 operational in 2008

---

5 operational in 2008
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North American F-86 Sabre || USA

---

Canada || Fighter || F-86F

---

CL-13B || 20

---

90 || 1959-73

---

1966 ||

---

CL-13Bs purchased from Germany and sold on to Pakistan soon afterwards
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger || USA || fighter || F-5A

---

RF-5A

---

F-5B

---

F-5E

---

RF-5E

---

F-5F || 104

---

16

---

24

---

141

---

---

28 || 1965-

---

1969-

---

1965-

---

1974-

---

---

1976- ||75 out of all variants operational in 2008
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Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

---

Republic F-84G Thunderjet || USA || Fighter

---

Reconnaissance

---

Fighter || F-84F

---

RF-84F

---

F-84G || 30

---

75 || 1972

---

1956-66 ||
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Republic P-47 Thunderbolt || USA || Fighter || P-47D || 160 || 1948-1959 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Shenyang F-6 Farmer || China || fighter || F-6 || 18|| ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Sukhoi Su-24 || Russia || strike/air-to-air refuelling tanker || SU-24MK || 24|| || upgraded by Russia
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Sukhoi Su-25 || Russia || strike/close air support

---

trainer || Su-25K

---

Su-25T

---

Su-25UBK

---

Su-25UBT || -

---

3

---

-

---

3|| || 7 Su-25K/UBK impounded from Iraq

---

6 Su-25T/UBT purchased from Russia [ [http://www.janes.co.uk/defence/air_forces/news/jdw/jdw060913_1_n.shtml "Iran Bolsters Su-25 Fleet] , " [http://www.janes.co.uk/ Jane's] ".]
-----bgcolor="#F8F8FF"

Reconnaissance, patrol, and AEW

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Number! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Years! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Avro Anson || UK || Reconnaissance, trainer || Mk I || 48 || 1943-51 ||
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Breguet 14 || France || Reconnaissance || || 2 || 1924-25 ||
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Breguet 19 || France || Reconnaissance || A2 || 1 || 1925-26 ||
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Hawker Audax || UK

---

Iran || Army Co-operation || || 56

---

10 || 1934-51 ||

---

Built by Shahbaz
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Ilyushin Il-76 AEW || Russia || Airborne Early Warning || Adnan-1 || 2|| || In 1991 Gulf War two IL-76AEW fled from Iraq to Iran where the remain in service at Shiraz and Mehrabad Intl. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/a-50.htm globalsecurity.org] ]
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Lockheed P-3 Orion || USA || maritime patrol || P-3F || 6 || 1974- || 3 operational in 2008
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Polikarpov R-5 || USSR || Reconnaissance || || 10 || 1933-43 ||
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Transport and utility

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Number! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Years! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
(Rockwell) Aero Commander 500 family || USA || utility transport || 681

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690A || 6World Air Forces - Historical Listings: Iran (archived version at http://web.archive.org/web/20070219113849/www.worldairforces.com/Countries/iran/irn.html)]

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|| 1970-99

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1973- ||

---

4 operational in 2008
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Airspeed Oxford || UK || Utility transport || || 3 || 1940-44 ||
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Antonov An-74 || USSR || Transport || An-74TK-200 || 12 || 1997-98 ||
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Auster Aiglet || UK || Utility transport || J5FL || 15 || 1957-59 ||
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Beech 18 || USA || Utility transport || || 10 || 1950-72 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Boeing 707 || USA || VIP transport

---

transport/air-to-air refuelling tanker || 707-368C

---

707-3J9C || 1

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13 [Tony Pither, The Boeing 707 720 and C135, Air-Britain Publications, 1998, ISBN 0 85130 236 X] || 1974- || many modified for special missions - 10 current
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Boeing 727 || USA || Transport || 727-81 || 1|| 1974-97 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Boeing 747 || USA || VIP transport/freighter || 747-100

---

747-100F

---

747-200F || 9Andrade 1982, page 107]

---

3

---

4|| || 5 operational in 2008
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Cessna 185 || USA || Utility transport || || 3+ || 1994 ||
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Cessna 337 || USA || Utility transport || 337IR || 12 || 1970-94 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Dassault Falcon 20 || France || VIP transport || 20F || 3 || 1976- || 1 operation in 2008
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Dassault Falcon 50 || France || VIP transport || || 3 || ||
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De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver || Canada || Transport || || 7 || 1955-87 ||
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Dornier 228 || Germany || Transport || 228-100 || 4 || 1992-98 ||
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Douglas C-47 Skytrain || USA || Transport || || 23 || 1948-76 ||
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Douglas C-54 Skymaster || USA || Transport || || 6 || ?-76 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Fokker F27 Friendship || Netherlands || tactical airlift/transport and target towing|| F27-400M

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F27-600 || 15Andrade 1982, page 108]

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4 || 1972- || 11 operational in 2008

---

3 operational in 2008
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Harbin Y-12 || China || utility transport || || 8 || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Ilyushin Il-76 || Russia || transport || ||15|| ||
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Junkers A.20 || Germany || Transport || || 2 || 1925-35 ||
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Junkers F.13 || Germany || Transport || || 3 || 1924-29 ||
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Junkers H.21 || Germany || Transport || || 1 || 1924-25 ||
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Junkers W.33 || Germany || Transport || W.33d || 3 || 1929-43 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Lockheed C-130 Hercules || USA || tactical airlift/transport || C-130E

---

C-130H || 17

---

43 || || 5 operational in 2008

---

4 operational in 2008
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Lockheed JetStar || USA || VIP transport || JetStar 8 || 2 || || 1 operational in 2008
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Pilatus PC-6 Porter || Switzerland || utility transport || || 12 || ||
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Potez VII || France || Utility aircraft || || 3 || 1924-26 ||
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Praga E.114 || Czechoslovakia || || || 1 || 1943 ||
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RWD-13 || Poland || || || 1 || 1939-1943 ||
-----bgcolor="#F8F8FF"
Socata TB || France || utility || TB 20

---

TB 200 || 6

---

6 || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Xian Y-7 || China || tactical transport || Y-7 || 14 || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"

Trainers

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Number! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Years! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Avro 504 || USSR || Trainer || || 8 || 1924-28 || Built by Dux
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Beechcraft Bonanza || USA || trainer || F33A

---

F33C || 57 || 1972- || 20 operational in 2008
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Blériot-SPAD S.42 || France || Trainer || || 2 || 1924-26 ||
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Boeing-Stearman Model 75 || USA || Trainer || PT-13 || 1+ || 1951-63 ||
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Cessna 172 || USA || Trainer || || 30 || 1974-76 ||
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Curtiss Fledgling || USA || Trainer || || 1 || 1934-43 ||
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De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth || UK

---

Iran

---

UK || Trainer || || 20

---

79

---

10 || 1932-58 ||

---

Built by Shahbaz

---

Built by Morris
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano || Brazil || Basic trainer || || 15 || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Fajr-3 || Iran || trainer || F.3 || ? || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Dorna/Tazarv || Iran || trainer || ? || 2 || || 1 as of 2005, 25 planned for 2010 [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce-equipment.htm Iranian Air Force Equipment ] ]
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
IAMI Parastoo || Iran || trainer || || 12 || || 12 as of 2005
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
HESA Simorgh || Iran || trainer || || || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star || USA || trainer || T-33A || 5 || ||
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North American T-6 || USA || Trainer || AT-6G || 20 || 1949-76 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
PAC Mushshak || Pakistan || trainer || Mushshak || 23 || |
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer || Switzerland || trainer || || 20 || ||
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Piper Cub || USA || Trainer || L-4 || 6 || late 1940s/early 1950s ||
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Piper PA-18 Super Cub || USA || Trainer || L-18C || 12 || 1952-1975 ||
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Helicopters

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Number! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Years! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Aérospatiale Super Frelon || France || Utility helicopter || SA321 || 16 || 1971-1994 ||
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Agusta-Bell 205 || USA/Italy || Utility helicopter || || 45 || 1965-98 ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Agusta-Bell 206 || Italy

---

Iran || utility helicopter || AB 206A

---

Panha Shabviz 2061 || 3

---

- || || AB 206A built by Agusta

---

unknown numbers of 2061 in service
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Agusta-Bell 212 || Italy || Light-lift transport helicopter || AB 212 || 5 || || built by Agusta
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Agusta-Sikorsky AS-61 || Italy || helicopter || AS-61A4 || 2 || || built by Agusta
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Bell 214 || USA || Medium-lift transport helicopter || Bell 214C || 25 || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Boeing CH-47 Chinook || Italy || Heavy-lift transport helicopter || CH-47C || 96 || || built by Elicotteri Meridionali
4 operational in 2008
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Cessna UH-41 || USA || Utility helicopter || || 5 || late 1950s/early 1960s ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Kaman HH-43 Huskie || USA || rescue helicopter || HH-43F || 8 || ||
-----bgcolor="#ffdddd"
Mil Mi-8 || Russia || Medium-lift transport helicopter || Mi-8MTW || 4 || ||
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Sikorsky S-58 || USA || Utility helicopter || HH-34F || 10 || 1948-1959 ||
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Westland Whirlwind || UK || Utility helicopter || Mk 2 || 2 || 1979-1982 ||
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Other types

These types were also purchased by the Iranian government
* One Aero A.30 from Czechoslovakia in 1923
* One De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in 1979

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:
*Mikoyan Mig-23/27 'Flogger-E' 'Flogger-D'
*Mikoyan MiG-27
*Sukhoi Su-17/20/22 'Fitter'
*Boeing 727 (Cargo/transport)
*Hughes 300C
*Shabaviz 2-75 (Iranian Origin) (operated by the Army)
*Bell 204 UH-1 (operated by the Army)
*AH-1 Cobra (operated by the Army)
*Sukhoi Su-17
*C-130 Hercules

Iranian combat aircraft under development

*M-ATF
*Morghe Ashura (Long-range bomber)
*Saeqheh

References

*cite book |last= Andrade|first= John|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Militair 1982|year= 1982|publisher= Aviation Press Limited|location= London|isbn=0 907898 01 07

See also