Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) ( || utility helicopter || AB 206A

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Panha Shabviz 2061 || 3

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- || AB 206A built by Agusta

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unknown numbers of 2061 in service
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Agusta-Bell 212 || || trainer || F33C || 20 ||
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Bell 214 || || VIP transport/air-to-air refuelling tanker || 747-100F || 5 ||
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Boeing CH-47 Chinook || || VIP transport || || 1 ||
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Dassault Falcon 50 || || Basic trainer || || 15 ||
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Fajr-3 || || Interceptor/multi-role fighter || F-14A || 20 || 79 .
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Harbin Y-12 || || fighter || Second Generation Azarakhsh || ? || at least 3 built [http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8606/ImageReports/8606310456/7_8606310456_L600.jpg]
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HESA Shafaq || || trainer || || 12 || 12 as of 2005 [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce-equipment.htm]
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HESA Simorgh || || 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] ] Currently, only one remains operational for transport purposes, as the AWACS systems onboard are no longer operational. ["Beriev A-50 Mainstay", Air Forces Monthly, August 2008 issue, p. 95]
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Kaman HH-43 Huskie || || VIP transport || JetStar II || 1 ||
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Lockheed P-3 Orion || || fighter

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fighter

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reconnaissance || F-4D

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F-4E

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RF-4E || 15

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29

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3 ||
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Mikoyan MiG-29 || || fighter || F-5A

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F-5B

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F-5E

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F-5F

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RF-5E || 75 |
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Pilatus PC-6 Porter || || utility transport || 690A || 4 ||
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PAC Mushshak || || utility || TB 20

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TB 200 || 6

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6 ||
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Sukhoi Su-24 || || tactical transport || Y-7 || 14 || built by Xian
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Historic

* Iran-140
* F-14 Tomcat
* F-5 Tiger II
* AH-1 Cobra gunship
* Bell 212/Shabaviz 2-75
* Bell 206/Shabaviz 206.
* MiG-29 fighters
* Su-24 bombers
* F-7M
* FT-7 fighters
* F-4 Phantoms
* Mirage F1
* MiG-25 Foxbat
* MiG-21 Fishbeds
* MiG-27
* Su-24MK Fencer-D
* MiG-29 Fulcrum
* Su-20
* Su-22M Fitter
* Su-25 Frogfoots
* MiG-23
* Il-76 - one-off AEW-AWACS prototype Il-76 "ADNAN 1"
* 2 Su-27

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.

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.

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.

Missiles and Rockets

Air-to-Air missiles

* AIM-7 Sparrow
* AIM-9 Sidewinder
* AIM-54 Phoenix
* Vympel R-27
* Vympel R-73

Air-to-Surface missiles

* AGM-62 Walleye
* AGM-65 Maverick
* AGM-45 Shrike
* AGM-78 Standard
* BGM-71 TOW

urface-to-Air missiles

* Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk (also used on the F-14 as and air to air missile)
* Tor Missile System
* S-200
* S-300 (S-300PMU-1 and S-300PMU-2)
* Misagh-1
* Misagh-2
* RBS-70
* SA-7 Grail
* SA-16 Gimlet
* SA-18 Grouse

and many other American & Russian Rockets

ee also

*Islamic Republic of Iranian Armed Forces
*List of Iranian Air Force aircraft
*List of Iranian Air Force Bases
*Iranian Air Force in Iran-Iraq war

References

External links

* [http://www.irandefence.net/showthread.php?t=1947 IRIAF Photos]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPelLduhWC0 Iranian Air Defence]
* [http://www.iranmilitaryforum.com Iranian Military Pictures & videos]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5724692565747885535 Video of the Iranian Air Force]
* [http://xairforces.net/airforces.asp?id=50 The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force - IRIAF]

Iran Military