In 1986, that the Iranian Air Force (1) was reorganized into eight fighter and attack squadrons, one reconnaissance squadron, two joint tanker-transport squadrons (probably one with 707s, one with 747s), and five light transport squadrons, probably organized by aircraft type. This OB is roughly consistent with that information, although the new Russian aircraft have allowed an increase in the number of squadrons. Aircraft Type A/C in 2001 (2) Maint Level Role Remarks Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force 1 sqdn (3) F-5E/F 45 Third Lt. Attack - 3 sqdn F-4D/E, RF-4E 40 (4) ,6 Third Attack, Recon - 1 sqdn F-14A Tomcat 50-55 Fourth All-W Fighter - 3 sqdn MiG-29 Fulcrum 30 (5) Second Fighter Inflight refuel-capable in 1995 1 Sqdn Su-24MK Fencer D 30 (5) Second All-W Attack - P-3F Orion 2-3 Third Patrol & ASW - Ex-Iraqi Il-76 Adnan 1 (5) Second AEW Did it ever work? Boeing 707-3J9C 3-4 Second Tanker (6) - Il-76MD Candid 13 4 Second Transport Administered as a squadron Boeing 747 11 Third Transport Administered as a squadron Boeing 707-3J9C 10 Third Transport Administered as a squadron Harbin Y-12 9 Second Transport Administered as a squadron Harbin Y-7 14 Second Transport Administered as a squadron C-130 Hercules 30 Third Transport - Boeing 727 1 Third VIP Transport - Falcon 20F 3 Second VIP Transport - Lockheed Jetstar 2 Third VIP Transport - Falcon 50 3 Second Ex-Iraqi, w/Exocet - Fokker F.27 10 Second Transport - Fokker F.28 Fellowship 1 Second VIP Transport - AB-212 6 Third Transport - Augusta-Sikorsky AS-61A 2 Third VIP Transport Sea King variant Bell 214A & 214C 20 Third Transport & SAR - CH-47C Chinook 10 Third Transport - Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Falcon 20E 4 Second VIP Transport - Fokker F.27 4 Second Transport - AB-212AS 6 Third ASW - SH-3D Sea King 10 Third ASW - RH-53D Sea Stallion 2 Third MCM - Islamic Republic of Iran Army Falcon 20E 2 Second VIP Transport - Fokker F.27 2 Second Transport - AB-205A-1 25 Third Transport - AB-206A/B Jet Ranger 80 Third Scouting - Bell 212 30 Third Transport - Bel 212/214 180 Third Transport - AH-1J 100 Third Attack - CH-47C Chinook 60 Third Transport - Revolutionary Guard Air Arm 1 Sqdn F-7N/FT-7 Airguard 30/4 Second Fighter PRC MiG-21 Point defense for some airfields 1 Sqdn Shenyang F-6 18 Second Fighter PRC MiG-19 3 Sqdn Su-20/22 4/40 Second Attack - An-74TK200 Coaler 10 Second Transport Being delivered Notes (1) OB does not include trainers & liaison aircraft. (2) All strengths are approximate, and numbers represent aircraft in inventory (airframes), not operational. (3) Iranian squadrons probably have 12 aircraft (at full strength). This is the approximate number of useful aircraft. (4) Includes 23 ex-USAF aircraft transferred via Paraguay (5) 1991 Iraqi “donations” include: 21 MiG-29A/UB Fulcrum, 16-18 Su-24MK Fencer D, 13 Il-76 Candid, 1 Il-76 Adnan-1 AEW aircraft, Misc MiG-23, Su-25, Mirage F.1, probably not placed in service. (6) Fuselage boom and wingtip Beech 1800 pods. Can refuel F-4s, F-14s, and MiG-29s starting in 1995. (7) About four of the C-130s may have been converted in the 1980s to serve as SIGINT or COMINT platforms. F-4E Phantom II Fighter Gun Atk: 4 Man Rtng: 3.0/1.0 Size: Small Signature: Small Counterm: 2nd Gen D Bombsight: Computing Sensors: APQ-120 radar, TISEO. Performance: Speed in Knots Throttle Setting Altitude Cruise Full Mil Reheat V/Low: 500 (2.1) 650 (2.7) 790 (3.3) Med: 500 (2.1) 698 (2.9) 1026 (4.3) High: 500 (2.1) 745 (3.1) 1244 (5.2) Ceiling: 18975 meters Engine Type: TJ Endurance Data Inflight Refuel: Y Cruise Range: 1100 nm Int Fuel: 5575 kg Drop Tank Desc. Fuel Wt. Range Add. Drop tank 1118 kg 110 nm 600 USG drop tank 1852 kg 183 nm 370 USG drop tank 1142 kg 113 nm Ordnance Loadouts: Payload: 7260 kg Off Guns: 1 20mm Vulcan 4 AIM-7F Sparrow, 4 AIM-9L Sidewinder, 2 1118 kg drop tanks, 1 600 USG drop tank 4 AIM-7F Sparrow, 2 Hawk ARM or Standard ARM, 1 600 USG drop tank 4 AIM-7F Sparrow, 24 Mk82 500 lb bombs 4 AIM-7F Sparrow, 9 LAU-69 rocket pods, 2 1118 kg drop tanks 4 AIM-7F Sparrow, 2 C801 ASM, 1 600 USG drop tank. Remarks: APQ-120 is compatible with AIM-7E and -7F Sparrow only. Upgraded in Alburz project, improved APQ-120 search range to 160/102/64/29/16 nm. Upgraded with Zolqafar program to add Airborne MTI capability to APQ-120. F-5E/F Freedom Fighter Fighter Gun Atk: 1.5 Man Rtg: 3.0/1.0 Size: Small Signature: Small Counterm: Bombsight: Ballistic Sensors: APQ-159, RWR Performance: Speed in Knots (Nm/Phase) Throttle Setting Altitude Cruise Full Mil Reheat V/Low: 520 (2.2) 600 (2.5) 750 (3.1) Med: 520 (2.2) 620 (2.6) 850 (3.5) High: 520 (2.2) 620 (2.6) 1056 (4.4) Ceiling: 15240 m Engine Type: TJ Endurance Data Inflight Refuel: N Cruise Range: 480 nm Internal Fuel: 2071 kg Drop Tank Desc. Fuel Wt. Range Add. 50 USG drop tank 154 kg 30 nm 150 USG drop tank 463 kg 89 nm 275 USG drop tank 849 kg 164 nm Ordnance Loadouts: Payload: 3175 kg Off Guns: 2 M39A-2 20mm w/280 rds each 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder in all configurations (wingtip rails) 4 Mk81 250 lb or Mk82 500 lb bombs, 1 275 USG drop tank, 2 150 USG drop tanks 3 Mk83 1000 lb bombs, 2 50 USG drop tanks 1 Mk84 2000 lb bombs, 2 150 USG drop tanks 4 LAU-68B or LAU-69B rocket pods, 1 275 USG drop tank Remarks: 141/28 aircraft purchased 1972-78 Upgraded by project Offogh, includes upgraded APQ-159 radar, search range increased to 80/32/16/14/8 nm, SARH msl compatibility. Upgraded in project Raad to allow compatibility with all three AAM types in service (AIM-9, PL-7, R-60). Iranian Aircraft Maintenance Table Level Chance of Repair per Day Chance of Gripe per Sortie First Level 85% 8% Second Level 70% 15% Third Level 55% 30% Fourth Level 40% 60% Iranian Air Force: History and Assesment 2001 BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #20 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2001 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com