Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (IRIAF), Khatemolanbia Air Defense Headquarters; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Resistance Forces, Navy, Aerospace Force, Quds Force (special operations); Law Enforcement Forces. Active 523,000 personnel (Army 350,000 Islamic  Revolutionary Guard Corps 125,000 Navy 18,000 Air 30,000) Paramilitary 40,000 personnel.Armed Forces General Staff coordinates two parallel organisations: Regular Armed Forces and Revolutionary Guard Corps. Reserve 350,000personnel  (Army 350,000, ex-service volunteers)

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN AIR FORCE (IRIAF) • نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران‎
Air Force 30,000 Personnel. (incl 12,000 Air Defence)
Serviceability probably about 60% for US ac types and about 80% for PRC/Russian ac. Includes Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force equipment.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
(incl Air Defence units)
 
• AIRCRAFT 350+ (382+) combat capable. Total 515 Aircrafts.

Airspace Defence (Interceptor) 2 sqn with 44+ Ftr ac:
44+ Grumman F-14A Tomcat (34 in service);

Air Defence (Interceptor) 2 sqn with 35 Ftr ac (former Iraq ac):
8 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29A Fulcrum-A (9-12A);
20 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29B Fulcrum-A (9-12B) (10 in service);
4 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29UB Fulcrum-B (9-51);
3 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29U Fulcrum-B (9-51)

Air Defence and Strike fighter 1 sqn with 10 Ftr ac:
4 HESA F-5E Azarakhsh II;
6 HESA F-5E Azarakhsh I;

Multi-role 2 sqn with (Saeghe Station) 8 Multi-role ac:
8 Northrop (HESA) F-5E Saeghe (+24 planned)

Multi-role 1 sqn with 12 Multi-role ac:
11 Dassault Mirage F1EQ-5 (former Iraq ac);
1 Dassault Mirage F-1BQ;

Interceptor & Ground-Support 3 sqn with 31 Ftr ac:
20 Chengdu F-7M (MiG-21F) Airguard; 
6 Chengdu F-7N Airguard (MiG-21-F-13 Fishbed-C);
5 Guizhou FT-7N (Some F-7 operated by Pasdaran air arm)

Fighter Ground Attack 14 sqn with 94+ FGA ac:
9 sqn with 48+ McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II;
2 sqn with  10+ McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II;
2 sqn with 24 Sukhoi Su-24MK Fencer-D (former Iraq ac)
1 sqn with 12 Sukhoi Su-24M4 Fencer-P

Fighter Ground-Support & Attack 5 sqn with 72+ FGA ac:
45+ Northrop F-5E Tiger II (24 in service);
27 Northrop F-5F Tiger II;

Interceptor & Fighter Ground Attack (Advanced Training) 2 sqn with 21 Ftr/FGA ac:
6 Northrop (HESA) F-5B Simorgh*;
4 Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter (4 in service);
8 Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter (2 in service)*;
3 Guizhou FT-7N (MiG-21U Mongol-A)*

Reconnaissance 2 sqn with 11+ Recce ac:
7+ McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phantom II;
4 Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter (det.)

Storage or Retired 32 Fighter Aircrafts (in store or retired):
2? Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Flogger;
4 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger;
2 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM Fishbed-F (Ex-GDR; originally 16 planned incl 4 MiG-21U version, but only 2 delivered before German unification and rest cancelled);
20+ Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter;
4 Sukhoi Su-20 Fitter;

Test Aircrafts 11+ Test Ac (reported):
2+ Shafaq (Advanced Light Attack)
1 HESA F-5E Azarakhsh III;
1 HESA F-5E Azarakhsh IV;
1 HESA F-5E Azarakhsh V;
1 Owj Sa'eqeh-80;
1 Owj Tondar;
1 Shahed X-4;
1 Shahed X-5;
1 Shahed 274;
1 Dorna;

Anti-Submarine Warfare 1 sqn with 4 ASW ac (Navy):
4 Lockheed P-3F Orion

Airborne Early Warning 1 sqn with 1+ AEW&C ac:
1 Ilyushin A-50 (Il-76 Mainstay) Adnan-1 (The plane crashed in 2009)
? HESA IrAn-140 AWACS

Electronic Surveillance & Electronic Warfare 1 sqns with 2 Elint/EW ac:
1 Boeing 707-3J9C (Elint);
1 Lockheed RC-130H Khofash EW (L-382);

Maritime Patrol & Maritime Surveillance 1 sqn with 20 MP/MS ac:
2 Lockheed P-3MP Orion;
6 Fokker F-27-600 Friendship;
4 Fokker F-27-400M Friendship:
4 Dornier Do-228-100;
4 HESA Iran-140 Faraz (license built An-140 is produced by here.)

Air-to-Air Refueling & Heavy Transport 1 sqns with 7 Tpt/Tkr ac:
2 Boeing KC-747 (B-747-131SF);
1 Boeing KC-747 (B-747-270);
2 Boeing KC-707 (B-707-386C Tanker);
1 Boeing KC-707 (B-707-3J9C Tanker);
1 Ilyushin Il-76TD Candid-B;

VIP Transport 1 sqns with 11 VIP Tpt ac:
1 Boeing-747-2J6F;
3 Boeing 747-131SF;
1 Boeing 707-386C;
1 Boeing 707-3J9C;
1 Boeing 727 (storage or retired):
1 Lockheed L-1329-25 JetStar B II;
2 Dassault Falcon Mystere 50;
1 Dassault Falcon Mystere 20F

Heavy Transport 1 sqns with 12 Hvy Tpt/Tkr ac:
4 Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid-B;
8 Ilyushin Il-76TD Candid-B (4 in service);

Tactical Transport 5 sqns with 55 Tpt ac:
12 Lockheed C-130H Hercules (L-382);
10 Lockheed C-130E Hercules (L-382);
12 Antonov An-74TK-200 Coaler-B;
5 HESA IrAn-140 Faraz 45 (Antonov An-140TC);
2 Harbin Y-12 II (An-26 Curl);
14 Harbin Y-7 (An-24 Coke);

Transport & Liaison 13 Tpt/Liaison ac:
3 Rockwell Turbo Commander 680FL;
10 Pilatus PC-6B2-H2 Turbo-Porter (light transport)

Support 1 sqns with 11 Spt ac:
3 Fokker F-27-600 Friendship (1 in service);
5 Fokker F-27-400M Friendship (3 in service);
1 Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20E;
2 Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20F;
1 Cessna 182Q Skylane II (trg)

Training trg units with ? Trg ac:
? Fajr-3
         
Advanced Jet Training (Fighter Conversion)
Shenyang FT-6 (MiG-19) Farmer*
Guizhou FT-7 (MiG-21U) Mongol*;
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21US Mongol-B*

Basic & Intermediate Jet Training 1 sqns with 4 Bsc/Int Jet Trg ac:
4 JT2-2 Tazarv (+20 on order)

Basic Jet Training 1 sqns with 5 Bsc/Int Jet Trg ac (det):
5 Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star;

Primary Training 7 sqns with 85 Prm Trg ac:
1 sqns with 12 Beech F33A/C Bonanza;
2 sqns with 15+ Beech/IAMI F33C Parastou
1 sqns with 13+ Embraer EMB-312 Tucano (9+ in service);
3 sqns with 45 Pilatus PC-7 Turbo-Trainer; 5+ IRGAI S-68 (iranian PC-7)  (35+ in service);

Basic Training 1 sqns with 33 Bsc Trg ac:
1 sqns with 25 SAAB (PAK) MFI-17B Mushshak;
1 sqns with 8 Cessna 337IR Super Skymaster (O-2A version)

Surveillance 2 Surv ac:
2 Fajr-22 (+10 on order)

Utility & Liaison 5 Utl/Liaison ac:
2 Aero Commander A.C.681 Hawk;
1 Aero Commander A.C.500;
2 Cessna 185F Skywagon (U-17A);
2 Cessna 150 Aerobat

Utility & Training 1 sqns with 12 Utl/Trg (light transport):
4 Socata TB-200 Tobago;
8 Socata TB-21 Trinidad

* Trainer Aircraft


• HELICOPTER No armed capable. Total 66 Helicopters.

Search and Rescue (Base flight) 8 sqn with 37 SAR hel:
10 Bell 214B Isfahan;
19  Bell 214C Shavabiz 2-75 (6+on order: indigenous versions in production);
3 Agusta Bell AB-212;
2 Agusta Bell AB205A-1 Iroquois;
2 Agusta Bell AB-206;
1 Kaman HH-43F Huskie (K-600)

Support 2 sqns with 6 Spt hel:
2 Boeing (Elicotteri Meridionali) CH-47C Chinook (219) HeavyTransport;
4 Agusta Bell AB-212

VIP Transport 2 sqns with 7 VIP Tpt hel (with Aircraft Squadron):
1 Sikorsky Agusta S-61A-4 Sea King;
1 Sikorsky Agusta SH-3D Sea King;
3 Agusta Bell AB-212;
2 Bell 412

Utility sqn with 16 Utl hel:
2 AB-206A (Bell 206A) JetRanger;
1 Bell 214A Isfahan:
2 Bell 205 Shabaviz 75
11 IHSRI Shahed 274 (19 on order)

Rotary Flying Training
Shabaviz 2061


Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle
• UCAV • 1 sqn with 6 Impact UAV:
  Sofreh Mahi (RQ-170 Sentinel copy).
  Karrar Heavy Attacker UAV;
  Ababil Medium UAV for reconnaissance and attack targets.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
• UAV • Reconnaissance sqn swith + Recce UAV:
  Reconnaissance and targeting laser weapons to targets.
  Mohajer 1,2,3,4
  Tactical Reconnaissance
  Zohal Micro VTOL UAV
  Medium Reconnaissance
  A1;
  Shaparak;
  Ra'd
• Target drone       
  Saeghe Medium UAV


• MISSILES
  ASM
  ALCM: 6 Kh-55/AS-15 Kent, C-801K (CSS-N-4) Sardine ALCM
  ARM: 15 AGM-45A Shrike
  ASM: 100 Kh-29/AS-14 Kedge (For Su-24), AS-11 Kilter, AS-10 Karen, 2500 AGM-65A Maverick, 200 AS-12,  C-801K, Fajr e-Darya (C-701), FL-10 , Towsan, Toophan
  Anti-ship missile: 110 HY-2/SY-1A/CSS-N-2 (Possibly incl C-601 (CAS-1) air-launched version)

  AAM
  BVRAAM 870 AAM: 100 R-27/AA-10 Alamo (For MiG-29), 280 AIM-54A Phoenix (For F-14A), 430 AIM-7E Sparrow (For F-4E and F-4D), 60 AIM-7C Sparrow,
AA-12 (on order)
  SRAAM 2950+ AAM: 300 R-73/AA-11 Archer (For MiG-29), 400 R-60/AA-8 Aphid (For MiG-29 and Su-24),  360 PL-7 (For F-7), 1270 AIM-9J Sidewinder (For F-4E, F-14A and F-5E), 200 AIM-9L Sidewinder, 200 AIM-9E Sidewinder (For F-4D), 20 AIM-9B Sidewinder-1A (For F-5A), 200 AIM-4D Falcon (For F-4D)

• RADAR • Air search radar
  3 JY-14
  3 S-330
  1 Big Back (For use with 1 SA-5 SAM system)
  9 AN/FPS-88
  8 AN/TPS-43
  1 AN/FPS-20
  3 AN/FPS-8 Part of 'LORIDS' (Long-Range Iranian Detection System) air surveillance network
  Height-finding radar
  10 AN/FPS-6
  2 S-404
  Fire control radar
  50 Super-Fledermaus (For GDF AA guns)


Air Force Air Defence Systems
AD • SAM 16 bn each with 150 I-HAWK MIM-23B;
5 sqn with FM-80 (PRC version of Crotale); total of 30 Rapier; 15 Tigercat; 45 SA-2 Guideline (PRC version of HQ-2J); 10 SA-5 Gammon; FIM-92A Stinger; SA-7 Grail; 29 Tor-M1 systems
• SAM 630+ (5000+ msls):
30 HQ-7 (FM-80) R-440 Crotale (250 msls);
30 Rapier-1 (1500 msls); 
15 Tigercat (400 msls);
150+ I-HAWK MIM-23B (1800 msls);
45 HQ-2/CSA-1/SA-2 Guideline (350 msls);
10 SA-5 (S-200) Gammon (200 msls);
29 SA-15M (Tor-M1) Gauntlet (750 msls);
20 Sayyad-1 (modernization of SA-2/C-75)
50 Sayyad-2  (modernization of SA-2/C-75)
30 Fajr-8 ( Iran produced a copy of SA-5)
? Bauer-373 (Iran produced a copy of S-300)
10 Armor-S1
200+ Mersad (Designed and built by Iran, is a deep modernization of MIM-23 Hawk uses a phased array radar for guidance.)

MANPAD
FIM-92A Stinger;
SA-7 Grail

GUNS • TOWED
23mm ZU-23;
37mm Oerlikon

Storage:
300+ Mesbah 1 (Anti-aircraft artillery gun based ZU-23-2 are used for pointing radar and optical guidance.)
100+ Sa'ir (Saeer) (Anti-aircraft artillery gun based on COP-19 are used for pointing radar and optical guidance.


• FACILITIES
  Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Main Headquarters: HQ Located at Teheran    
   
  The IRIAF Airfields and Airbases Organisation (Current Order of Battle):

The Iranian Air Force is broken into three command areas: Western, Southern, and Eastern. The Western Area Command consists of: Tehran (Mehrabad and Doshan-Tappeh), Tabriz, Hamadan, Dezful, Umidiyeh, Shiraz, and Isfahan. The Southern Area Command consists of: Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Chah Bahar. The Eastern Area Command consists of: Zahedan, Tehran (Ghale Morghi), and Shiraz's training squadron.

14 Military airfields: Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Bushehr, Ghaleh-Marghi, Isfahan, Kerman, Kharg Island, Mehrabad, Mashhad, Qeshm, Shiraz, Tabriz, Tehran, Zahedan

1st Tactical Air Base, Tehran-Mehrabad (THR/OIII)
2nd Tactical Air Base, Tabriz International (TBZ/OITT)
3rd Tactical Air Base, Hamadan-Shahroki (HDM/OIHS)
4th Tactical Air Base, Vahdati/Dezful (DEF/OIAD)
5th Tactical Air Base, Shahid Ardestani/Omidiyeh (OMI/OIAJ)
6th Tactical Air Base, Bushehr (BUZ/OIBB)
7th Tactical Air Base, Shahid Dastghaib/Shiraz (SYZ / OISS) International
8th Tactical Air Base, Badr / Esfahãn (IFN/OIFM)
9th Tactical Air Base, Bandar Abbas (BND/OIKB) International
10th Tactical Air Base, Kangan/Chah Bahar (ZBR/OIZC)
11th Tactical Air Base, Ghale Morghi 
12th Tactical Air Base, Shahid Asyaee/Masjed Suleyman (OIAI)
13th Tactical Air Base, Zahedan (ZAH/OIZH)
14th Tactical Air Base, Hashemi Nejad/Mashhad (MHD/OIMM)

Organization:

Western Aerea Command

1st Tactical Air Base - Tehran-Mehrabad (THR/OIII) International
11th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 10 MiG-29A (9-12A/B), 4 MiG-29UB (9-51)   
12th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Saeghe Station): 3 F-5E Saeghe
13th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Combat Instructor School (CIS)): 5 F-4E
14th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 12 Su-24MK   
11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 3 RF-4E, 4 RF-5E
Recce Squadron: 1 B707-3J9C (Elint), 1 RC-130H   
11th Base flight/SAR Squadron: 7 Bell 214B, 1 HH-43F
Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter (Remant F-5A/Bs, like those used to create Simorgh fighter-trainers were also reported to be in storage at the base)

Transport Wing - Tehran-Mehrabad (THR/OIII) International
11th Transport Squadron: 7 C-130H
12th Transport Squadron: 4 C-130E,
13th Tanker / Transport Squadron: 2 B747-131(SF), 1 B747-270, 1 B707-3J9C Tanker, 1 Ilyushin Il-76TD
14th Support Squadron: 1 Falcon 20E, 2 Falcon 20F, 3 F27-400M, 1 F27-600, 1 Cessna 182Q
VIP Transport Squadron: 4 Boeing 747-131F, 1 B707-386C, 1 B707-3J9C,  2 Falcon 50, 1 L-1329-25, 3 AB212, 2 Bell 412
11th  Helicopter Transport Squadron: 2 CH-47C

Tactical Air Base - Doshan Tappeh
VIP Helicopter Transport squadron: 1 S-61A-4, 1SH-3D Sea King;

2nd Tactical Air Base - Tabriz International (TBZ / OITT)
21st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 5 F-5E Saeghe, 2 F-5F,
22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 9 F-5E, 2 F-5F
23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 8 MiG-29A (9-12A), 3 MiG-29UB (9-51)
21st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 1 AB-212, 1 Bell 214
Northen Helicopter Command
Unammed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Logistics Support Command.

3rd Tactical Air Base - Hamadan - Shahroki (HDM/OIHS)
31st Tactical Recce Squadron: 4 RF-4E   
31st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-4E
32rd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-4E
33rd Tactical Fighter Squadron:  F-4D
Storage: 24+ Su-20 and Su-22 Fitter
31st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): AB-212, Bell 214

4th Tactical Air Base-  Dezful - Aka Vahdati AB (DEF/OIAD)
(Paygah Hava'i Vahdat/Paygah-e Vahdat)
41st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-5E Azarakhsh I, 4 F-5E Azarakhsh II
42nd Tactical Fighter Squadron:  4 F-5A, 1 F-5B, 2 F-5B Simorgh
43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 11 F-5F Tiger II,
41st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 1 Bell 212, 1 Bell 214,

5th Tactical Air Base - Shahid Ardestani / Omidiyeh (OMI/OIAJ)
51st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 7 F-7M, 1 FT-7N    
52nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 7 F-7M, 1 FT-7N
53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-7M, 1 FT-7N
51st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): Bell 212

7th Tactical Air Base - Shahid Dastghaib / Shiraz (SYZ / OISS) International
71st Tactical Fighter Squadron:  8 F-5E/F
72nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 12 Su-24MK
Training Squadron: 8 PC-6/B2-H2   
71st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 2 Bell 214
Storage: 3 Su-22, 3 MiG-23
Transport Wing
71st Transport Squadron 6 C-130E, 5 C-130H
72nd AEW Squadron: 1 A-50 Adnan-1 AEW&C
73rd Transport Squadron: 3 Il-76MD, 4 Il-76TD,
71st ASW Squadron: 4 P-3F
71st Helicopter Transport Squadron: 2 CH-47C, 4 AB-212

8th Tactical Air Base - Badr / Esfahãn (IFN/OIFM) International
(Isfahan's Shahid Beheshti / formerly Khatami Air Base)
81st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 17 F-14A   
82nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 3 F-5A, 8 F-5B, 3 FT-7N   
81st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): AB-212, Bell 214
Unammed Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

12th Tactical Air Base , Shahid Asyaee/Masjed Suleyman (OIAI)
This base is maintained by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, for their aviation assets. ,

Jafarabao Airport
4 Iran-140 Faraz (The Iran-140 (license built An-140) is produced by HESA here.)

Southern Aerea Command

6th Tactical Air Base - Bushehr (BUZ/OIBB)
61st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-4E
62nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-4E
63rd. Tactical Fighter Squadron: 17 F-14A
61st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 2 Bell 214

9th Tactical Air Base - Bandar Abbas (BND/OIKB) International
91st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-4E
92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron:  6 F-4E
91st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 2 AB-212

10th Tactical Air Base - Kangan / Chah Bahar (ZBR/OIZC)
101st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 5 F-4D
102nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: 6 F-4E
101st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 2 AB-212
P-3F (with 71st ASW Squadron)

Eastern Aerea Command

13th Tactical Air Base - Zahedan (ZAH/OIZH)
111 Tactical Fighter Squadron:  16 F-6C (Storage)    
Maritime Surveillance Squadron: 1 F27-400M, 1 F27-600, 2 P-3MP
Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20E (with VIP Sqn)

13th Tactical Air Base - Birjand (XBJ/OIMB)
131st Tactical Fighter Squadron (No active Squadrons)    
Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20E (with VIP Sqn)
Base flight/SAR Squadron: 1 Bell 214

14th Tactical Air Base - Hashemi Nejad / Mashhad (MHD/OIMM)
(Imam Reza Air Base)
141st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 12 Mirage F-1EQ/BQ
142 Tactical Fighter Squadron: 3 F-5E, 3 F-5F,
141st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 2 Bell 214

Manzariyeh / Kooshk-e-Nosrat (OIIC)
Training Squadron: 12 Beech F33A/C

11th Tactical Air Base - Flying Training School - Teheran-Ghale Morghi
111st Tactical Training Squadron: 4 JT2-2 Tazarve
112nd Tactical Training Squadron: 4 Parastu
113th Tactical Training Squadron: 4 Parastoo
114th Tactical Training Squadron: 9 EMB-312
115th Tactical Training Squadron: 4 PC-7
116th Tactical Training Squadron: 6 PC-7
117th BasicTraining Squadron: 25 MFI-17 Mushshak;
111st Search and Rescue Squadron (Base flight): 2 AB-205, 2 AB-206

7th Tactical Air Base - Shiraz - Flying Training Academy
71st Tactical Training squadron:  35 PC-7, 2 Cessna 150, 12 Cessna180/185
?? Tactical Training Squadron:  MiG-17F (Storage)

Note: Iran has 133 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 42 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 6), 186 airports with unpaved runways (over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 142 under 914 m: 33), and 19 heliports.

Current Service Aircraft: