Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
| Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force | |
|---|---|
| |
The badge of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force | |
| Founded |
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| Country | Iran |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 37,000 personnel (2024) 330–350 aircraft |
| Part of | Islamic Republic of Iran Army |
| Headquarters | Tehran |
| Nickname(s) |
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| Motto(s) |
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| Colours | Ultramarine blue |
| Anniversaries | 8 February (Air Force Day) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei |
| Commander of the Air Force | Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi |
| Deputy Commander | Brigadier General Mahdi Hadian |
| Coordinating Deputy Commander | Second Brigadier General Ali-Akbar Talebzadeh |
| Insignia | |
| Roundels | |
| Fin flash | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | F-4D/E, Su-24MK, F-5E/F, Saeqeh, HESA Karrar |
| Electronic warfare | B707 Elint |
| Fighter | F-14A, MiG-29A/UB, Mirage F1EQ4/EQ5/EQ6, F-7M |
| Helicopter | CH-47, Bell 212, Bell 206 |
| Patrol | P-3F |
| Reconnaissance | |
| Trainer | F-5A/B/Simorgh, PC-7, F33C, Fajr-3, FT-7, Mirage F1BQ, Yak-130, HESA Yasin |
| Transport | C-130, IL-76, F27, Boeing 747, Boeing 707, Falcon 20, Falcon 50, JetStar, PC-6, Socata TB, HESA Simourgh |
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF; Persian: نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران, romanized: Niruye Havâyiye Arteše Jomhuriye Eslâmiye Irân) is the aviation branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The present air force was created when the Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed in 1979 following the Iranian Revolution. The IRIAF was heavily involved in the Iran–Iraq War, carrying out major operations like Operation Kaman 99, Operation Sultan 10, the H-3 airstrike, and the first attack on a nuclear reactor in history, Operation Scorch Sword.
After eight years of aerial combat in that conflict, the IRIAF has the second highest claimed number of fighter aces in the region, exceeded only by the Israeli Air Force; as many as seven IRIAF pilots claimed more than six kills, mostly achieved in the F-14 Tomcat. Veterans of the Iran–Iraq War formed the core of the IRIAF command. Due to its obsolete equipment, the IRIAF proved to be no match during the Iran–Israel War, with no sign of its ageing fighter jets even getting off the ground, giving Israel control over the skies over Iran.