The Iranian Air Force on July 6 brought into service a locally-developed simulator system for its Russian-made Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid airlifters.

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Ilyushin Il-76 Candid cockpit view on a locally developed simulator (Picture source: Iranian air force/Tasnim)

According to Tasnim news agency, in a ceremony held in Tehran on Monday, July 6, Air Force Commander Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh unveiled the Iranian simulator system for Ilyushin Il-76 Candid. The top commander said the Air Force’s experts have made such advances in the technology of full flight simulators that they can develop simulators for both military and civilian aircraft.

Hence, he also unveiled plans to produce a home-developed simulator system for its Lockheed P-3F Orion long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrol aircraft based at Bandar-e-Jask. The Iranian Air Force has attempted with some success to maintain in service the large number of American-built aircraft which Iran acquired during the Shah's regime.

The Air Force has turned to purchases of Russian and Chinese aircraft, as well as pressing ex-Iraqi aircraft into service, and indigenously built aircraft, in order to maintain a capable force. As of June 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force possesses 350 fighters, making it the ninth-largest air arm in the world, as per Global Firepower.