| The
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) is the
aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. Air
Force headquarters was located at Doshan Tapeh Air
Base, near Tehran. A total of 14 air bases were
operational: Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Chan
Bahar, Dezful, Doshan Tapeh (Tehran), Ghaleh Morghi
(Tehran), Hamadan, Isfahan, Mashhad, Mehrabad (Tehran),
Shiraz, Tabriz and Zahedan. Soviet and Chinese-made
aircraft, obtained following the Iranian Revolution
were distributed throughout the country to fufill
mission roles of ground attack, transport, training
and interception. Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Dezful,
Hamadan, Tabriz and Mehrabad became the centers
for ground attack squadrons. Shiraz was the home
of the interceptor squadron.
Total aicraft in service: 224 combat, transport
105, Helicopters 340
Personnel: 35,000 and reserve force with 15,000
soldiers |
