List of aircraft of the Iranian Air Force


This is a list of aircraft types operated by the Iranian Air Force, not including those operated by the air arm of the Aerospace Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution prior to the foundation of the Air Force as a separate service in August 1955. In 2007, Iraq asked Iran to return some of the scores of Iraqi fighter plans that flew there ahead of the Persian Gulf War in 1991. And as of 2014, Iran was receptive to the demands and was working on refurbishing an unspecified number of jets. In late 2014, Iran gave some of the impounded former Iraqi military aircraft back to Iraq.

Combat types

Air superiority fighters

Multirole fighters

AircraftOriginTypeVersionsNumberYearsNotes
USMultirole-fighterF-4D/E
RF-4E		641968–presentAccording to Global Security 60 F-4D/E and 4 RF-4Es are in service. 10 are F-4Ds and 50 are F-4Es. F-4Ds/Es are currently undergoing an upgrade program which includes a new Chinese-built radar and other avionics and weapons namely PL-5E, PL-11 and C-801..
USLight fighterF-5E
F-5F		601974–presentAccording to Global Security 60 F-5's modernized This includes about 16 F-5F dual seat trainers and 44 F-5E fighter bomber
IranLight Fighter302006
Chengdu J-7ChinaFighterN/MB24
Mirage F1FranceMultirole-fighterF1EQ/F1BQ231991–present
HESA KowsarIranFighter~102018Iranian Fourth-generation fighter jet based on the American Northrop F-5. The aircraft is equipped with new fourth generation avionics in combination with an advanced fire control system.
Western analysts have described the plane to be inefficient as a weapon, but having potential for training a new generation of Iranian fighter pilots.According to the Iranian state-media, this fighter jet has "advanced avionics" and multipurpose radar, and it was "100-percent indigenously made".It also uses digital data networks, a glass cockpit, heads-up display, ballistic computers and smart mobile mapping systems.
Iran/russiaFighter-BomberSu-22M3/M4201991-The Iranian Air Force received 40 Su-20/22s from Iraq in 1991. While non-operational for several years, Iran started in 2013 an overhauling program for these. In March 2015, 10 of the Iranian Air Force Su-22 were transferred to the Syrian Arab Air Force to fight in the ongoing Civil War. In July 2018, Iranian military technical experts successfully overhauled and modernized 10 Su-22s, giving them the ability to carry smart bombs, fire precision-guided munitions, transfer data from UAVs and in the near future the necessary systems to use air-launched cruise missiles with a range of 1500 km. The overhauled planes are being used by IRGC's Air Force.

Ground attack

Future additions

Reconnaissance, patrol, and EW

Maritime Patrol

Transport/AWACS/Maritime patrol

Transport and utility

Trainers

Helicopters

Other types

These types were also purchased by the Iranian government
A number of other types have been in recent, or reported to be in, Iranian service. Many remain in reserve storage or are operated by the Army or Navy. Some recent types include:
Iran has a number of UAVs and UCAVs, currently under operation of the Iranian Army Aviation.