The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) (Farsi: نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران) is the aviation branch of the Artesh, the regular branch of the Iranian armed forces.

History

The IRIAF began as the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) which was established in 1920 by the Shah, Reza Pahlavi, and became operational with its first pilots fully trained on Feb. 25, 1925. See History of the Iranian Air Force.

Up until World War II, the IIAF's aircraft inventory consisted entirely of European (mainly German) aircraft, however following a co-ordinated British and Russian invasion of Iran during World War II in retaliation for Reza Shah I's declaration of neutrality, the IIAF's bases were occupied by the allies and all existing IIAF aircraft were either destroyed or dismantled by the invading British.

The overthrow of the Shah by the Islamic Revolution changed the organisation of the Iranian military. The Air Force itself was decimated by purges and many pilots were removed or left the country. This left the Air Force ill prepared for the Iran-Iraq War. Due to strained relations with the west, Iran had to procure new equipment from Brazil, Russia and the People's Republic of China.

Since the Revolution, the exact composition of the IRIAF is hard to determine, but estimates do exist. Many aircraft belonging to the Iraqi Air Force and army took refuge in Iran during the Persian Gulf War, in an agreement with the Iranian government to protect them from being destroyed in allied air strikes. They were to be returned to Iraq after the war, but were kept and many were put into service with the IRIAF or taken apart for spare parts.

Due to the continuous spare parts shortages faced by the Air Force, a decision was made in the late 1990s to develop a local aerospace industry to support the Air Force.

Markings