This richly illustrated book describes the current organization and equipment of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF). Drawing on a wide range of digital photographs, IRIAF 2010 presents all types of combat, transport and training aircraft, as well as helicopters, currently operated by the IRIAF, many of which are supported by captions detailing individual aircraft histories. Following a summary of the air force's development since its early days in the 1920s, the centerpiece of this volume are 12 chapters that cover all major IRIAF bases and flying units stationed there, as well as a summary of the order of battle, in which all units are also represented in the form of patches worn by their pilots. Covering an often under-reported and misinterpreted topic, and one that is directly influential in the current standoff between Iran, the US and Israel, this book is a unique reference source for scholar and enthusiast alike.

IRIAF 2010: The Modern Iranian Air Force

History

Cooper, Tom

Taghvaee, Babak

Devlin, Liam F.

Historical Study & Educational Resources

Harpia Publishing

Established 31 years ago by means of a fleet of Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-154 passenger aircraft, Mahan Air soon turned into the largest airline of Iran. Despite being highly sanctioned by the US government and many other EU countries, Mahan Air has managed to take the place of Iran Air, Iran's flag carrier, in many of the domestic and international routes to Iran in recent years.Under control of retired Generals of Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Corps (IRGC), the airline plays an important role in transportation of personnel and troops of the Quds Force (IRGCQF) branch of the force from Iran to Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Within the past eleven years, thousands of IRGCQF members were deployed to Syria using passenger aircraft, such as the large fleet of Airbus A310s of the airline.Mahan Air also serves political interests of the Iranian government in the Middle East and Latin America. The airline has had two of its A340-303s, two Airbus A340-642s and one of its Boeing 747-3B3Ms leased to flag carriers of Syria and Venezuela. Despite being heavily sanctioned , Mahan Air has not only managed to maintain its fleet of Avro Jet RJ70/85/100s, Airbus A310s, A300s, A340s and Boeing 747s but also managed to increase their numbers to a level to become the largest airline of the country, connecting it to East and Southeast Asia by means of its large fleet of long-haul and wide-body passenger aircraft.

Mahan Air: Iran's Largest Airline (Airlines Series)

Middle East

Key Publishing

Hellenic Air Force: Guardians of Greece (Air Forces Series)

Europe

Dassault Rafaele (Modern Military Aircraft Series)

The independent Ukrainian Air Force was officially established on March 17, 1992. It inherited 944 former Soviet aircraft, making it the second largest air force in Europe. With a variety of exotic combat aircraft types, including the last operational Yak-28s and Su-15s in the world, the Ukrainian Air Force became of immediate interest to both aviation enthusiasts and air defense analysts. In the mid-2000s the country's aircraft repair plants inaugurated upgrades to enhance the combat readiness of the aircraft and helicopters of the force, however, financial problems still led to a decline in combat strength. In 2014, when the territorial disputes on the Crimean Peninsula became a full-scale war with pro-Russian separatists, the Ukrainian Air Force had a fleet of 66 operational-ready planes in service. These were used in interdiction and close air support missions and during the war approximately 14 aircraft were lost. This book provides a detailed look on the organization and combat strength of the air force's aircraft and helicopters. Drawing on a wide range of previously unseen photographs, supplemented by specially commissioned color artworks, Guardians of Ukrainepresents all types of combat, transport and training aircraft, as well as helicopters previously or currently operated by the Ukrainian Air Force. The illustrations are supported by detailed captions many of which provide individual aircraft histories.

Guardians of Ukraine: The Ukrainian Air Force Since 1992

Reference

Hikoki

The development of the F-5 lightweight supersonic fighter in the mid 1950s was almost a gamble for the Northrop Corporation, but ultimately resulted in one of most commercially successful combat aircraft in modern history. Iran was one of its major export customers, yet the long and often violent history of deployment of the F-5 in that country has largely escaped attention of historians. No less than 309 aircraft of five major variants of the jet – the F-5A, F-5B, RF-5A, F-5E and F-5F – have provided the backbone of the front line strength of the Iranian Air Force since the mid 1960s. Additional examples were clandestinely purchased from Ethiopia and Vietnam in the 1980s. The type bore the brunt of combat operations during the long war with Iraq, 1980-1988, and remains a mainstay of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force as of today. This breathtaking account provides a detailed chronological history of the F-5 in combat service in Iran, a history dominated by long-range strikes against some of best defended targets inside Iraq, and by thousands of dramatic close-air-support and reconnaissance sorties, but also fierce air combats against the then most modern fighter types in Iraqi service, including the MiG-23s and MiG-25s. It is completed with practically unknown stories of their combat presence in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the war against drug traffickers in recent years. Good though the F-5 has been, the advances of domestic Iranian aircraft building companies have resulted in attempts to continue the F-5 line with further redesign and developments, resulting in a number of indigenous variants. Combined, this means that the diverse and involved story about one of most interesting military aircraft of modern times is still far from over. The author's detailed text is fully supported by an extensive selection of photographs and color profiles. Middle East@War - following on from our highly successful Africa@War series, Middle East@War replicates the same format - concise, incisive text, rare images and high quality color artwork providing fresh accounts of both well-known and more esoteric aspects of conflict in this part of the world since 1945.

Iranian Tigers at War: Northrop F-5A/B, F-5E/F and Sub-Variants in Iranian Service since 1966 (Middle East@War)

Helion and Company

Ukraine inherited a large portion of the former Soviet Air Force’s equipment and infrastructures after its independence. 944 military aircraft including 137 heavy strategic bombers were quickly inducted into service with the Air Force on 17 March 1992, when it was officially established. This huge amount of military equipment made it the second most powerful air power in Europe. With a large variety of exotic combat aircraft types, including the last operational Yak-28s and Su-15s in the world, and with four fighter/ground attack/bomber divisions and seven fighter/ground-attack/ electronic countermeasures/ reconnaissance regiments, the Ukrainian Air Force has become an attraction to aircraft lovers as well as air defense analysts. The financial problems and new defensive doctrine of the country were two principal factors for the decline in combat strength and expenditures of its Air Force during the past 23 years. However the downsized and weakened Air Force wasn’t the shadow of former Soviet airpower, but since the mid-2000s the country’s aircraft repair plants inaugurated numerous upgrade projects for the enhancement of the combat readiness of the aircraft and helicopters of the force. In 2014, when the territorial disputes on the Crimea peninsula started before morphing into to a full-scale war with pro-Russian separatists, the Ukrainian Air Force had a fleet of 66 operational-ready fighter planes in service across seven Tactical Aviation Brigades, by means of which a series of interdiction and close air support missions were conducted. However during the war approximately 14 fighter/bombers of the air force have been lost, although its outbreak provided motivation for its commanders to start rebuilding its combat strength. This book provides a detailed look on the organization and combat strength of the air force, and its aircraft and helicopters. Drawing on a wide range of previously unseen photographs supplemented by specially commissioned color artwork, Guardians of the Ukraine presents all types of combat, transport and training aircraft, as well as helicopters previously or currently operated by the Ukrainian Air Force, many of which are supported by captions detailing individual aircraft histories.

Guardians of the Ukraine: The Ukrainian Air Force Since 1992

Military

Under the leadership of a sagacious and patriotic ruler, who wasn't only cautious about the security of his state but was acting to stabilize worldwide peace by means of keeping the Middle East secure from the danger of Communism, the third most powerful Army Aviation in the world was born and flourished, its efficiency proven during its role defending Iran during the war with Iraq, 1980-88. One of the weaknesses of NATO's combat strength set against the Warsaw Pact was its armored force. Following 1945 the armored forces of the Soviet Union had quickly surpassed the West. Before the development of powerful new tanks such as the Shir 2 (Lion 2), Challenger 1, M1 Abrams in services with the Iranian, British and US armies, the only solution for confrontation with Soviet armor was the establishment of powerful Army Aviation forces. From the late 1960s His Imperial Majesty Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and many other commanders had realized the weakness of the Iranian Army compared to the powerful armored forces of the Soviet Union and Iraq, two historical enemies of Iran, states who dreamed of reaching the waters of the Persian Gulf and the oil fields of Khuzestan province respectively. By following such a strategy, Iran possessed the third-largest Army Aviation Power in the world in just ten years, not only by being equipped with 800 of the latest and most advanced AB.205, AB.206, Bell 214, AH-1J and CH-47C helicopters but thanks to thousands of skillful and knowledgeable personnel. Iranian Army Aviation was used to provide for the security of Iran as well as helping to establish peace in Pakistan and Oman in the wars against terrorism and communism in 1970s. After the Revolution, and even after the execution, arrest and dismissal of the architects of the force, it was effectively used to defend Iran during eight years of war with Iraq, 1980-88. Its AH-1Js hunted hundreds of Iraqi tanks and armored carriers and its Bell 214As saved lives of thousands of wounded civilians and soldiers while the CH-47Cs were airlifting ammunition and soldiers to the frontline under the threat of direct fire from Iraqi AA guns and SAMs. Based on the recently declassified official records of the Iranian Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ground Force and Army Aviation, this book provides details of the Iranian Army Aviation missions and roles during 97 major operations in the war with Iraq, including details on logged flying hours, performed sorties, launched missiles, carried cargos, wounded troops and soldiers beside the unheard history of the force since its foundation. The author's detailed text is fully supported by an extensive selection of previous unseen photographs and color profiles.

Desert Warriors: Iranian Army Aviation at War

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Books by Taghvaee, Babak