Iran is among one of the fiercer regional powers in the Middle East. According to a 2023 assessment by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Iran’s military is made up of approximately 787,000 total personnel. It’s comprised of four branches: the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force. Global Fire Power recognizes it as a top 15 global military power.
Due to sanctions after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Iran’s military equipment is somewhat antiquated. Even so, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force played an important role in the Iraq-Iran war. Operation Kaman 99, Iran’s most major air raid during the war, reportedly had the strength of over 140 aircraft. Much of its aircraft inventory is either from the United States, China, or Russia. (These are the fighter jets and attack helicopters of the Israeli air force.)
To identify every Iranian combat aircraft currently in service, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft by how many are currently in active service. We also included supplemental data on the type of aircraft, top speed, armament and which Iranian military branch they serve under.
Why This Matters
Source: BornaMir / iStock via Getty Images
24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look into Iran’s military aircraft capabilities to give you greater insight into the current geopolitical landscape. While Iran may not have the most updated aircraft in its’ inventory, the current equipment is a key factor in the balance of power within the Middle East. The global balance of power has far reaching effects on the United States economy – threatening our stability and security on a national as well as local level.
Scroll below to see the fighter jets and combat aircraft in the Iranian Air Force:
16. Bell 206
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Bell 206 is a light utility helicopter. There are 5 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force and Islamic Republic of Iran Army. It is armed with 7.62mm machine guns and can go as fast as 122 mph.
15. S-65/RH-53D
Source: curraheeshutter / Shutterstock.com
The S-65/RH-53D is a heavy-lift transport helicopter. There are 6 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. It can go as fast as 196 mph and is armed with both 12.7mm machine guns as well as 7.62mm machine guns.
14. S-61/ASH-3D
Source: Photofex_AUT / Shutterstock.com
The S-61/ASH-3D is an anti-submarine warfare helicopter. There are 8 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. It can go as fast as 166 mph and is armed with Mark 44 / 46 torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, naval depth charges, and 7.62mm machine guns.
13. Su-22
The Su-22 is a strike fighter. There are 9 currently in active service in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It can go as fast as 718 mph and is armed with 30mm autocannons, conventional drop bombs, guided bombs, rocket pods, gun pods, air-to-air missiles, and air-to-surface missiles.
12. Bell 212
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The Bell 212 is a medium-lift utility/transport helicopter. There are 10 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force and Islamic Republic of Iran Navy. It’s armed with 7.62mm machine guns and can go as fast as 140 mph.
11. Mirage F1EQ
Source: falcon_33 / Flickr
The Mirage F1EQ is an interceptor aircraft. There are 12 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. It can go as fast as 1,453 mph and is outfitted with 30mm DEFA internal automatic cannons, Sidewinder missiles, Magic missiles, Matra missiles, conventional drop bombs, rocket pods, and Armat missiles.
10. AH-1J
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The AH-1J is a dedicated two-seat attack helicopter. There are 13 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. It’s armed with 20mm M197 triple barrel gatling gun, Hydra rocket pods, Zuni rocket pods, BGM-TOW missiles, and Sidewinder missiles. It touts a speed of 175 mph.
9. F-7
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
The F-7 is an interceptor/strike fighter aircraft. There are 17 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. This aircraft can go as fast as 1,367 mph. Its’ armament includes 30mm internal cannons, air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, conventional drop bombs, and rocket pods.
8. MiG-29
Source: ajw1970 / Flickr
The MiG-29 is a lightweight multirole fighter aircraft. There are 18 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. This aircraft can go as fast as 1,519 mph. Its’ armament includes a 30mm GSh-1 internal automatic cannon, Alamo missiles, Adder missiles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, and guided bombs.
7. Mi-171
Source: slezo / Flickr
The Mi-171 is a medium-lift transport helicopter. There are 22 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It’s armed with Shturm missiles, rocket pods, 23mm cannon pods, 7.62mm machine guns and can go as fast as 158 mph.
6. Su-24
Source: ajw1970 / Flickr
The Su-24 is a long-range strike/attack aircraft. There are 23 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. This aircraft can go as fast as 1,439 mph. It’s armament includes 23mm GSh internal six-barrel cannon, Ahpid missiles, Archer missiles, Kingbolt missiles, Krypton missiles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, and guided bombs.
5. Bell 214
Source: Shahram Sharifi / Wikimedia Commons
The Bell 214 is a medium-lift utility helicopter. There are 24 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. It’s armed with 7.62mm machine guns and can go as fast as 162 mph.
4. F-5E
Source: rancho_runner / iStock via Getty Images
The F-5E is a multirole fighter aircraft. There are 35 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. This aircraft can go as fast as 1,077 mph. Its’ armament includes 20mm M39A2 automatic cannons, Sidewinder missiles, Maverick missiles, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, and guided bombs.
3. CH-47C
Source: Boeing-Vertol CH-47C 4-201 Imp Iran AF Issy 06.06.71 edited-2 by RuthAS / BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
The CH-47C is a medium-lift, tandem rotor transport helicopter. There are 40 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force and Islamic Republic of Iran Army. It is armed with 7.62mm machine guns and can go as fast as 180 mph.
2. F-14
Source: Willard / iStock via Getty Images
The F-14 is a swing-wing, carrierborne fleet defense fighter. There are 41 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. This aircraft can go as fast as 1,544 mph. Its’ armament includes a 20mm internal gatling gun, Phoenix missiles, Sparrow missiles, Sidewinder missiles, conventional drop bombs, and guided bombs.
1. F-4D/E/RF-4E
Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
The F-4D/E/RF-4E is a strike fighter. There are 63 currently in active service in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. This aircraft can go as fast as 1,473 mph. Its’ armament includes a 20mm M61 Vulcan, Skyflash missiles, Sparrow missiles, Sidewinder missiles, rocket pods, gun pods, conventional drop bombs, and guided bombs.
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