#3 GlobalSecurity.org has a complete breakdown on the Iranian Air Force:
As of 2000 it was estimated that only 40 of the 132 F-4Ds, 177 F-4Es and 16 RF-4E. Phantoms delivered before 1979 remained in service. At that time, approximately 45 of the 169 F-5E/Fs delivered are still flying, while perhaps 20 F-14A Tomcats of the 79 initially delivered were airworthy. Another 30 F-4s, 30 F-5s and 35 F-14s have been cannibalized for spare parts. One report suggested that the IRIAF can get no more than seven F-14s airborne at any one time.
An unknown number of "new" Su-25s were delivered to the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps Air Force (IRGCAF) in 2003. Where these Frogfoots originate from is unclear.
In July 2003 Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation (CAIC) unveiled the new ‘Super-7’ or Chao Qi fighter plane to the public. The new Super-7 is “an all-purpose light fighter, required to have all-weather operation capabilities, be capable of performing the dual tasks of dogfight and air-to-ground attack, and have the ability to launch medium-range missiles. Mass production of the fighter will not begin until two and a half years of research are completed. The plane is being produced to be sold abroad to developing nations. China already has received orders from Iran and some African countries.
There have been reports of some 10 F-8Ms, 7 Tu-22Ms, 19 MIG-27s, and several MIG-31s being present in Iran, but these are not confirmed. |
Tensions continue to rise between Iran and U.S. forces based in Iraq. According to the Iranian media, a U.S. fighter violated Iranian air space on Dec. 30, along the country's border near Afghanistan in Razavi Khorassan eastern province. The intrusion is the latest in a series of U.S. overflights reported by the press. The U.S. fighter entered Iranian air space over Iran's Mousa-Abad region for several minutes before returning to Afghanistan. Earlier U.S. overflights occurred over the southwestern cities of Khorramshahr and Abadan near the Iraqi border. An Iranian military source who was not identified said, "The three warplanes, of F-18 Hornets and F-16 Tomcat types held overflights at high altitudes near the Khorramshahr and Abadan air borders.