Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation

Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation
هوانيروز ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران
Official seal of Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation
Active	1962–1979 (as Imperial Iranian Army Aviation) 1979–present
Country	Iran
Branch	Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces
Type	Army Aviation
Size	50,000 personnel
Nickname(s)	Havanirooz (هوانیروز)
Anniversaries	7 December
Engagements	Dhofar war 1979 Kurdish rebellion Iran–Iraq War War on ISIL^{[citation needed]}
Flying hours	800,000 (1979–2011)
Commanders
Current commander	Second Brig. Gen. Yousef Ghorbani (2017–present)
Notable commanders	Brig. Gen. Manouchehr Khosrodad (1972–1979) Second Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hossein Jalali
Insignia
Flag

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA) (in Persian: هواپیمایی نیروی زمینی جمهوری اسلامی ایران), more commonly known as the Havānīrūz (هوانیروز, Persian pronunciation: [hævɒːniːˈɾuːz]),‎^[1] is the army aviation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces. It has about 300 helicopters both for attack and transport missions.^[2] It has fought in the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, in which the Havanirooz played a crucial role in destroying and defeating the invading Iraqi armies.^[3]

Along with its primary military role of aviation support for the ground forces, the Army Aviation is also involved in emergency management missions, such as search and rescue, medical evacuation, and forest firefighting.

Havanirooz members have the same rank insignia and titles as the rest of the Army.

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Role

The main role of Havanirooz is aviation support for ground forces. Its military role include assault duties, anti-tank warfare, reconnaissance, liaison, escorting military columns and transportation, special operations, infiltration operations, directing artillery and mortar fire, as a covering force, delivering suppressive fire, illuminating the battlefield, combat search and rescue (CSAR), as well as air-to-air combat (see the § Iran–Iraq War section).

Beside military duties, Havanirooz is also involved in civil duties, including emergency management (firefighting, medevac, search and rescue) and aerial photography.

History

Imperial Iranian Army Aviation

The core of the force was established in 1962 as the Imperial Iranian Army Aviation (IIAA) during the Pahlavi era as part of the Imperial Iranian Army with 6 Cessna 180 (U-17) aircraft and 6 pilots based in Isfahan. Meanwhile, officers were sent to the United States to be trained. The number of aircraft was 30 by 1966. In that year, 17 Kaman HH-43B Huskie helicopters were purchased from the United States. Iran also received 12 Cessna O-2As (which still can fly but are out of service). In 1971, the unit was expanded from an Aviation Battalion into an Aviation Regiment, with the purchase of Agusta-Bell 205A Iroquois and Agusta-Bell 206 JetRanger helicopters from Italy. Officers being sent to Italy for the related flight and technical courses. The Cessnas were phased out of service as the 205A's became operational.

In 1973, a group of American advisors arrived in Iran to assess the geography and climate of the country, and eventually it was decided to establish three combat units in Kermanshah, Masjed Soleyman, and Kerman, and one general support unit in Isfahan, and a pilot and technical education center at Vatanpour Airbase; a total number of 202 Bell AH-1J Internationals (62 of which were TOW-capable) and 287 Bell 214A/C Isfahan helicopters were purchased from the United States, and American trainers were stationed at the Isfahan and Kermanshah education centers. Army Aviation was supposed to have become fully operational by 1982; however, the project was interrupted by the 1979 Revolution.^[4]^[5] Iran also took delivery of 70 Boeing (Elicotteri Meridionali) CH-47C Chinooks and 11 more after the Revolution from Italy.^[4]

Imperial Iranian Army Aviation was one of the Iranian forces that participated in Dhofar Rebellion in Oman.

1979 Revolution

After the 1979 Revolution, then-commander of the Imperial Iranian Army Aviation Manouchehr Khosrodad was executed; he was also the founder and former commander of the 23rd Airborne Special Forces Brigade (also known as NOWHED).

The force, which is now called Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation, participated in the post-Revolution clashes with the Kurds in Kermanshah (such as in breaking the Siege of Paveh) and Kordestan provinces.

Iran–Iraq War

The Iran–Iraq War saw the most intensive use of helicopters in a conventional conflict ever.^[6] IRIAA flew more than 300,000 hours in direct support of the operations throughout the war, in addition to around 59,000 hours in training sorties,^[7] with an average of 100 hours recorded flight per day overall during the war.^{[citation needed]}

During the initial months of the war, the Army Aviation, usually operating on its own and using intelligence from local people, managed to stop Iraqi tanks from further advancing into the western territories of Iran. This was being done usually by using units consisting of AH-1J SeaCobras and a Bell 206 JetRanger. Among the Iranians, the Cobras gained a reputation as good as those of the F-14 Tomcats and the F-4 Phantom II.

Iranian AH-1Js (particularly the TOW-capable ones) were "exceptionally effective" in anti-armour warfare, inflicting heavy losses on Iraqi armoured and vehicle formations. In operations over the barren terrain in Khuzestan and later in southern Iraq, beside the standard tactics, Iranian pilots developed special, effective tactics, often in the same manner as the Soviets did with their Mi-24s.^[8]^[9] Due to the post-Revolution weapons sanctions, Iranians equipped the AH-1Js with the AGM-65 Maverick missiles and used it in some operations with some success.^[5]^[10]^[11]

Starting from October 1980, the AH-1Js engaged in air-to-air combat with Iraqi Mil Mi-24 helicopters on several, separate occasions during the Iran–Iraq War (the only war with confirmed "dogfights" between helicopters). The results of these engagements are disputed. One document cited that Iranian AH-1Js took on Iraqi Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.^[12] Sources report that the Iranian AH-1 pilots achieved a 10:1 kill ratio over the Iraqi helicopter pilots during these engagements (1:5). Additionally, one source states that 10 Iranian AH-1Js were lost in the war, compared to six lost Iraqi Mi-24s. The skirmishes are described as fairly evenly matched in another source.^[13] Mi-24 was more powerful and faster, but the AH-1J was more agile.^[5] There were even engagements between Iranian AH-1J and Iraqi fixed-wing aircraft. Using their 20 mm calibre canon, the AH-1Js scored three confirmed kills against MiG-21s, claimed a Su-20, and shared in the destruction of a MiG-23.^[14]

About half of the AH-1Js were lost during the conflict from combat, accidents, and simple wear and tear.^[5]

Ahmad Keshvari and Ali Akbar Shiroodi were two prominent pilots of the IRIAA, both of whom were killed in the Iran–Iraq War. December 7, the date of Ahmad Keshvari's death, is the "Havanirooz Day" in Iranian Military calendar, and has been proposed by Iranian Army to be added to the official Iranian calendar.^[15]

Contemporary

From 1979 to 2011, more than 800,000 flight hours have been logged by the Havanirooz.^{[citation needed]} Thus, many of the helicopters delivered before the Revolution need to be repaired and refurbished, the Iranian Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC; also known as PANHA or Panha) has been founded for this purpose. Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) is also manufacturing new helicopters, usually based on those that Iran already has in its arsenal.

Equipment

Current aircraft inventory

Based on reports published by the Flightglobal Insight and the International Institute of Strategic Studies, as of 2020 the inventory includes:

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Airplanes
Cessna 185 Skywagon	United States	transport		Unknown	in total 10 in the inventory^[16]
Dassault Falcon 20	France	transport		Unknown	in total 1 in the inventory^[16]
Fokker F27	Netherlands	transport		1^[17]	in total 2 in the inventory^[16]
Turbo Commander	United States	transport		2^[17]	in total 4 in the inventory^[16]
Helicopters
Bell AH-1 SuperCobra	United States	attack	AH-1J	81
Bell 212	United States	Multipurpose helicopter	AB 212	17
Bell 206	United States	light transport	AB-206	147
Bell 205	United States	light transport	AB-205A	21	in total unknown in the inventory^[16]
Bell 214	United States	medium transport		204	in total unknown in the inventory^[16]
Mil Mi-17	Russia	medium transport		Unknown	in total 20 in the inventory^[16]
Boeing CH-47 Chinook	United States	heavy transport	CH-47C	title = World Air Forces 2020\|publisher= Flightglobal Insight \|year= 2020 \|doi = \|accessdate= 10 March 2020\|url-access=registration}}</ref>

Headquarters

Isfahan Training Centre
Kermanshah 1st Combat Base
Masjed Soleiman 2nd Combat Base
Kerman 3rd Combat Base
Isfahan 4th Combat and Logistics Base
Qaleh Morghi Logistics Base
Havanirooz Mashhad Base
Havanirooz Tabriz Base

Organization

Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO)
- Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA)
- Iranian Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC, also known as PANHA)

References

^ Also transliterated as Havaniruz, Hava-Niruz, Havanirouz, and Havanirooz. Persian pronunciation: [hæˌvɒːniːˈɾuːz]
^ "General Ghorbani: Iran helicopter fleet, strongest in Middle East".
^ "Iran Has Most Powerful Chopper Fleet in West Asia: Commander". 4 May 2020.
^ ^a ^b "آشنایی با هوانیروز ایران". irartesh.ir. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "[2.0] Second-Generation Cobras". airvectors.net. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
^ Williams, Anthony G.; Gustin, Emmanuel (2004). Flying Guns of the Modern Era. Marlborough: Crowood Press. p. 171. ISBN 9781861266552.
^ Bishop, Tom Cooper & Farzad (2000). Iran-Iraq War in the air, 1980-1988. Atglen: Schiffer Pub. p. 299. ISBN 9780764316692.
^ Bishop, Tom Cooper & Farzad (2000). Iran-Iraq War in the air, 1980-1988. Atglen: Schiffer Pub. p. 288. ISBN 9780764316692.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2012-01-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2012-01-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Welcome Shahed Magazines". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
^ Brady, Major R.M. "AH-1W Air Combat Maneuver Training – Why It Must Be Reinstated". , 1992.
^ "Arabian Peninsula & Persian Gulf Database", ACIG Journal.
^ Williams, Anthony G.; Gustin, Emmanuel (2004). Flying Guns of the Modern Era. Marlborough: Crowood Press. p. 172. ISBN 9781861266552.
^ "نامگذاری 15 آذر در تقویم کشوری به روز شهید کشوری". خبرگزاری مهر - اخبار ایران و جهان - Mehr News Agency. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) (2020). "Middle East and North Africa". The Military Balance 2020. Vol. 120. Routledge. pp. 348–352. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707968. ISBN 9780367466398. S2CID 219624897.
^ ^a ^b "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.