The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) (Persian: نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران) is the aviation branch of the
Iranian armed forces. The present Air Force came into being in the early 1980s
when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed.
The Air Force has attempted with some success to maintain in
service the large number of American-built aircraft which Iran acquired during
the Shah's regime. The Air Force has turned to purchases of Soviet and Chinese
aircraft, as well as pressing ex-Iraqi aircraft into service, and indigenously
built aircraft, in order to maintain a capable force.
