24/7 Wall St. Insights
- Iran has historically struggled with air supremacy, choosing instead to invest in ballistic missile programs.
- Adopting the use of more helicopters and fighter jets has given Iran a leg up in air supremacy, especially against rivals like Israel.
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Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi Fard, the Commander of Iran’s Army Air Defense Force, recently referred to the Air Force as “completely self-sufficient” and prepared for any enemy attacks. Its self-sufficiency, Sabahi Fard claims, is based on the Air Force’s ability to design, produce, and control its surveillance and attack systems. The General’s statements come after a challenging year for Iran; the country attacked Israel in April 2024, leading to a global reevaluation of Iranian air power, and lost President Ebrahim Raisi to a helicopter accident in May 2024, which has significant geopolitical implications. A probe recently found that the accident was weather-related, rather than an attack against Iran. Either way, Iran is in the process of developing more military strength and focusing on air superiority to get a leg up over combatants. (Iran has over 60 of this fighter jet that reaches speeds over 1,400 mph.)
Iran’s push for air superiority represents a historical struggle to find power. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and the later Iran-Iraq War from 1980-89, Iran struggled with outdated equipment and international sanctions. The country also invested its resources into a ballistic missile program, which has not always been fruitful. However, in the last decade, Iran has slowly built its air power capabilities in an attempt to achieve air superiority, particularly over Israel. (What happens if Israel and Iran go to war?)
Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a look at one of the fleets that make up Iran’s air power arsenal: helicopters. To identify all of the helicopters in active service in the Iranian military, 24/7 Wall St. referenced the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website. We ranked helicopters by the number of units in active service. Supplemental data was added regarding the type of aircraft, armament, and military branch.
Here is a look at every helicopter in Iran’s military:
Why Are We Covering This?
Iran’s military capabilities play a significant role in Middle Eastern politics. Understanding the eight helicopters used by Iran’s military show how Iran projects power regionally and globally. Plus, seeing where Iran is investing its military resources moving forward gives insight into its potential military strategy.
8. Bell 206 (JetRanger / Long Ranger)
- Type: Light utility helicopter
- Year introduced: 1967
- Active in Military: 6
- Armament: 7.62mm machine guns
- Military branch: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Islamic Republic of Iran Army
7. Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
- Type: Heavy-lift transport helicopter
- Year introduced: 1966
- Active in Military: 6
- Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns
- Military branch: Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
6. Sikorsky S-61 (SH-3 Sea King)
- Type: Ship-based anti-submarine warfare helicopter
- Year introduced: 1961
- Active in Military: 8
- Armament: Mark 44/46 torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, naval depth charges, 7.62mm machine guns
- Military branch: Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
5. Bell 212
- Type: Medium-lift utility helicopter
- Year introduced: 1968
- Active in Military: 10
- Armament: 7.62mm machine guns
- Military branch: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
4. Bell AH-1J SeaCobra
- Type: Dedicated two-seat attack helicopter
- Year introduced: 1970
- Active in Military: 13
- Armament: 20mm M197 triple-barrel gatling gun, Mk 40 Hydra rocket pods, Zuni rocket pods, BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles, Sidewinder missiles
- Military branch: Islamic Republic of Iran Army
3. Mil Mi-171 Hip
- Type: Medium-lift gunship helicopter
- Year introduced: 1981
- Active in Military: 22
- Armament: Shturm-V missiles, rocket pods, cannon pods, 7.62mm machine guns
- Military branch: Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
2. Bell 214
- Type: Medium-lift utility helicopter
- Year introduced: 1972
- Active in Military: 24
- Armament: 7.62mm machine guns
- Military branch: Islamic Republic of Iran Army
1. Boeing CH-47 Chinook
- Type: Medium-lift trandem-rotor transport helicopter
- Year introduced: 1962
- Active in Military: 40
- Armament: 7.62mm machine guns
- Military branch: Islamic Republic of Iran Army, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
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