The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA) (in ), more commonly known as the Havānīrūz (, ), is the army aviation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces. It is the largest and most professional army aviation service in the Middle East, possessing no less than 300 helicopters both for attack and transport missions. It is also the most experienced in the region, having fought in the brutal Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, in which the Havanirooz played a crucial role in destroying and defeating the invading Iraqi armies.
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.
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 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. Iran also took delivery of 70 Boeing (Elicotteri Meridionali) CH-47C Chinooks and 11 more after the Revolution from Italy.
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. 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, with an average of 100 hours recorded flight per day overall during the war.
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.