Babak Taghvaee

The history of the Iranian Air Force, currently known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), can be divided into two phases – before the Islamic Revolution (1978–79) and after it. The origins of the force lie in the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF), which became operation with its first fully trained pilots in 1925\. Until World War Two, the IIAF inventory consisted of entirely od European aircraft, however, following the British and Soviet invasion of Iran, the IIAF’s bases were occupied and all aircraft destroyed. In this book, Babak Taghvaee examines the inventory of the IIAF during both world wars.

Emirates is one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates. As of 2019, it is also the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 3,600 flights per week from Dubai International Airport. It operates to more than 150 cities in 80 countries through its fleet of nearly 300 aircraft. Illustrated with over 150 images, this book examines the history of the airline from its founding in 1985 until the present day.

The history of El Al, the Israeli national flag carrier, dates back to September 1948, when a former Israeli Air Force C-54B-15-DO Skymaster cargo/passenger aircraft was repurposed for paying passengers. Since that time, the airline has connected Israel with many destinations around the world, as far afield as New York in the US and Johannesburg in South Africa. Today it operates with a fleet of 46 passenger planes and one cargo aircraft. The airline’s growth and development have been determined in part by its geographical location and the politics of its nation. Challenged by the lack of opportunity to refuel mid-journey, Israel’s isolation provided the incentive and opportunity to design and build jets that flew further and used fuel more efficiently in order to travel faster across greater distances. The airline upgrades its aircraft regularly, with new, efficient aircraft a priority. Its back catalogue of aircraft includes Boeing 707 narrow-body passenger aircraft, as well as 720s, 747s and 787 Dream liners. Today its Boeing 787 aircraft are helping expand the airline’s routes as well as profitability. El Al’s aircraft have often participated in major humanitarian relief operations and repatriated Jewish peoples to Israel. With more than 100 historic and contemporary photographs of El Al’s aircraft in action, this is a highly illustrated account of the growth and development of a national carrier.

Founded in 1933, Air France is that country’s largest airline with 211 aircraft at its disposal, comprising narrow- and wide-body types as well as cargo aircraft. Subsidiary company, low-cost Air France Hop, currently operates an additional 33 aircraft. Together they fly to 191 destinations in 89 countries. Since merging with Dutch airline KLM in 2004 and forming the Air France-KLM Group, Air France has renovated its fleet and vastly improved its profit margins. This book provides an illustrated history of the company and its subsidiary, detailing its origins and growth from small beginnings to national flag carrier with an impressive fleet that is continually updated through outright purchases and long-term lease agreements. Air France flies all over the world, and its route map and diversification are all reviewed, together with its alliance with KLM, which gives it access to a vast market of feeder routes across Europe serving the nation’s leisure and business interests.

Founded in 1999 in Athens, Aegean Airlines is the largest airline in Greece today, with a fleet of 53 narrow-body airliners. Since the airline commenced operations, its fleet has been modernised several times. Its ATR-42/72 regional propliners were all retired by 2004, while its BAe-146s and Boeing 737-300 and 400 narrow-body jetliners were replaced by Airbus A319s, A320s and A321s. Starting in 2020, the airline has begun replacing its A320ceo and A321ceo aircraft with the modern A320neo and A321neo. This fleet modernisation has not just increased the level of safety but has also increased the profit of the airline. Financial issues for Greece’s other airlines left a vacuum for Aegean Airlines to take over, becoming the successor to most flights operating to Europe and the Middle East. The death of Olympic Airlines also helped Aegean to expand its operations and turn into one of the largest and most successful airlines in Greece. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic delivered a blow to the airline, as it did many around the world. however, with the gradual end to restrictions imposed on air travel around the world, the airline’s operations have returned to profitability. This book covers the history and current fate of the airline’s aircraft and looks at Aegean Airlines’ climb to the top of Greece’s aviation industry.

Established 31 years ago by means of a fleet of Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-154 passenger aircraft, Mahan Air soon turned into the largest airline of Iran. Despite being highly sanctioned by the US government and many other EU countries, Mahan Air has managed to take the place of Iran Air, Iran's flag carrier, in many of the domestic and international routes to Iran in recent years. Under control of retired Generals of Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Corps (IRGC), the airline plays an important role in transportation of personnel and troops of the Quds Force (IRGCQF) branch of the force from Iran to Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Within the past eleven years, thousands of IRGCQF members were deployed to Syria using passenger aircraft, such as the large fleet of Airbus A310s of the airline. Mahan Air also serves political interests of the Iranian government in the Middle East and Latin America. The airline has had two of its A340-303s, two Airbus A340-642s and one of its Boeing 747-3B3Ms leased to flag carriers of Syria and Venezuela. Despite being heavily sanctioned , Mahan Air has not only managed to maintain its fleet of Avro Jet RJ70/85/100s, Airbus A310s, A300s, A340s and Boeing 747s but also managed to increase their numbers to a level to become the largest airline of the country, connecting it to East and Southeast Asia by means of its large fleet of long-haul and wide-body passenger aircraft.

For 65 years, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has protected Malaysia's airspace, territorial lands and waters. With 21 helicopters and 119 fixed-wing aircraft, including 26 in reserve, as well as early warning radars, air defence systems and recently procured unmanned aerial vehicles, RMAF is the spearhead of the country's defence against the increasing hegemony and military presence of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China, particularly its Air Force and Navy in the South China Sea. It also plays an important role in supporting the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Agency to protect the strategic Strait of Malacca and counter any piracy activity there. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, RMAF participated in tens of counter-insurgency operations against communist rebels, while in 2013, its fighter jets participated in similar operations in Sabah. During both wartime and peacetime, RMAF has served the Malaysia by participating in humanitarian and disaster relief operations. In this book, history and current fate of the aircraft and helicopters currently in service with the RMAF, including several of the reserved and decommissioned examples, are fully covered, coupled with over 110 images.

The Hellenic Air Force is one of the most powerful in Europe. With 37 helicopters, 343 fixed-wing aircraft including 206 fighter jets, as well as surveillance drones and surface-to-air missile systems in its service, it plays a key role in protecting Greece and its allies in the Mediterranean. In recent years, Greece's fleet of combat aircraft, particularly fighter jets, has been upgraded to ensure the force retains its position within NATO's structure. Alongside combat aircraft, the Hellenic Air Force has a significant domestic role that requires a fleet of water bombers to protect the country and its infrastructure from forest fires. Alongside are helicopters fulfilling search and rescue missions and training aircraft to ensure continuity of service throughout all the Air Force's specialist branches.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, the Israeli Air Force has become a sophisticated and formidable power supported by highly trained personnel and a vast array of contemporary weaponry. Continually on alert in a regional hotspot, the Israeli Air Force has evolved to become the main pillar of defence for the nation. The force currently has 402 aircraft at its disposal, including 290 fighter-bombers, 136 helicopters and 80 unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance, surveillance and attack. Each year, the Air Force carries out hundreds of combat sorties and training missions to keep its personnel trained to a state of readiness and to protect its borders. The history of the force and its aircraft are detailed alongside the significant wars that have shaped the current Air Force.

Manufactured by Dassault Aviation solely in France, the Rafale was designed to replace an ageing fleet of aircraft for France's Air Force, as well as to serve the Navy in carrier capacity. Today, Rafale C, D and M variants are in operation fulfilling a variety of roles including fighter, reconnaissance and deterrent. From conducting nuclear alert missions in France and patrolling NATO's eastern fronts, the Rafales of the French Air and Space Force and French Navy play a strategic role in protecting France and its NATO allies. Currently, there are 245 Rafales in service with the armed forces of France, Egypt, Greece, India and Qatar and more than 180 additional examples are expected to be manufactured and delivered to Indonesia, Egypt, Greece and United Arab Emirates by 2030. This book details the current status of all airworthy and operational Rafales around the world, with the active service history provided for many that have taken part in conflicts around the globe or been involved in peace-keeping missions and patrols.

Under the leadership of a sagacious and patriotic ruler, who wasn't only cautious about the security of his state but was acting to stabilize worldwide peace by means of keeping the Middle East secure from the danger of Communism, the third most powerful Army Aviation in the world was born and flourished, its efficiency proven during its role defending Iran during the war with Iraq, 1980-88. One of the weaknesses of NATO's combat strength set against the Warsaw Pact was its armoured force. Following 1945 the armoured forces of the Soviet Union had quickly surpassed the West. Before the development of powerful new tanks such as the Shir 2 (Lion 2), Challenger 1, M1 Abrams in services with the Iranian, British and US armies, the only solution for confrontation with Soviet armour was the establishment of powerful Army Aviation forces. From the late 1960s His Imperial Majesty Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and many other commanders had realized the weakness of the Iranian Army compared to the powerful armoured forces of the Soviet Union and Iraq, two historical enemies of Iran, states who dreamed of reaching the waters of the Persian Gulf and the oil fields of Khuzestan province respectively. By following such a strategy, Iran possessed the third-largest Army Aviation Power in the world in just ten years, not only by being equipped with 800 of the latest and most advanced AB.205, AB.206, Bell 214, AH-1J and CH-47C helicopters but thanks to thousands of skilful and knowledgeable personnel. Iranian Army Aviation was used to provide for the security of Iran as well as helping to establish peace in Pakistan and Oman in the wars against terrorism and communism in 1970s. After the Revolution, and even after the execution, arrest and dismissal of the architects of the force, it was effectively used to defend Iran during eight years of war with Iraq, 1980-88. Its AH-1Js hunted hundreds of Iraqi tanks and armoured carriers and its Bell 214As saved lives of thousands of wounded civilians and soldiers while the CH-47Cs were airlifting ammunition and soldiers to the frontline under the threat of direct fire from Iraqi AA guns and SAMs. Based on the recently declassified official records of the Iranian Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ground Force and Army Aviation, this book provides details of the Iranian Army Aviation missions and roles during 97 major operations in the war with Iraq, including details on logged flying hours, performed sorties, launched missiles, carried cargos, wounded troops and soldiers beside the unheard history of the force since its foundation. The author's detailed text is fully supported by an extensive selection of previous unseen photographs and colour profiles.

The development of the F-5 lightweight supersonic fighter in the mid-1950s was almost a gamble for the Northrop Corporation, but ultimately resulted in one of most commercially successful combat aircraft in modern history. Iran was one of its major export customers, yet the long and often violent history of deployment of the F-5 in that country has largely escaped attention of historians. No less than 309 aircraft of five major variants of the jet – the F-5A, F-5B, RF-5A, F-5E and F-5F – have provided the backbone of the frontline strength of the Iranian Air Force since the mid-1960s. Additional examples were clandestinely purchased from Ethiopia and Vietnam in the 1980s. The type bore the brunt of combat operations during the long war with Iraq, 1980-1988, and remains a mainstay of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force as of today. This breathtaking account provides a detailed chronological history of the F-5 in combat service in Iran, a history dominated by long-range strikes against some of best defended targets inside Iraq, and by thousands of dramatic close-air-support and reconnaissance sorties, but also fierce air combats against the then most modern fighter types in Iraqi service, including the MiG-23s and MiG-25s. It is completed with practically unknown stories of their combat presence in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the war against drug traffickers in recent years. Good though the F-5 has been, the advances of domestic Iranian aircraft building companies have resulted in attempts to continue the F-5 line with further redesign and developments, resulting in a number of indigenous variants. Combined, this means that the diverse and involved story about one of most interesting military aircraft of modern times is still far from over. The author's detailed text is fully supported by an extensive selection of photographs and colour profiles. Middle East@War - following on from our highly-successful Africa@War series, Middle East@War replicates the same format - concise, incisive text, rare images and high quality colour artwork providing fresh accounts of both well-known and more esoteric aspects of conflict in this part of the world since 1945.