Military History of Iran - Pahlavi Era (1925 To 1979)

Pahlavi Era (1925 To 1979)

When the Pahlavi dynasty came through power the Qajar dynasty was already weak from years of war with Russia. The standing Persian army was almost non-existent. The new king Reza Shah Pahlavi, was quick to develop a new military. In part, this involved sending hundreds of officers to European and American military academies. It also involved having foreigners re-train the existing army within Iran. In this period the Iranian Air Force was established and the foundation for a new Navy was laid.

Following Germany's invasion of the USSR in June 1941, Britain and the Soviet Union became allies. Both saw the newly opened Trans-Iranian Railroad as a strategic route to transport supplies from the Persian Gulf to the Soviet region. In August 1941, Britain and the USSR invaded Iran and deposed Reza Shah Pahlavi in favor of his son Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. Following the end of the Second World War Iran's independence was respected and both countries withdrew.

Following a number of clashes in April 1969, international relations with Iraq fell into a steep decline, mainly due to a dispute over the Shatt al-Arab waterway in the 1937 Algiers Accord. Iran abrogated the 1937 accord and demanded a renegotiation which ended completely in its favor. Furthermore, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi embarked on an unprecedented modernisation program for the armed forces. In many cases Iran was being supplied with advanced weaponry even before it was supplied to the armies of the countries that developed it. The Iranian military, while very well armed and trained at this point was totally reliant on external suppliers for its equipment. By 1978 Iran had the worlds 5th strongest and largest army and was the clear undisputed regional superpower. During this period of strength Iran protected its interests militarily in the region: In Oman, the Dhofar Rebellion was squashed. In November 1971 Iranian forces seized control of three uninhabited but strategic islands at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

In the 1960s as the countries oil revenues began to flow in and diplomatic relations were established in many countries Iran began to expand its military. In the 1960s it purchased Canada's fleet of 90 Canadair Sabre planes euqipped with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. These airplanes were later sold to Pakistan. Other purchases in the 1960s included 9K11 Malyutka anit-tank missiles from Russia, 4 minesweepers from the USA aproximately 1000 howiters from Canada, USA, Sweeden, and Russia, as well as 100 American M48 Patton tanks and 110 T-54/55 Russian tanks. They purchased hundreds of American M113 armored personnel carrier and Mk 19 grenade launcher from the USA as well as 1425 BTR-40/BTR-50/BTR-60 from the Russians.

By the time the 1970s came and Iran had the ninth largest economy on Earth, the Shah set about modernizing Iran's military. He did this through billions of dollars of some of the most sophisticated arms in the US arsenal. His purchases included 79 F-14 Tomcats, 400 M60 Patton tanks, 354 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II planes and Northrop F-5 fighting planes, hundreds of support and attack helicopters (Boeing CH-47 Chinook, Bell UH-1N Twin Huey, Mil Mi-8 and Mil Mi-17) 12 Lockheed P-3 Orion planes, 2 American destroyers, (USS Zellars and USS Stormes) and 4 Hengam landing craft. 1 British destroyer (HMS Sluys), 4 British frigates (Alvand class frigate), 8 Bayandor class corvette from the USA, 2 Gearing class destroyer, 8 light warships from Germany, 16 Osa class missile boat from the Soviet Union, 200 ZSU-23-4 artillery vehicles, 300 American Bell AH-1 SuperCobra helicopters, thousands of laser guided missiles, thousands of Mark 82 and 83 bombs, 3000 SS.12/AS.12 air to surface missiles from France, Sea Killer anti ship missiles (from Italy) 300 MIM-23 Hawk missiles,500 M109 howitzer, 24 MQM-107 Streaker drones, 30000 TOW missiles as well as an assortment of thousands of missiles such as the AIM-54 Phoenix, AGM-65 Maverick and the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Iran had the largest fleet of hovercraft in the world and one of the worlds largest fleet of helicopters. They recived large quantities of FGM-77A Dragon anti tank missiles, RIM-66B Standard-1MR SAM missiles, and Strela-2/SA-7 Grail SAM missiles. They ordered 1300 Chieftan tank and 1500 Rapier missile from the British. Iran ordered large quantities of medium and heavy artillery ranging in the 10's of thousands and to this day has the largest stockpile of these types of weapons in the Middle East. Their only order from China was 1000 of its Type 63 multiple rocket launcher. From Russia it ordered many transport trucks and 300 BM-21 Grad multiple rocket lauchers.

By the time that the revolution had come Iran was manufacturing in collaboration with the 60,000 Americans in Iran was manufacturing TOW missiles and Bell 204, Bell 205 and Bell 214 helicopters. Iran was also manufacturing with the help of the Soviets RPG-7, SA-7, and the BM-21 Grad. It had almost 1 million soldiers in its rank and was ordering tens of billions in weapons.

These included 300 F-16 Fighting Falcons, a squadron of General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, 250 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, a further 71 Grumman F-14 Tomcat on top of the 79 that had arrived, 200 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk being phased out by the USA, 52 F-15 Eagles, 52 Lockheed S-3 Viking, 16 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II RF-4E reconnaissance planes, and a unknown number of Fairchild A-10 attack bombers. Also from the Americans the Iranians had placed an order for 12 radar stations, 4 Kidd class destroyer, 10 Garcia class frigate, 2 Tarawa class amphibious assault ship, 6 Spruance class destroyer and 4 Tang class submarine and several older landing crafts. Missiles such as the BOMARC were discussed but it is unknown whether Iran would have got them. Large bases, hangars and ports were to be built to accommodate these purchases Iran had ofered to move production of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy to Iran after it was cancelled. Large orders were placed for several types of light tanks and armored personnel carriers such as the Ferret armoured car and the M8 Greyhound Iran placed an order for 12 Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS), and when finding the USA reluctant to sell made it known that Britain was interested in selling the Iranians their Nimrod AWACS to Iran without the same hassle that the USA was going through in selling in Iran these planes. Iran had ordered tens of thousands of various missiles from the USA and Britain some which came but the majority never did. A further 500 M109 howitzer, 3000 trucks and 6000 Jeeps were being manufactured in Iran, 12 707 tankers to refill airplanes. as well as several further types of SAM missiles and planes full of light weapons and ammunitions were on their way.< ref>Arms Control and Iranian Foreign Policy: Diplomacy of Discontent

The Iranians also expressed interest in ordering 2000 Challenger tanks from the British along with a further 700 Chieftan tank. From the British they also were planning an order of a further 250 FV101 Scorpion. An order was placed for roughly 100 Hawker Siddeley Harrier airplanes and 4 Invincible class aircraft carrier. They had placed and order for several corvettes and patrol boats, the corvettes to be equipped with RIM-7 Sea Sparrow. Thousands of Harpoon (missile) anti ship missiles and were ordered. A $200 million deal was in the works with BAe to purchase a large quantity of speedboats for patrol purchases. a 400 million deal was inked for 8 Type 82 destroyer and 24 patrol boats. Iran also had contracted them for training, construction of bases and further development of Iranian made military products. Iran also expressed interest in the Enlish English Electric Lightning and Churchill class submarines, but any known orders were cancelled due to the Revolution. After the USA, Britian was Iran's largest arms supplier. This trend would continue with many other countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

From the Dutch Iran, ordered 8 Kortenaer class frigate and a further 12 hovercrats. Iran had ordered from the Germans 6 Type 209 submarine powered submarines and 20 La Combattante IIa class fast attack craft of which 2 arrived. From the Germans Iran was ordering several hundred howitzers. From Japan 4 minelayers were ordered but only was was delivered the Ajr, which was subsequently captured by the USA in the Iran-Iraq war.

From the French they ordered 30 Dassault Mirage F1 (ironically later sold to Iraq and seized by the Iranians in the Iran-Iraq war), 300 Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopters and the MILAN missile system.

From the Russians they wanted several new Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25, T-72, and were interested in updating their large fleet of Russian made light tanks and armored personel carriers. Most of the orders placed from Russia were lighter weaponry such as arms and trucks. They had placed an order for 12 Grisha class corvette, 500 ASU-85 anti tank guns, 500 BMP-1 light tank and storage facilities and a further 200 ZSU-23-4 artillery vehicles.

When The Americans turned down Iran's request under the Carter administration for nuclear capable missiles they turned to the Israelis. They were working on the Project Flower ballistic missiles with Israel, and had already begun purchasing 1 billion worth of Iraeli light arms as well as expressing interest in an upgraded Mirage V, the IAI Nesher and the IAI Kfir and the Gabriel (missile). Other orders included a Gal class submarine, radars, and electromagnetic warfare technology.

The completion of these orders were expected to be approaching $100 billion and was putting a significant strain on Iran's economy. Should the orders have been completed Iran would have been the undisputed superpower in the region and would have had the world's fifth most powerful military.

At the same time Iran began construction of a dozen militairy bases including the Chah Bahar militairy complex expected to cost over $2bn. AT this time Iran was purchasing over $30bn in nuclear construction from US, France and Germany for its 30,000 MW nuclear project which could produce enough uranium each year for 600-700 warheads. By 1978 there were 250,000 foreign workers in Iran and by 1985 estimates say their may have been as many as 500,000.

Before the Iranian revolution of 1979, Iran contributed to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Iran joined ONUC in the Congo in the 1960s, and ten years later, Iranian troops joined UNDOF on the Golan Heights.