Military History of Persia - 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 modernization 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 equipped with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. These airplanes were later sold to Pakistan. Other purchases in the 1960s included 9K11 Malyutka anti-tank missiles from Russia, 4 minesweepers from the USA approximately 1000 howitzers from Canada, USA, Sweden, 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 Tomcat, 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 received 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 Chieftain tank and 1500 Rapier missile from the British. Iran ordered large quantities of medium and heavy artillery ranging in the tens 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 launchers.

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. All of the arms deals listed below were cancelled following the revolution.

From the USA an incredible order for more than $15 billion in fighter jets were ordered 300 F-16 Fighting Falcons, 16 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II RF-4E reconnaissance planes and a further 71 Grumman F-14 Tomcats on top of the 71 that had arrived. All of these orders were due in 1980. Other orders included 64 General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, 200 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, 100 Grumman A-6 Intruders, 32F-15 Eagles, 32 Fairchild A-10 attack bombers all of which were due by 1985.

By way of helicopters Iran had ordered a further 500 attack and transport helicopters in a $3 billion deal, in an attempt to add to its fleet of 700 attack helicopters. These included the Boeing AH-64 Apache and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk as well as further Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Several launch pads with very advanced radar systems were planned to be built.

A massive order was made by the Shah of Iran in an attempt to modernize the Iranian Imperial Navy. By 1980 the Iranian Navy were due to receive $5 billion worth of ships including 4 new Kidd class destroyers equipped with Standard missiles, Harpoon missiles, Phalanx CIWS's and Mark 46 torpedoes, 6 used Spruance class destroyer equipped with ASROC launchers, Harpoon missiles, and Sea Sparrow missiles, 3 used Tang class submarine equipped with sub Harpoon missiles and several older landing crafts.By 1985 the navy was due to receive a further $10 billion in orders including the 10 used Garcia class frigates equipped with ASROC launchers and 2 new Tarawa class amphibious assault ships equipped with a 2 Mark 45 guns, 4 Sea Sparrow Systems, capable of carrying 12 landing crafts, 12 landing vehicles, 6 British Aerospace Sea Harrier and 20 Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallions. Also on this list were 2 new Ticonderoga class cruisers equipped with Harpoon missiles, RIM-7 missiles, ASROC and the Vertical Launching system. The USA and Iran had agreed a deal for Iran to purchase 4 used Belknap class cruisers equipped with Harpoon missiles, Standard missiles and a ASROC launcher. Large bases, hangars and ports were to be built to accommodate these purchases.

A 2 billion orders were placed for several types of tanks and armored personnel carriers such as the M551 Sheridan, 500 on order and the M50 Ontos, 400 on order. Iran placed an order for 10 Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS), and when finding the USA reluctant to sell made it known that Britain was interested the Iranians 4 Nimrod AWACS to Iran without the same hassle that the USA was making Iran go through. To refill their vast air force they had ordered 12 Boeing 707 tankers capable of refueling planes in midair. 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's, 400 M60 Patton A3 tanks were ordered in a deal worth under 1 billion. 3000 trucks and 6000 Jeeps were being manufactured in Iran with the help of the USA were on their way to the front as well as a booming technological industry. The last of the orders were for several further types of SAM missiles and planes full of light weapons and ammunition's.

The Iranians placed a $3 billion in ordering 2000 Challenger tanks from the British along with a further 300 Chieftain tanks and 250 FV101 Scorpion light tanks. A order for $1 billion was in the works with BAe to buy 12 BAE Systems Hawk trainer aircraft, a variety of radars and missiles and 4 British Aerospace Nimrod AEW3 AWACS systems. A $4 billion order was placed for 72 British Aerospace Sea Harrier airplanes and 4 Invincible class aircraft carrier able to carry 18 planes and 4 helicopters and the aircraft carrier's to be equipped with Sea Sparrow missiles and Goalkeeper CIWS. Included in this order were 4 Type 42 destroyer's equipped with Harpoon missiles, a Sea Dart missile system and Sea Wolf missiles. Along with this order were several minesweepers, patrol boats and a further SR.N6 military hovercrafts. Iran also had contracted them for training, construction of bases and further development of Iranian made military products. Iran also expressed interest in the British Panavia Tornado and Churchill class submarines to be housed in the Chah Bahar complex, but there were no known. After the USA, Britain 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's equipped with a Goalkeeper CIWS, Harpoon missiles, Sea Sparrow missiles, and Mark 46 torpedoes. Iran had ordered from the Germans 6 Type 209 submarine's submarines to be equipped with sub Harpoon missiles and 20 La Combattante IIa class fast attack craft's equipped with Exocet missiles, of which 2 arrived. From the Germans Iran was ordering several hundred howitzers. From Japan 4 mine layers were ordered but only was was delivered the Iran Ajr, which was subsequently captured by the USA in the Iran-Iraq war.

Most of the orders placed from Russia were lighter weaponry such as arms and trucks. They had placed an order for 6 anti submarine Grisha class corvette's, 400 ASU-85 anti tank guns, 400 BMP-1 light tank and storage facilities and a further 200 ZSU-23-4 artillery vehicles.

The Americans had actually started construction on missile sites to guard the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean which involved Iran buying missiles like the P-15 Termit from Russia, Exocet from Frnace, 9K115 Metis from Russia, MIM-104 Patriot from USA, and the Tomahawk (missile) from the USA. These missiles and their launch sites which were jointly built by the USA (80%) and the Europeans (20%) would make Iran capable of defending itself from any seaborne, land or airborne attack.

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 Kfir and the Gabriel (missile). Other orders included 2 Gal class submarines, radars, and electromagnetic warfare technology.

The completion of these orders were expected to be approaching $50 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 military bases including the Chah Bahar military complex which was to be the largest in Asia and would be able to accommodate both an Iranian and American presence. At this time Iran was purchasing over $20bn in nuclear stations, 8 locations would be built by the Americans, 6 by the Germans and 2 by the French, for its 36,000 MW nuclear project which could produce enough uranium each year for 700-800 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. By 1985 Iran had planned to stop ordering military equipment and would have been able to field one of the most powerful armies in the world.

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