Iran’s aging helicopter fleet is in the spotlight after a crash last week that killed President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven other members of the delegation.
An Anadolu reporter gathered information about the condition and maintenance of helicopters in Iran’s military inventory.
The decades-old fleet, made up of various models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, reportedly faces significant maintenance and parts procurement challenges due to prolonged international sanctions. These problems have seriously affected their operability and it is not known how many planes and helicopters are functional.
A significant part of Iran’s helicopter fleet consists of the United States (U.S.) made helicopters, including Sikorsky SH-3 Sea Kings, RH-53D Sea Stallions, Boeing CH-47 Chinooks and various Bell models. These helicopters were acquired before the 1979 revolution.
Iran has eight Sikorsky SH-3 Sea Kings, originally designed for anti-submarine warfare but later adapted for VIP transport.
The country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rarely uses helicopters, preferring planes even for short trips within the country despite having a fleet capable of transporting VIPs.
These helicopters were used by the U.S. Navy from 1961 until 2006 when they were finally retired.
Iran also has several seaborne RH-53Ds, primarily procured for naval minelaying tasks.
The helicopter made its first flight in 1964 and entered service in 1966, before being retired from active service in 2020.
The tandem-rotor Boeing CH-47 Chinook, known for its heavy-lift capabilities, is also prominent in Iran’s fleet, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
