Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation

Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation
هوانيروز ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران
A blue egg-shaped seal with a golden border and with the Persian name of the unit at its top and its Persian acronym Havanirooz at bottom with a diagram of an AH-1J SeaCobra in the middle
Official seal of Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation
Active1962–1979 (as Imperial Iranian Army Aviation)
1979–present
Country Iran
BranchIslamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces
TypeArmy Aviation
Size50,000 personnel
Nickname(s)Havanirooz (هوانیروز)
Anniversaries7 December
EngagementsDhofar war
1979 Kurdish rebellion
Iran–Iraq War
War on ISIL[citation needed]
Flying hours800,000 (1979–2011)
Commanders
Current
commander
Second Brig. Gen. Ghasem Khamoushi (2024–present)
Notable
commanders
Brig. Gen. Manouchehr Khosrodad (1972–1979)
Second Brig. Gen. Mohammad Hossein Jalali
Insignia
Flag

The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA) (in Persian: هواپیمایی نیروی زمینی جمهوری اسلامی ایران), more commonly known as the Havānīrūz (هوانیروز, Persian pronunciation: [hævɒːniːˈɾuːz]),‎[1] is the army aviation of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces. It has about 300 helicopters both for attack and transport missions.[2] It has fought in the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, in which the Havanirooz played a crucial role in destroying and defeating the invading Iraqi armies.[3] The war saw the most intensive use of helicopters in a conventional conflict ever.

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.

  1. ^ Also transliterated as Havaniruz, Hava-Niruz, Havanirouz, and Havanirooz. Persian pronunciation: [hæˌvɒːniːˈɾuːz]
  2. ^ "General Ghorbani: Iran helicopter fleet, strongest in Middle East".
  3. ^ "Iran Has Most Powerful Chopper Fleet in West Asia: Commander". 4 May 2020.