Tuesday, July 22, 2014

IRIAF Air Bases

The squadrons that make up the Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) are assigned to a series of tactical-air-bases* (TABs) spread across the country. These form the highest known level of organization since it is unknown whether the IRIAF employs a regional operations command similar to other services.

 * also rendered as tactical-fighter-bases (TFBs)



1st 'Shahid Lashkari' Tactical Air Base (TAB-1) – Tehran
As of May 2014, the base is commanded by Brig. Gen. 2nd Class (BG2) Mohammed Tasviyehchi. [1]

2nd 'Shahid Fakoori' Tactical Air Base (TAB-2) – Tabriz
As of March 2014, the base is commanded by BG2 Hamid Vahedi. [2]

3rd 'Shahid Nojeh' Tactical Air Base (TAB-3) – Hamedan
As of April 2014, the base is commanded by BG2 Mansour Vanek. [3]

4th 'Shahid Vahdati' Tactical Air Base (TAB-4) – Dezful
As of March 2014, the base is commanded by BG2 Hamid Reza Ashena. [4]

5th 'Shahid Ardestani' Tactical Air Base (Tab-5) – Omidiyeh
Operational status unknown. Transferred to IRIADF; reserve airstrip.

6th 'Shahid Yassini' Tactical Air Base (TAB-6) – Bushehr
As of February 2014, the base is commanded by BG2 Mehdi Hadiyan. [5]

7th 'Shahid Dowran' Tactical Air Base (TAB-7) – Shiraz
As of February 2014, the base is commanded by BG/BG2 Mansour Mohamedi. [6]

8th 'Shahid Babei' Tactical Air Base (TAB-8) – Isfahan
As of March 2013, the base is commanded by BG2 Masoud Roozkhosh. [7]

9th 'Shahid Abdulkarimi' Tactical Air Base – Bandar Abbas
As of December 2013, the base is commanded by BG2 Farhad Gudarzi. [8]

10th 'Shahid Dol Hamed' Tactical Air Base – Konarak
As of April 2014, the base is commanded by BG2 Mahmud Qoli Zadegan. [9]

12th 'Shahid Hosseini' Tactical Air Base – Birjand
Opened in October 2007, the base is commanded by Col. Hamid Moustafavi as of May 2013. [10]

14th 'Shahid Babaei' Tactical Air Base – Mashhad
Operational status unknown. Transferred to IRIADF. No longer active TAB.

Rumored, unconfirmed, reserve or retired airfields:
Ghale Morghi, Tehran: Closed, converted to park.
TAB-11 (Doshan Tappeh, Tehran): Closed, held in reserve (unconfirmed).
TAB-13 (Zahedan): No details.
TAB-15 (Kermanshah): No details.
TAB-16 (Kerman): No details.
TAB-17 (Masjed Suleiman): No details

Appendix - Commander IMINT:


Footnotes / Works Cited
[1] Tehran's Haj Director Meets with BG2 Mohammed Tasviyehchi. Tehran Haj. 05/26/14.
[2] Rouhani's Demands of Sepah / Missile Exercise Controversy. Mashregh News. 03/16/14.
[3] Commander of TAB 3: Farvadin 29 is a day about the Army. ISNA. 04/18/14.
[4] The IRIAF Had a Role in All the Operations of the Imposed War / Dezful Airbase Has Given 50 Martys to the Revolution. Mashregh News. 04/30/14.
[5] First Memorial for General Yassini Held in Bushehr. IRNA. 02/06/14
[6] Iran Becoming a Defense Industry Hub in the Region. FNA. 02/07/14
[7] Ibid Mashregh News, 03/16/14
[8] TAB 9 Completely Surrounds the Persian Gulf. FNA. 12/20/13.
[9] Expansion of the Airport Facilities at Chahbahar is an Advancement for the People of the Region. IRNA. 04/11/14.
[10] Country's 12th TAB Opened in Birjand. MNA. 10/09/07

Sunday, July 20, 2014

IRGCN Naval Regions

Tasked with securing the Persian Gulf, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN/NEDASA) is organized into five geographic regions, plus a handful of independent bases outside of the Gulf. These form the administrative basis for conducting combat operations and are believed to be largely equivalent to other services' 'regional headquarters'.


1st Naval Region – Bandar Abbas 
The 1st Naval Region is headquartered in Bandar Abbas. As of March 2014, the region is commanded by Vice Admiral (hereafter, BG2) Mohammed Shiyari. [1] Prior to his appointment in June 2013, he was the region's deputy commander. He replaced the previous commander, BG2 Torabi, who was promoted to Inspections Deputy for the IRGCN. [2]

It's operations area is focused on the Strait of Hormuz.

2nd Naval Region – Bandar Bushehr
The 2nd Naval Region is headquartered in Bushehr, in the central Persian Gulf. As of April 2014, the region is commanded by BG2 Ali Razmjou. [3]

3rd Naval Region – Bandar Mahshahr
The 3rd Naval Region is headquartered in Bandar Mahshahr in the northern Persian Gulf. As of February 2014, the region is commanded by BG2 Seifollah Bakhtiarvand. [4]

The scope of its area of operations is unknown.

4th Naval Region – Bandar Asaluyeh 
The 4th Naval Region is headquartered in Asaluyeh, between Bushehr and Bandar Abbas. As of January 2013, the base is commanded by BG2 Yadollah Badin[13]

Its area of operations extends from the town of Dayyar in the north, to Kish Island in the south. [5] This area was previously associated with both the 1st and 2nd Naval Regions, but was split off in November 2008. Prior to the designation, the IRGCN maintaned an independent base at Asaluyeh. [6]

5th Naval Region – Bandar Lengah 
The 5th Naval Region is headquartered in Bandar Lengah in the southern Persian Gulf. As of June 2014, the region is commanded by BG2 Ali Azamayi. [7] Prior to his appointment in 2012, he was the deputy commander of the IRGCN's 1st Naval Region. [8]

Its area of operations extends from Qeshm Island in the east, to Kish Island in the west, covering the islands in between including the contested Tunbs and Abu Musa. This area was previously associated with the 1st Naval Zone, but was split off in November 2012 in order focus their efforts on the cluster of islands. [9]

Independent Naval Bases:

Imam Ali Naval Base - Bandar Chahbahar 
As of July 2013, the base is commanded by Colonel Mansour Ravankar. [10]

Naval Base - Bandar Jask [11]

Seyyed al-Shohada Training Center - Gilan
Built around 2012, this recent complex reportedly consolidated all of the training facilities used by the IRGC-N including commando and officer education. [12] It's location is unknown, but may be Zibakenar.

Appendix - Commander IMINT:


Footnotes / Works Cited:
1) 1,800 People Visit the Region of the Iran-Iraq War in Bandar Abbas. IRNA. 04/24/14.
2) New Commander for the 1st Naval Region Appointed. Hamshahri Online. 06/03/13.
3) Commander Sees Persian Gulf as Battlefield of Possible Iran-US War. FNA. 06/10/14.
4) Provinces Were the Biggest Reason for the Success of the Islamic Revolution. FNA. 02/03/14.
5) Iran Opens Fourth Naval Base in the Persian Gulf. Payvand News. 11/19/08.
6) Ceremony for the Beginning of the 4th Naval Region. PSEEZ. 11/17/08.
7) Members of the Bandar-e Lengah City Council Present in the 5th Naval Region. Lengah News. 06/05/14.
8) General Azamayi Became the Commander of the Sepah's 5th Naval Region. FNA. 11/04/12.
9) Where are IRGCN Naval Bases in the Persian Gulf? Entekhab. 11/05/12.
10) The Enemies' Martys Failed to Achieve Their Objectives. FNA. 07/18/13.
11) The Minister of Defense and General Hajizadeh Visited the IRGC-N Naval Region. FNA. 04/23/13.
12) Construction of Independent IRGCN Wharfs in the North of the Country. Ahrargil. 12/08/12
13) Awarding Rank to the New Commander of the 4th Naval Region. FNA. 01/28/13.