Babak Taghvaee explores the history of the Chengdu F-7N in Iranian service and the current modernization project for the country’s FT-7N combat trainer.
The Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) now operates 23 F-7N Air Guard fighters and 20 FT-7N combat trainers, serving the 84th Combat Commands Training Squadron (CCTS) at the 8th Tactical Fighter Base Babaiee at Isfahan. Over the past 12 years, the air force has gradually phased-out its F-7s from combat roles to use them as fighter pilot trainers in Isfahan. To keep them in service for at least another two decades, the IRIAF is currently working on a modernization project called Erfanian to improve the maneuverability and combat capability of the FT-7Ns.
Iranian Air Guards background
In the 1980s, the authorities of Iran’s Islamic Regime, which included Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, had conversations with their Chinese counterparts to buy two squadrons of F-7M fighter jets. A deal was agreed on June 29, 1985, for the latest export variant of the J-7 fighter.
