Recent conflicts in Iran have revealed the current state of its military equipment. As anticipated, the inventory contains a significant amount of Russian and Soviet-era assets, including MiG and Sukhoi aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Su-30. Moreover, Iran is largely self-sufficient in producing its own missiles and drones.
To those casually observing Iran’s aerial fleet, it might be surprising to see a mix of American-made aircraft in their arsenal, particularly given the longstanding political discord between Iran and the United States.
Aviation fans, in particular, have noted the presence of F-14 Tomcats, F-5 Tigers, and F-4 Phantom IIs in discussions on social media and footage from the ongoing conflict. The F-4 Phantom II was widely used during the Vietnam War, while the F-14, known prominently from “Top Gun,” was officially retired by the United States in 2006 after a service record that began in the Vietnam War in 1973.
How are the jets still operational?
SlashGear has previously covered how Iran acquired its fleet of F-14s and its operational background during the Iran-Iraq War.
Many years after the conflict and more than half a century since the introduction of the Tomcat, Iran continues to operate these jets. However, comprehensive data on the maintenance practices and the airworthiness of these aircraft remains scarce. Up until 2007, Iran managed to purchase surplus parts for the F-14, but U.S. lawmakers subsequently prohibited the sale of sensitive technologies. The U.S. even took significant measures to eliminate available parts. Consequently, Iran has turned to the black market and smuggling for sustenance. Due to the notoriety of these aircraft, parked units are considerably vulnerable to attacks from Israeli and American air strikes.
Nonetheless, a report by Global Security, a defense think tank, indicated that Iran had as many as 43 Tomcats and 60 Phantom IIs in its inventory as of 2025, though the current status of these planes remains uncertain.
