old iron wrote:
All the Iranian MiGs are, to my understanding, not directly from Russia but "gifts" of Iraq. Remember, Saddam Hussein flew most of his air force into Iran for safe-keeping during Desert Storm. Iran has kept these, though whether there has been much or any Russian support to keep some of them flying is a good question. Hussein flew hundred of the aircraft into Iran but of course did not fly the spare parts or the technicians who knew how to maintain these.
Not quite.
Iran received 14 newbuild MiG-29s (Oct90-Dec90), with a further four delivered to the Revolutionary Guards in late 1991 (they were transferred to the Air Force later).
Three ex Iraqi aircraft were flown in on 27Jan91.
On the trainer front, they also received 6 newbuild MiG-29UBs (Oct90-Dec90). One ex Iraqi aircraft was flown in on 27Jan91.
So in total 28 aircraft:
18 MiG-29, plus 3 ex Iraqi
6 MiG-29UB, plus 1 ex Iraqi
Andy