Persian Hunter

Back in the day, when things were still cool between Iran and the USA, the latter supplied the former with all sortsa neat toys... including things with wings, among them the Lockheed P-3 Orion. In fact, six of the sub-hunters were supplied to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in the mid 1970s, before things went south in the Shah's kingdom and the IIAF became the IRIAF (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force).

These days only four Iranian P-3Fs remain in service with the 71st ASW Squadron, based at Shahid Douran Air Base; this one was photographed on March 11th, 2004 by a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Here's the official CAF caption for the photo:

"An occasional visitor to the Coalition Forces in the Northern Arabian Sea, an Iranian P-3 Orion flies over HMCS Toronto. HMCS Toronto is taking part in Operation Altair, joining the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Task Group to help monitor shipping in the Persian Gulf. By restricting the flow of weapons, drugs, and other illicit trade, HMCS Toronto and her crew are helping to end terrorism and bring long-term stability to the region."

MCpl Colin Kelley, Formation Imaging Services Halifax

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