Early years of Islamic Revolution:
Journey of Brigadier General Hossein Khalili, a pioneer pilot
‘ A robust air force, key to leading military power in region’
The courageous personnel of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army have played a significant role in shaping the Islamic Revolution and safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic Republic since the victory of the revolution until the onset of the eight-year Iraqi imposed war (1980s). Among them, the role of the Air Force stands out in particular; the well-known image of the airmen and pilots of the Air Force pledging allegiance to Imam Khomeini (PBUH) on February 8, 1979, and their joining the Islamic Revolution is something that nearly everyone has seen. This allegiance had an unparalleled impact on the success of the Islamic Revolution and transformed the last hopes of the Pahlavi regime for maintaining its monarchy into despair. On the other hand, the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran consistently made a substantial contribution to the country’s military success against the aggressions of the Ba’athist regime of Iraq during the Sacred Defense era. Particularly in the early days of the invasion against Iran, when the military capability of the country lacked the necessary cohesion to confront the advancing enemy forces, the valiant airmen acted swiftly, preventing the rapid advance and infiltration of the enemy into the country’s territory. Brigadier General Hossein Khalili, a fighter pilot of the F-5 and F-14 during this war, is a comrade of the martyrs Abbas Babaei and Mustafa Ardestani [notable figures in the Iranian Air Force] is one of the veteran retired airmen from the Air Force who has many memories of the Revolution and the war due to his active participation in the military and various operations. Since 2017, he has served as a university professor, senior advisor to the commander of the Air Force, and senior researcher at the Air Force Studies Center. He was also one of the youngest members of the Air Force operational team during the Sacred Defense. With over 2,000 hours of incident-free flight over the skies of Iraq and the Persian Gulf, Pilot Khalili is regarded as one of the most successful pilots in the history of aerial warfare. The official information portal of the Air Force has also referred to him as the youngest front-seat pilot of the F-14 Tomcat during the war and the luckiest fighter pilot. However, he attributes his flying successes primarily to divine grace and secondarily to his experience and situational awareness while flying. The following is a detailed conversation between Iran Daily and Brigadier General Pilot Hossein Khalili:
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
IRAN DAILY: Please start with a brief biography of yourself and how you entered the Army, the Air Force, and the field of piloting.
KHALILI: I was born on November 24, 1956 in Varamin and joined the Air Force in 1975 to study piloting. After completing basic training, I was sent to the United States in March, 1976 for advanced flight training. I successfully completed various training courses there and returned to my country in 1977 after earning my pilot’s license. In 1979, during the Revolution, I began my service at the Tabriz Air Base.”
You mentioned the Revolution; please elaborate on the victory of the Revolution, the role of the Air Force, and the events of February 8 in this context.
I was among the dissatisfied individuals prior to the Revolution and protested against the Pahlavi regime. At that time, there was a plan for my arrest along with one or two other officers, and eventually, I was sent from Tabriz to Shiraz for guidance aboard an F-5 aircraft.
As I mentioned, I was fulfilling my duties in Tabriz during the events of February 8 and the pledge of allegiance by the airmen and pilots of the Air Force to Imam Khomeini. After the news broke the following evening, a clash erupted between supporters and opponents at the Air Force Training Center. People took to the streets, chanting “Death to the Shah,” and the clashes intensified throughout the city, prompting the Imperial Guard to intervene against the populace. Ultimately, the public protests escalated to such an extent that the discussion about martial law intensified, and Imam Khomeini ordered that the martial law in Tehran be broken. In fact, the military’s joining with the people dealt the final blow to the Pahlavi regime.
When the people of Tabriz realized that the imposition of martial law in Tehran had failed and that the Air Force personnel rushed to aid the people and the Revolution, I distinctly remember that on the morning of February 10—just one day before the victory of the Revolution—an assembly of hundreds of thousands, led by the late Ayatollah Qazi Tabatabai, one of the opposing clerics to the Shah regime and the first Friday Prayer Imam of Tabriz after the Islamic Revolution, gathered in front of the Tabriz Air Base, chanting slogans of solidarity in support of the Air Force personnel.
At that time, General Asghar Imanian, the commander of the Tabriz base, faced a choice: to disperse the crowd using water cannons or anti-aircraft fire, or by force. However, he did not opt for either option. He addressed the people through a loudspeaker, expressing his immense gratitude for their solidarity and support for the Air Force personnel and asked Ayatollah Qazi Tabatabai to urge the public to refrain from gathering at that location, as valuable assets of the Air Force were stored there and would certainly be needed by the Revolution one day. Consequently, the people left peacefully, and the following day, the Islamic Revolution triumphed.
You are referred to as the youngest pilot of the Sacred Defense era (1980s). How were you able to achieve such a high level of skill at a young age, and how did you gain the trust as a young pilot?
I joined the Air Force in 1975, at around the age of 18-19. During that same year, while I was undergoing flight training, I was also working diligently to improve my language skills. As a result, I completed my English language courses in an accelerated manner, passing all of them with high scores. Therefore, I managed to finish my training courses about ten months to a year earlier than expected and left for the United States in March 1976 to earn my pilot’s wings. In the US, I again took some accelerated classes and ultimately received my pilot’s licence in March 1977. After that, I completed a jet training course in the US. Initially, in Iran, I underwent about seven months of training on the F-5 aircraft and was transferred to Tabriz Air Base in July 1978.
At Tabriz Air Base, I was one of the last pilots to complete all combat training courses. Following that, as the Islamic Revolution was on the verge of occurring, the scope of this event spread everywhere, leading to a halt in all Air Force training programs. It wasn’t until the war started that the training for fighter and transport aircraft resumed, as several pilots had been martyred and others had left the Air Force. At the time of the Revolution, I was 22 years old and one of the last pilots to have completed all the combat and piloting courses before the Revolution, which positioned me to assist the country in this regard. When the war broke out, I was 24 years old and ready to fly, but due to my relatively young age, I was initially assigned fewer challenging missions at Tabriz Air Base. However, after a short time, I was sent on more difficult missions. In the second year of the war, under the command of Martyr Babaei, I completed the F-14 flight training at Isfahan Air Base and subsequently undertook missions with that aircraft. This was the first F-14 training course conducted in Iran after the Revolution and without the presence of Americans.
You have successfully completed numerous aerial operations, to the extent that you have even been referred to as ‘a lucky pilot’. What is the secret behind this success?
When I was undergoing F-14 flight training in Isfahan, Martyr Babaei asked me to work in the flight safety section of the base, and I completed a short course in this area. This training provided me with a unique perspective on flight safety. After that, when I was transferred to Shiraz Air Base and then to Bushehr Air Base, I continued my work in flight safety. Therefore, my experience in this section greatly helped me prevent potential accidents. I was particularly involved in most aerial engagements during the latter part of the war, and in the final year of the war (1988), I recorded the highest number of operations. The fact that I was able to carry out these missions safely was, first and foremost, a blessing from God. Secondly, my flight successes were related to my awareness and understanding of the operational environment. On February 9, 1988, I engaged with several Iraqi aircraft on two separate occasions, successfully downing three of them.
You are also mentioned as a close friend of the martyrs Mostafa Ardestani and Abbas Babaei. Could you share a bit about these two martyrs and their roles in operations?
I met Martyr Ardestani while I was undergoing F-5 flight training in Dezful. He had come to the base to complete his instructor pilot course while I was training on the F-5. That’s where our friendship began. We later collaborated in various organizations, such as the Islamic Association and the Construction Jihad, which fostered a strong bond between us. In 1981, he was appointed as the commander of the Omidieh Base, while I went to Isfahan Air Base, where I had the privilege of training under Martyr Babaei for the F-14. I had the opportunity to fly in the back seat of Martyr Babaei’s aircraft as a test pilot, as well as in the front seat alongside him, where he signed my flight log. Although Martyr Babaei did not have the chance to participate in some advanced flight courses, his exceptional talent enabled him to excel in his work.
I remember when we participated together in Operation Kheibar and positioned ourselves behind the F-14 aircraft. Since we didn’t have radar, we controlled our flight position via radio communication. We would visually scan the area for any threats to the F-14s and report them over the radio. However, the radio’s battery would only last about fifteen to twenty minutes before it would suddenly cut out. Martyr Pilot [Mohammad Reza] Shadnejad raised this issue with Martyr Babaei, who replied, “If we procure radar, the enemy will receive anti-radar technology and will easily become aware of our position.” Thus, we took part in the operation, and with my presence alongside several other pilots, we successfully flew F-14s over the nation’s forces, ensuring the safety of the soldiers in the area. Under the cover of our air operations, our forces were relocated via helicopters to the Majnoon Island.
In recent years, you have taken on various responsibilities, including serving as a senior advisor to the Air Force commander. Could you elaborate on the capabilities of the Air Force and its significance?
The capabilities of the Air Force play a crucial role in classic warfare. Nearly 100 years ago, many military theorists, including Billy Mitchell (one of the pioneers of the US Air Force) and Viscount Trenchard (often referred to as the “Father of the Royal Air Force,” who was a key figure in the establishment and development of the RAF in the early 20th century), stated that air power would dominate future wars. Time has proven their assertions correct, as evidenced by the air operations in Normandy during World War II and one year prior to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which paved the way for Japan’s surrender and showcased the power of air superiority.
In the past, efforts were made to complete the southern flank of the former Soviet Union’s blockade during the Cold War, equipping our military with air power to withstand a potential Soviet invasion in the short term. Thus, our country has a strong foundation in this regard. However, one of the weaknesses and threats to the Air Force is the high cost of the necessary equipment, which requires a significant budget for its procurement. A country that wishes to be viewed as the military power in the region needs a very strong Air Force, and, therefore, with the guidance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei], our air power must continue to grow day by day.
As a final question, as someone who has interacted with many soldiers throughout your service, what is your perspective on this group and their role?
Since I joined the flying squadrons, I have had direct interactions with soldiers in various capacities, whether as secretaries, drivers, or combatants. I sincerely appreciate the kindness of each and every one of these soldiers. Many of them, even after years have passed since their service, still remain in my memory. Many have married, had children, and even grandchildren, and we still keep in touch, occasionally checking in on each other’s well-being. I will never forget the wonderful memories I have shared with these soldiers.
However, I also recall a particularly painful memory from 10:30 PM on October 3, 1980, just 12 days into the war. Iraq launched a heavy bombardment that struck the guardhouse of the airbase, resulting in the martyrdom of around 40 soldiers, and this remains one of the bitterest memories of my service. I will never forget the following day when the bodies of the soldiers were pulled from the rubble.