Iran Loses Part of Its Fleet of C-130, Il-76, An-72 Aircraft and Boeing Aerial Refueling Tanker Aircraft

Satellite images have confirmed major losses to Iran’s military transport aviation at two strategic airbases.

According to Soar and OSINT analyst Samir, several aircraft that form the backbone of Iran’s logistics capability were destroyed at the international airports in Shiraz and Tehran.

At Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport, satellite imagery confirms the complete destruction of two C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft and one Il-76 heavy transport aircraft.

For decades, these aircraft played a key role in rapidly transporting cargo and deploying Iranian military units.

Even greater losses were recorded at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport. According to the analysis, at least three Boeing 747aircraft and three Il-76 transport planes were destroyed there. These aircraft were used for cargo transport and aerial refueling missions.

🛩️Satellite imagery from March 6th confirms two C-130 Hercules transport aircrafts were destroyed at the Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport in Iran.

Use the slider to compare here: https://t.co/UQTaAzZLdu#Airport #IranIsraelUSWar #Iran pic.twitter.com/qXnWakodu9

— Soar (@SoarAtlas) March 9, 2026

In addition to the heavy aircraft, several An-72 and Boeing 707 planes parked at Mehrabad were likely also hit. The exact number of damaged aircraft remains unclear.

The history of Iran’s C-130 Hercules fleet dates back to the period before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when the United States actively supplied military equipment to Iran. By the early 2020s, Iran officially operated around 15–20 of these aircraft, many of which were kept operational through cannibalization of parts and improvised domestic manufacturing.

Iran’s Boeing 747 fleet was a unique case: the country remained one of the few in the world to use cargo and aerial refueling versions of the aircraft for military purposes.

✈Satellite imagery from March 6th confirms an Il-76 transport aircraft was destroyed at the Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport in Iran.

Use the slider to compare here: https://t.co/P9fqZ5tSdn#Airport #IranIsraelUSWar #Iran pic.twitter.com/q9Cda7wJOF

— Soar (@SoarAtlas) March 9, 2026

In total, the Iranian Air Force and airlines linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operated no more than five of these aircraft.

Soviet-made Il-76 aircraft reached Iran through various channels, including Iraqi planes that flew to Iran during the 1991 Gulf War.

Before the recent events, Iran’s fleet included around 12 Il-76 aircraft, which played a key role in transporting weapons to allied forces in the region.

In Iran, Boeing 707 aircraft were used as aerial refueling tanker aircraft. Without these aircraft, of which no more than three to four remained operational, Iran’s refueling capability would be significantly limited.

The An-72 transport aircraft were primarily operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Their numbers were small – up to eight aircraft – which means that the loss of even a few planes would be noticeable for these elite units.