page_title: Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces
section_title: Status in 2006/08
hierarchical_section_title: Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces / Status in 2006/08
caption_attribution_description: English: Islamic Republic of Iran Army soldiers marching in front of highest-ranking commanders of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran during Sacred Defence Week parade.
context_page_description: The Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces, acronymed NEZAJA is the ground forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
  In Iran, it is also called Artesh, which is Persian for "army." In 2007, the regular Iranian Army was estimated to have 357,000 personnel plus around 350,000 reservists for a total of 700,000 soldiers according to the CSIS. It is the 9th largest ground force in the world, the 9th largest armoured force globally and possesses the biggest Army Aviation fleet in the Middle East. Conscripts serve for 21 months and have professional military training.
  Iran has two parallel land forces with some integration at the command level: the regular Artesh, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also known as the Sepaah.
context_section_description: Jane's reported in 2006 that the Army was commanded via three army level headquarters with 15 divisions. The IISS reported in the Military Balance 2008 that there 12 Corps level regional headquarters, five armoured divisions with some independent brigades, seven infantry divisions with some independent brigades, one special forces brigade, two commando divisions with some independent brigades, plus an airborne brigade. There were also six artillery groups, and aviation forces. The number of divisions reported has not changed for some years. Often reported formations include the 23rd Special Forces Division, established in 1993–94, and the 55th Paratroop Division. Jane's Sentinel Security Assessments reports that the 23rd Special Forces Division is amongst the most professional formations in the Iranian Army, with 5,000 personnel, all of whom are believed to be regulars.
  The regular armoured divisions, including the 92nd Armored Division, are sub-divided into three brigades.
  Globalsecurity.org says on its page on the Iranian Army:
  "The regular army.. has a number of independent brigades and groups, though there is almost no reliable data on the size and number of these smaller independent formations. These include one logistics brigade, an infantry brigade, an airborne brigade, special forces (Takavar) brigades, and five artillery brigades/regiments. There are also coastal defence units, a growing number of air defence groups, between four and six army aviation units, and a growing number of logistics and supply formations."
  "There are a variety of other reports of doubtful veracity. Some sources claim that small light formations in the regular army include an Airmobile Forces Group created after the Iran–Iraq War. This formation is said to include the 29th Special Forces Division, which was formed in 1993-1994, and the 55th Paratroop Division. Other sources claim that the commando forces of the regular army and IRGC are integrated into a Corps of about 30,000 soldiers, with integrated helicopter lift and air assault capabilities. These airborne and special forces troops are said to train together at Shiraz."
  Many of these assessments appear to be copyright violations from research conducted by the Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC, for example, an updated military balance report dated 2012.
  Most soldiers of the Iranian Army are well trained and determined, but their equipment is outdated or obsolete.  They primarily use outdated Western-style equipment or newer, locally produced equipment, which is lower quality.  Commanders generally appoint men to high level positions based on loyalty, rather than military skills.
  Since 2010 Iranian Army has undergone a reorganization process called Thamen alaeme general structure plan (طرح جامع ساختاری ثامن الائمه), this plan includes transformation from a division-centered model towards a brigade-centered model, a re-positioning of Army bases, the adding of new units and an increase in mobility of existing army units. To that effect, it has sheered off some brigades from existing divisions as well as establishing new brigades alongside of them. By March 2012 31 new independent brigades have been established throughout the army.
  The commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces is Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari.
caption: IRIA Soldiers marching in formation
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