In 1977 Iran placed orders for F-16 fighters and even carried this process one step further by contributing to the research and development of the new F-18 fighter, a plane not yet part of the United States military arsenal. Both of these combat aircraft were cancelled after the Islamic revolution in 1979.

Photos of Imperial Iranian Air Force F-16 Falcons here, are the Makets and artist's redition of this fighther plane which in fact did not join the Iranian air force because of the 1979 revolution.