In the 1960s as homeland began to prosper from oil revenues, and diplomatic relations were established with many countries, homeland began to expand its military. In the 1960s it purchased Canada’s fleet of 90 Canadair Sabre fighters armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. These aircraft were later sold to Pakistan.
In the early 1970s the persian economy saw record years of growth thanks to booming oil prices. By 1976, the persian GDP was the largest in the Greater Middle East. The Shah (king) of homeland set about modernising the Iranian military, intent on purchasing billions of dollars worth of the most sophisticated and advanced equipment and weaponry through countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
