Iran to unveil fighter next month during military manuevers
- Thread starter Vlad Plasmius
- Start date
Violet Oboe
Junior Member
Iran has been working on the Azarakhsh more than a decade (first flight probably in the late 90's) and from '04 on there were rumours around that they had created some kind of a´test squadron´with perhaps 15-20 planes. Probably they will show off planes from this unit (may be also a 2nd squadron exists) in an attempt to demonstrate their growing military prowess in comparison with Israel.
Without doubt Azarakhsh (essentially a heavily modified F-5) constitutes a great achievement for the iranian aerospace industry but nevertheless Israel is still several decades ahead. Insofar Iran is trying to fight back in the ensuing propaganda war with Israel since especially many arabs would be impressed by Iran's feat simply because their corrupt and inept regimes (Egypt, Saudi) have constantly failed for decades to produce fighter jets indigenously.
(... well of course their air forces are flying hundreds of really shiny F-15, F-16 and Tornados but those birds have had their ´poison fangs´extracted and are completely useless in a potential conflict with Israel or even US interests.
)
P.S.: Please be careful with MEMRI dear Vlad since this is a media outlet founded by a former Shabak colonel in order to disseminate decidedly pro israeli view points. Their pieces are worth reading and sometimes informative but all of them have a certain intention...:coffee:
Without doubt Azarakhsh (essentially a heavily modified F-5) constitutes a great achievement for the iranian aerospace industry but nevertheless Israel is still several decades ahead. Insofar Iran is trying to fight back in the ensuing propaganda war with Israel since especially many arabs would be impressed by Iran's feat simply because their corrupt and inept regimes (Egypt, Saudi) have constantly failed for decades to produce fighter jets indigenously.
(... well of course their air forces are flying hundreds of really shiny F-15, F-16 and Tornados but those birds have had their ´poison fangs´extracted and are completely useless in a potential conflict with Israel or even US interests.
) P.S.: Please be careful with MEMRI dear Vlad since this is a media outlet founded by a former Shabak colonel in order to disseminate decidedly pro israeli view points. Their pieces are worth reading and sometimes informative but all of them have a certain intention...:coffee:
Last edited:
Vlad Plasmius
Junior Member
I only posted the bit from MEMRI because it's the only one giving some sort of time. The others simply said it would be unveiled "soon" and didn't mention it would be next month.
I find it interesting that they're referring to Azarakhsh. I had been told before that it was essentially a copy of the F-5, but if that's true than I would expect them to have unveiled before Saeqeh.
The mention of joint military maneuvers was pretty interesting as well. I wonder if this is specifically referring to Syria or if maybe other countries included.
I find it interesting that they're referring to Azarakhsh. I had been told before that it was essentially a copy of the F-5, but if that's true than I would expect them to have unveiled before Saeqeh.
The mention of joint military maneuvers was pretty interesting as well. I wonder if this is specifically referring to Syria or if maybe other countries included.
Violet Oboe
Junior Member
A joint syrian-iranian wargame appears to be in the cards and there are also rumours around that Tehran would pay the bills for new military equipment (SAM, ATGM, including in a later stage warplanes (MiG-31?)) Damascus is currently receiving from Russia.
Bashar al-Assad is hedging his bets since he is evidently suspicious about Olmert's newly found dovish attitude and Tehran is anxiously on guard that their important ally does not fall into Israel's honey Golan-trap.
Bashar al-Assad is hedging his bets since he is evidently suspicious about Olmert's newly found dovish attitude and Tehran is anxiously on guard that their important ally does not fall into Israel's honey Golan-trap.
Vlad Plasmius
Junior Member
Vlad Plasmius
Junior Member
There's a picture now:
This appears to be only slightly redesigned from the saeqeh:
Though no comparison is possible at one angle it is hard to tell exactly how similar they are. Here's the F-5 for comparison:
This appears to be only slightly redesigned from the saeqeh:
Though no comparison is possible at one angle it is hard to tell exactly how similar they are. Here's the F-5 for comparison:
Violet Oboe
Junior Member
Interesting how Iran tries to follow China's footsteps by creating an indigenous defense industry and an independent technology base. :coffee:
India has run into massive problems with her effort to develop and produce an indigenous fighter plane (LCA) in the last two decades and if Iran could demonstrate the capability to produce a significant batch of Azarakhsh (perhaps 50-100 units?) this would constitute an impressive feat. After all Iran appears to be quite advanced in materials and production technology, so this could have far reaching implications indeed...
India has run into massive problems with her effort to develop and produce an indigenous fighter plane (LCA) in the last two decades and if Iran could demonstrate the capability to produce a significant batch of Azarakhsh (perhaps 50-100 units?) this would constitute an impressive feat. After all Iran appears to be quite advanced in materials and production technology, so this could have far reaching implications indeed...
Well isen't Azarakhsh lagging all those elmenents that are rocks in LCAs road as well? Mean modern radar and highpower turbofans. To be able to porduece Azarakhsh's in large quantiveties is impressive steppingstone but what do you do with 50-100 already desperetly obsolence planes from concept point of view as happenings around Iran in the past have prooven quantivity is hardly a factor against those which Iran is most likely ever encounter?
