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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran shows off homegrown fighter jet
2007-08-06
TEHRAN, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - Iran on Sunday showed off for the first time a new fighter jet said to be modelled on the American F-5 but built using domestic technology, state media reported. The "Azarakhsh" (Target Lightning) jet; one of the first to be home-produced by Iran; made a successful flight in the central city of Isfahan in a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and other officials.
Gateway Pundit sez there's something strangely familiar about Iran's new planes.
"The success of this domestically developed fighter plane is another example of the technological achievements of our country," said Isfahan governor Morteza Bakhtiari, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. "At a time when the United States is selling its arms to its allies in the region, our country's specialists are taking big strides every day towards self-sufficiency in defence," he added.

The development of the plane was first announced in September last year, when military officials said that it was "comparable" to the US F-5 fighter jet. The fly-by in Isfahan appears to have been the first time the Azarakhsh jet has been shown in public.

Iran has also developed another homemade war plane named "Saegheh" (Thunder) which it has described as similar to the American F-18 fighter jet.
In their dreams.
Posted by:Steve White

#14  home grown on the tree:


Posted by: 3dc   2007-08-06 18:27  

#13  Even if this is *new* technology, they still need those old-fangled pilots, LOL.
Posted by: BA   2007-08-06 18:23  

#12  In fact, it may be a new manufacturing process using photoshop.

Yet another hot contender for Snark O' the Day™!
Posted by: Zenster   2007-08-06 11:55  

#11  I wouldn't waste a missile. Use guns.
Posted by: jds   2007-08-06 11:04  

#10  Oh goodie. More targets for our AIM-120s!
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-08-06 09:37  

#9  They have mastered Photoshop.
Posted by: JohnQC   2007-08-06 09:31  

#8  More like 1960 tech. There has been naming confusion but originally
Azarakhsh = F-5 with minor metalwork
Saegheh = F-5 with twin tails

Now both are called Azarakhsh (1 and 2?). Indigenous production? I think not. Call me when the Iranians figure out how to reverse engineer a 1960 disposable turbojet, let alone 1970 vintage avionics designed for second tier air forces. Methinks the production run will be limited to the number of F-5 airframes they can scrape up.

There is a wood and plastic mockup to impress the rubes. It's called the Shafaq. That looks more like an F-18, minus any flying ability.
Posted by: ed   2007-08-06 08:56  

#7  It may be 80's technology, but for bombing your own villages of goat herders it is more than adequate.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2007-08-06 08:00  

#6  A flight of Westland Lysanders, excellent.
Posted by: Besoeker   2007-08-06 05:24  

#5  Okay, so they have total 2 jets, one called "Azarakhsh" (Fireball) and the other called "Saegheh" (Din, Ruckus). Here they are:
But as Gateway Pudit points out, they look like clones. In fact, it may be a new manufacturing process using photoshop.
I am almost certain that when it would fly (if, that is) a week from now, they would call it something else.
Posted by: twobyfour   2007-08-06 04:37  

#4  Did they have it taxi around with its engine intake covers on again?
Posted by: gorb   2007-08-06 04:36  

#3  Iran has also developed another homemade war plane named "Saegheh" (Thunder) which it has described as similar to the American F-18 fighter jet.


...Insofar as it has two vertical fins and wings.
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2007-08-06 04:17  

#2  The success of this domestically developed fighter plane is another example of the technological achievements of our country

He has no idea how funny that is.
Posted by: SteveS   2007-08-06 01:16  

#1  So, the Iranians have mastered the F-5, have they? That means that they can now build an aircraft we quit building in the 1980s. Also, without up to date avionics, an aircraft of the F-5 generation is only good for CAS in COIN warfare; or as a manned target drone for modern Western aircraft.
Against F-16/F-15/F-18/Rafale/Eurofighter, it is a glorified jet-powered kamikazee run. Hell, I would rather have a Mirage 2000 than an Iranian F-5 knockoff.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2007-08-06 00:23  

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