HESA Azarakhsh
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| Azarakhsh | |
|---|---|
| Type | Strike fighter |
| Manufacturer | HESA |
| Introduced | 1997 |
| Status | In service [1] |
| Primary user | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| Number built | First Generation: 6 [2] 2nd & 3rd Generation: Unknown 4th and 5th generation: None |
| Developed from | F-5E Tiger II |
| Variants | Saeqeh |
The Azarakhsh (Persian: آذرخش, lightning) is Iran's first domestically manufactured[3] combat jet fighter.
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[edit] Design and development
In April 1997 Iranian Brigadier General Arasteh, a deputy head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces declared that Iran had successfully designed, constructed, and tested its first fighter aircraft. By late 1997 Iran had begun mass producing the aircraft[2], but by mid-2000, four aircraft were said to be undergoing operational tests, with production proceeding at a rate of around ten aircraft per year[citation needed].
A great deal of the aircraft is believed to be derived from the reverse engineered components of US fighter planes. Notable among these might be the F-14 Tomcat, the F-5E Tiger II, and the F-4 Phantom II.
Iran has yet to release any additional information about the aircraft and its capabilities are unknown. It is believed to be essentially a modified F-5[2], and claimed to be larger by about 10%-15%. The Azarakhsh is also said to use an upgraded version of N-019 Topaz (N-019ME) radar.
On the May 17, 2000, Iran's acting commander of the Air Force said that Azarakhsh had reached mass-production stage.[4]
On August 5, 2007, Azarakhsh conducted a successful test flight. [5] On August 6, 2007, Ministry of Defense Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said, "[Azarakhsh] is now at the stage of industrial production and its mass production will start in the future." [6]
[edit] First Generation Azarakhsh
The first generation of the Azarakhsh is believed to be essentially a modified US F-5E (produced in Iran) and is claimed to be 10-15% longer. Mass production started by late 1997 and As of 2001 there were six in inventory, with a production schedule established for 30 aircraft over the following three years.[2]
[edit] Second Generation Azarakhsh (Saeqeh)
The Saeqeh is the second generation of the Azarakhsh fighter. It has been described by Iranian commanders as similar to the F/A-18. As with many previous indigenous Iranian developed weapons, no performance data has been released to verify "official" claims. An unknown number of this generation have built and said to have entered service with IRIAF September 22, 2007.[7][8]
[edit] Future Variants
Beyond conjecture, little is known about the future aircraft design to be based on the Azarakhsh platform. Capabilites including stealth and all weather/multi-role capability are mentioned but few details are available. Iranian Air Force General Mighani has stated that future generations would be indigenous designs.[7]
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.[edit] See also
- Military of Iran
- Iran Aviation Industries Organization
- Iranian military industry
- Current Equipment of the Iranian Army
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ "Global Security".
- ^ a b c d GlobalSecurity.org Azarakhsh (Lightning)
- ^ [1]Tel Aviv University Publication, Analysis by the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies
- ^ Pavyand.comPayvand's Iran News
- ^ Azarakhsh fighter conducts successful test flightIRNA
- ^ New fighter plane tested successfully: Defense ministerIRNA
- ^ a b IRNA 4th, 5th generations of Sa'eqe jet fighters to be produced January 5, 2008
- ^ Payvand News Saeqeh fighter planes tested successfully in Iran September 20, 2007
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