reza12
01-03-2006, 11:52 AM
Iranian Indigenous Projects:
1.) Azarakhsh (Strike fighter)- An enlarged F-5F with shoulder mounted air-intakes similar to those on the F-4. It has a medium range Iranian built radar and can fly at Mach 2. By 2001, Iran had 6 Azarakhsh aircraft and the plan was to have 30 over the next three years. Thus by now all 30 were probably delivered. The Azarakhsh-2 has entered production, but its details are not known except that is substantially different from the Azarakhsh.
2.) Sa'eqeh-80/ FB-44 Iranian Lion (Owaz?) (Interceptor fighter)- This is not to be confused with the Sa'eqeh shown in July. It is a medium size interceptor with features from both the YF-17 and F-14 and is a unique aircraft not resembling any other in the world. It has yet to be seen in public but there are two known prototypes ready for production that have been flight-testing since 2001. It is cited as Iran’s most advanced project.
3.) Sa'eqeh (Fighter)- Seen in July, it is an F-5E with twin tail fins, improved radar, greater thrust, fly-by-wire controls, etc. The status of this project and its relations to the Azarakhsh-2 is unknown. Might just be a tech demonstrator or an upgrade programme.
4.) Shafaq (three variants- one seat fighter, dual seat attacker, and dual seat combat capable trainer)- Once thought to be subsonic the Shafaq is now known to be supersonic with a substantially long range due to its enormous fuel capacity. It has reduced radar cross-section and is made of radar-absorbing material. It also has a large leading edge root extension (LERX) and utilizes multifunctional LCD displays along with HOTAS controls. It is believed that it uses a single rd-33 but it is not confirmed. The first prototype was scheduled for 2008 but Iran announced that the prototype is ready for flight-testing already.
Some (there is more) Iranian upgrades on foreign aircraft:
1.) F-14A-
-Increased the AWG-9's range and upgraded its capability
-Integrated the R-73 AAM and various air-to-ground weapons with the aircraft
-Manufacturing upgraded AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-air missiles
2.) F-4D/E-
-Upgraded the APQ-120 Radar by improving it's range (almost doubled)
-Adding Automatic Targeting and Moving Target Indication (MTI) capabilities
-Modified the F-4s to carry and fire the Kh-58 anti-radiation missile with its associated targeting pod as well as R-73 and PL-7 short-range air-to-air missiles
3.) F-5E-
-Upgraded the Tigers under the ''Offogh-project'', which improved the range of the F-5E APQ-159 radar and enabling the aircraft to carry advanced missiles like the PL7, AIM-9P Sidewinders, and R-60 Aphids
4.) MiG-29A/UB-
-Modified avionics and western AAM integration
-Equipped the aircraft with indigenously-developed 99-lmp gallon (450-litre) external fuel tanks under project "Khorsid"
-Given in-flight refueling capability
5.) Su-24MK-
-Given in-flight refueling capability
-Modified to carry the Upaz-A buddy refueling system to extend the range of other aircraft
-Active radar jammers and electronic countermeasures installed.
ETC. (Including helicopter, AEW/AWACS, and transport projects both new designs, new builds, and upgrades)
Inventory:
1.) F-5E: 66
2.) F-5F: ~14
3.) RF-5E: ?
4.) F-4D: 15
5.) F-4E: 71
6.) RF-4C/E: 8
7.) F-14A: 57
8.) F-7N: ~35
9.) MiG-29A/UB: ~35
10.) MiG-29C: ?
11.) MiG-29SMT: 24?
12.) Su-24MK: ~36
13.) Su-25K/UBK: 12-18 (IRGCAF)
14.) F1EQ/BQ: 23
15.) Azarakhsh: 6-30
1.) Azarakhsh (Strike fighter)- An enlarged F-5F with shoulder mounted air-intakes similar to those on the F-4. It has a medium range Iranian built radar and can fly at Mach 2. By 2001, Iran had 6 Azarakhsh aircraft and the plan was to have 30 over the next three years. Thus by now all 30 were probably delivered. The Azarakhsh-2 has entered production, but its details are not known except that is substantially different from the Azarakhsh.
2.) Sa'eqeh-80/ FB-44 Iranian Lion (Owaz?) (Interceptor fighter)- This is not to be confused with the Sa'eqeh shown in July. It is a medium size interceptor with features from both the YF-17 and F-14 and is a unique aircraft not resembling any other in the world. It has yet to be seen in public but there are two known prototypes ready for production that have been flight-testing since 2001. It is cited as Iran’s most advanced project.
3.) Sa'eqeh (Fighter)- Seen in July, it is an F-5E with twin tail fins, improved radar, greater thrust, fly-by-wire controls, etc. The status of this project and its relations to the Azarakhsh-2 is unknown. Might just be a tech demonstrator or an upgrade programme.
4.) Shafaq (three variants- one seat fighter, dual seat attacker, and dual seat combat capable trainer)- Once thought to be subsonic the Shafaq is now known to be supersonic with a substantially long range due to its enormous fuel capacity. It has reduced radar cross-section and is made of radar-absorbing material. It also has a large leading edge root extension (LERX) and utilizes multifunctional LCD displays along with HOTAS controls. It is believed that it uses a single rd-33 but it is not confirmed. The first prototype was scheduled for 2008 but Iran announced that the prototype is ready for flight-testing already.
Some (there is more) Iranian upgrades on foreign aircraft:
1.) F-14A-
-Increased the AWG-9's range and upgraded its capability
-Integrated the R-73 AAM and various air-to-ground weapons with the aircraft
-Manufacturing upgraded AIM-54A Phoenix long-range air-air missiles
2.) F-4D/E-
-Upgraded the APQ-120 Radar by improving it's range (almost doubled)
-Adding Automatic Targeting and Moving Target Indication (MTI) capabilities
-Modified the F-4s to carry and fire the Kh-58 anti-radiation missile with its associated targeting pod as well as R-73 and PL-7 short-range air-to-air missiles
3.) F-5E-
-Upgraded the Tigers under the ''Offogh-project'', which improved the range of the F-5E APQ-159 radar and enabling the aircraft to carry advanced missiles like the PL7, AIM-9P Sidewinders, and R-60 Aphids
4.) MiG-29A/UB-
-Modified avionics and western AAM integration
-Equipped the aircraft with indigenously-developed 99-lmp gallon (450-litre) external fuel tanks under project "Khorsid"
-Given in-flight refueling capability
5.) Su-24MK-
-Given in-flight refueling capability
-Modified to carry the Upaz-A buddy refueling system to extend the range of other aircraft
-Active radar jammers and electronic countermeasures installed.
ETC. (Including helicopter, AEW/AWACS, and transport projects both new designs, new builds, and upgrades)
Inventory:
1.) F-5E: 66
2.) F-5F: ~14
3.) RF-5E: ?
4.) F-4D: 15
5.) F-4E: 71
6.) RF-4C/E: 8
7.) F-14A: 57
8.) F-7N: ~35
9.) MiG-29A/UB: ~35
10.) MiG-29C: ?
11.) MiG-29SMT: 24?
12.) Su-24MK: ~36
13.) Su-25K/UBK: 12-18 (IRGCAF)
14.) F1EQ/BQ: 23
15.) Azarakhsh: 6-30