Iran Unveils Locally Made Fighter Plane

AP | By NASSER KARIMI

[Pukin Dog]

Iran unveiled its first locally manufactured fighter plane Wednesday during large-scale military exercises, state-run television reported.

The report said the bomber Saegheh is similar to the American F-18 fighter plane, but "more powerful." It also said the plane was "designed, optimized and improved by Iranian experts."

State TV said the Iranian air force had commissioned the Saegheh plane after many test flights in the past year.

Television footage showed the airplane taking off and launching two rockets. The plane had a small cockpit and only one pilot.

"Saegheh is capable of launching both rockets and bombs," the report said.

General Karim Ghavami, commander of Iran's air force, told state-run television that the war games were being held "to show the trans-regional forces that we are ready to defend our country up to the latest drop of our blood."

The Islamic republic is concerned about the U.S. military presence in neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan at a time when the international community has threatened to impose sanctions against Tehran because of its disputed nuclear program.

During the war-games, which began Aug. 19 and have been dubbed "The Blow of Zolfaghar," Iran has test-fired short-range, surface-to-surface missiles, submarine-to-surface missiles, a new air defense system and laser bombs.

Iran's military also test-fired a series of missiles during war games in the Persian Gulf in March and April, including a missile it claimed was undetectable by radar and could use multiple warheads to hit several targets simultaneously.

After decades of relying on foreign weapons purchases, Iran now says it is increasingly self-sufficient, claiming it annually exports more than $100 million worth of military equipment to more than 50 countries.

Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers and missiles, the government said. It announced in early 2005 that it had begun producing torpedoes. The government has not said how many warplanes it will build.

[Pukin Dog]

If you have not seen footage of this joke of an airplane, the Iranians took an american F-5 and slapped twin vertical stabs on it. There appears to be no change to engine inlets or cans, so no added power, no change in CG or drag, so no need for twin stabs to increase direction stability under high alpha conditions. In short, it is a propaganda aircraft, which would be eaten up by an F-18 in short order. What is noteworthy is the lenghts that these people will go to try to show the world that they can resist an attack by the U.S. These are the same bozos who could not defeat the famous Republican Guard in Iraq. That same Republican Guard that the U.S. wiped out in less than a week.

My guess is that "Saegheh" is the Iranian translation for "Oh $hit", the sound that enemy pilots always make when they see that first AIM-120 coming their way.

[NordP]

"...The report said the bomber Saegheh is similar to the American F-18 fighter plane, but "more powerful." It also said the plane was "designed, optimized and improved by Iranian experts...."

IN YOUR DREAMS!

[neodad]

They remind me of the old Soviet roll outs of new equipment, and the MSM would eat them up and question all of the U.S. capability and technology.

[JerseyHighlander]

Got a link where we can see this prop?

[SAJ]

... "designed, optimized and improved by Iranian experts."

And featuring the all-new ''turban-up'' instrumentation, no doubt.

Iranian aeronautical design experts? Mathematicians call that an 'empty set'.

[1rudeboy]

Iran Unveils Locally Made Fighter Plane Target Drone

There, fixed it.

[NordP]

As I was saying....

No comparison!

[gridlock]

We usually don't put pilots in our target drones, but different strokes for different folks!

[lormand]

The only thing stopping one of these from knocking out the entire air arsenal of Iran, is how many missles it can hold at one time.

The Iranians would be bringing a purse to a gun battle.

[hgro]

The Iranians can't find their butts with both hands and they can design and build a competitive jet - no way.

[gridlock]

As I was saying... No comparison!

And we obsoleted that one!

[lormand]

"We usually don't put pilots in our target drones..."

Good one!

[sportsterinred]

defend our country up to the latest drop of our blood." Maybe the Jews will take them up on that.

[skinkinthegrass]

My guess is that "Saegheh" is the Iranian translation for "Oh $hit", the sound that enemy pilots always make when they see that first AIM-120 coming their way......LOL! :D

[Henchster]

..Iran now says it is increasingly self-sufficient, claiming it annually exports more than $100 million worth of military equipment to more than 50 countries.

Reason enough to nuke their terrorist @$$.

[LexBaird]

The plane had a small cockpit and only one pilot.

Then, it's a good thing all their pilots have small cocks.

[NordP]

Good to know - I just googled a pic of an F-18 and found that pic.

WE RULE!!!

[NMR Guy]

The report said the bomber Saegheh is similar to the American F-18 fighter plane, but "hits the ground more powerfully" when it is shot down.

[gridlock]

FRESH MEAT!

[JerseyDvl]

All this and they just announced a cure to AIDS!
This country just keeps getting better and better.
After Cuba, I believe it qualifies as a second paradise on Earth!

[tobyhill]

"The Islamic republic is concerned about the U.S. military presence in neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan at a time when the international community has threatened to impose sanctions against Tehran because of its disputed nuclear program."

Well, I thought I heard the Rats claim that Iraq was a distraction on the WOT and at a time when we should be dealing with Iran? Seems to me Iraq is the perfect place to be at in the WOT and when dealing with Iran.

[HamiltonJay]

"Our plane cannot be beat."

Lies are one of the very few thing Arabs are good at.

[orionblamblam]

> the war-games, which began Aug. 19 and have been dubbed "The Blow of Zolfaghar,"

WOW. Just... wow. Where does one begin? References to 1930's sci-fi serials? 1970's porn? So many options...

[ArGee]

General Karim Ghavami, commander of Iran's air force, told state-run television that the war games were being held "to show the trans-regional forces that we are ready to defend our country up to the latest drop of our blood."

IIRC, one of the ways the Soviets made the MIG 25 so fast and maneuverable was to do away with non-essentials such as protecting the pilot. Perhapse the way the Iranians "tuned the performance" of this plane was to ensure all pilots are able/guaranteed to become martyrs.

The Islamic republic is concerned about the U.S. military presence in neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan at a time when the international community has threatened to impose sanctions against Tehran because of its disputed nuclear program.

Who is disputing the program?

Shalom.

[johnny7]

More likely suicide weapons... Iranian kamakaze's. If they had enough of them... who's to say that a few wouldn't penetrate a carriers defense-in-depth... especially when in/near the Persian Gulf.

[Right Wing Assault]

What a bunch of crap. Everyone knows that since Mohammed didn't have a jet fighter, they are not allowed.

[Red Badger]

Whole new meaning to the term "AGIT-PROP"...........

[sheik yerbouty]

The afterburner fires up with an awesome blast. Somebody finally figured that lighting fatwas might be useful. Allahu fubar!

[Pukin Dog]

Still looking for a still image, I've seen only video.

[danamco]

A must read book, scary stuff!!!

[Junior]

Iranians are NOT Arabs.

Geez, you'd think this little fact would've percolated through the population here, considering how often it has been pointed out.

[sportsterinred]

Its an interesting dimension they live in. They all speak the truth in some other dimension of time and space and they actually live there. We see it as lying. They speak it as the truth. Obviously we can not tolerate this in our time and space dimension. They need to be wiped out of our reality. They will never change or move into our reality. The sooner we get by this problem we can move on with civilization.

[Publius6961]

Video is good.
Got a link?

[Hatteras]

It's a little blurred due to the speed...

[JamesP81]

Good to know - I just googled a pic of an F-18 and found that pic.

The pic in post 7 is an F-14, which was recently retired. The F-18 remains in service.

[JamesP81]

> the war-games, which began Aug. 19 and have been dubbed "The Blow of Zolfaghar,"

It is a very unfortunate code name.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Is that a new way to park F-14's to save deck space?

[Fiddlstix]

Iran Unveils Locally Made Fighter Plane

[NordP]

Darn google! You ask for an F-18, and they give you F-14's!!!

[Pukin Dog]

No link, I did not view it on the Internet. However, Fox News has been running a short clip periodically.

[Rokke]

Here are some more pictures. That's a big motor for such a small aircraft. And with those tiny wings I'll bet it has an endurance of about 15 minutes. Still, if they could produce it by the hundreds it might be a threat similar to North Korea's old Mig-19's. But like North Korea, Iran seems very eager to bring a pocket knife to a .50cal sniper rifle fight.

And here is a picture of the cockpit (just a mockup I think). First thing that stands out is the angle of the multi-function displays. Unless it was flying at night the Sun would wipe those things blank. And at night the reflections from those things on the canopy would be similar to having an LSD overdose.

[NordP]

We ARE a Country of McGyvers, yah knOOw!

[Right Wing Assault]

Hi, I'm Katie Couric with the news. Good news first! Today, the Peoples' Islamic Republic of Iran unveiled the most advanced fighter plane in history. Capable of Mach 7, a range of 10,000 miles on a 50 gallon fuel tank, able to hold 250 intercontinental nuclear missiles, and sporting an onboard Iranian computer faster than any computer ever made. This plane is capable of winning a dogfight with any US plane, we hope. We salute them and wish them all the luck.

In other news, petulant President Bush annoyingly questioned the truth of the noble Iranians' claim of total air superiority against the now inferior planes of the, um, American empire.

[roaddog727]

Saegheh = multi-role hangar queen

[NordP]

Sad...but so true.

[Restore]

The one I saw flying looks more like an F-5 with a twin tail.

[SampleMan]

Already posted: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1696259/posts

The Iranians are releasing a lot of odd footage lately, but it appears that the aircraft in question may be a Sukhoi T-50 (if they have any such aircraft at all). The Iranians may have assembled the kits, but more likely are just pulling stuff out of their butts.

Their video of the sub missile launch was old Chinese video.

[JOAT]

The plane had a small cockpit and only one pilot.

Well, at least only one pilot gets killed per sortie that way.

[freedomlover]

Locally made, locally destroyed hopefully.

[Terabitten]

The only thing stopping one of these from knocking out the entire air arsenal of Iran, is how many missles it can hold at one time.

We got the aerial refueling thing down... too bad we can't do aerial rearming as well.