The Azarakhsh, Iran's first domestically manufactured combat aircraft.

[Dirty Ed]

Azarakhsh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Azarakhsh, Iran's first domestically manufactured combat aircraft.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Azarakhsh

The Azarakhsh, Iran's first domestically manufactured combat aircraft. Interesting it looks like a cross between an F-4 and F-14, built on an F-5 airframe.


Quote:
Azarakhsh

Azarakhsh Picture:
Image:Azarakhsh.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Azarakhsh (Persian: آذرخش, lightning) is Iran's first domestically manufactured combat aircraft. Iran was not previously known to have an aircraft production capability. 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. By mid-2000, four aircraft were said to be undergoing operational tests, with production proceeding at a rate of around ten aircraft per year.

A great deal of the aircraft is derived from the reverse engineered components of US fighter planes. Notable among these are the F-14 Tomcat, the F-5 Freedom Fighter, and the F-4 Phantom II. Numerous enhancements and upgrades were also built into the design from an early stage.

Iran has yet to release any additional information about the aircraft and its capabilities are unknown. It is believed to be essentially a reverse engineered F-5F, but larger by about 10%-15% and powered by two Tumansky RD-33 turbofans, as used on the Mikoyan MiG-29. The Azarakhsh is also said to use an upgraded version of N-019 Topaz (N-019ME) radar.

Azarakhsh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

Good God you could put yourself in hospital trying to pronounce that.........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

It probably has the worst avionix package available and will be swatted down like flies.

 

[Erich]

my understanding is that the turbofans were to be set on the wing tips and pointed in the oppostie direction of the fuselage ............. what great mid-estern techs they have

 

[Gnomey]

So true Erich... I would agree Adler, they will be shot down in droves by the Israeli, American and British aircraft (even the French could probably get a few...)

 

[102first_hussars]

Good God you could put yourself in hospital trying to pronounce that.........

As-A-Rack-Kasheesh

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

doubtless at some point in the future we shall find out how easy they are to shoot down............

 

[102first_hussars]

They want a plane to mass produce so they can feel like a superpower

 

[evangilder]

doubtless at some point in the future we shall find out how easy they are to shoot down............

If they don't get turned into smoking holes on the ground first.

 

[P38 Pilot]

So true Erich... I would agree Adler, they will be shot down in droves by the Israeli, American and British aircraft (even the French could probably get a few...)

Even the French could get one!

Thats freaking hilarious! But to be honest, I thnk there may be a lot of dead French Pilots before they down one...

 

[102first_hussars]

Maybe Canadian planes, I wouldnt hold my breath though

 

[pbfoot]

lets not forget how we underestimated the Mitsubishi AM6 Zero and Hussars don't knock what you don't know very much about the CAF is quite capable of holding its own maybe not you guys in the Cadets or Militia but the real guys know their job

 

[102first_hussars]

What Im saying is I wouldnt hold my breath on us ever sending planes there, I know our pilots are well trained to meet the threat of an enemy plane

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

lets not forget how we underestimated the Mitsubishi AM6 Zero

and rightly so as many would argue it's legend was greater than it deserved.......

but can this thing really stand up to modern western kit? of course not...........

 

[Twitch]

Oh goodie! Something to help increase Israeli pilots kill tallies!

 

[102first_hussars]

I think you were just looking for an excuse to use that emoticon

 

[FLYBOYJ]

"Azarakhsh (Lightning)
Iran was not known to have possessed advanced technology to build fighter planes or tanks. However, In April 1997 Iranian Brigadier General Arasteh, a deputy head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (serving under Major General Ali Shahbazi, the joint chief of staff) claimed that Iran had successfully designed, constructed, and tested its first fighter aircraft, the Azarakhsh(Lightning). According to one theory, Iran cobbled together an aircraft by reverse-engineered elements from a number of other aircraft. Evidently a modified F-5, this Iranian design evolved from an examination of the wide variety of fighter aircraft in Iran's inventory [which include both the F-4 and F-5], along with training and experimentation.

A scaled-up version of the US Northrop Grumman F-5f Tiger, Azarakhsh features shoulder mounted air intakes. It is said to be a 10- to 15- percent larger than the F-5. It incorporates an Iranian-designed radar, but with some of the avionics modules actually of Russian design.

Brigadier General Arasteh stated in April 1997 that the "production line of this aircraft will begin work in the near future." And Iranian officials announced in September 1997 that Iran had started mass producing its first locally-designed fighter-bomber. In February 1999 commander of the Air Force Brigadier-General Habibollah Baqaei offered a report on the achievements of the air force. He said the Air Force had made great progress since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in the operational, technical, educational and research fields and in manufacturing fighter planes of Azarakhsh and training plane of Tondar as well as radar receivers and is strong enough to defend the air-space of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In June 1999 it was reported that Iran had begun series production of the Azarakhsh. As of 2000 only four examples of the Azarakhsh were thought to be in existence, and series production was expected to start in 2001. As of 2001 there were six in inventory, with a production schedule established for 30 aircraft over the following three years."

 

[pbfoot]

Well I don't think anyone should underestimate the thing because it could end up causing an unwelcome surprise . A good example of this is the old CF104 was never once caught in any manner in 12 years of Red Flags this was flying against F15's and 16s amongst others

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Well I don't think anyone should underestimate the thing because it could end up causing an unwelcome surprise . A good example of this is the old CF104 was never once caught in any manner in 12 years of Red Flags this was flying against F15's and 16s amongst others

Very true PB, then again you boys really knew how fly the ole starfighter!

 

[delcyros]

Something what makes the program unpredictable is the fact that Iran now has capability to produce a modern fighter-jet (something we never thought about) and that this was partly achieved by russian help. I suspect that a good deal of it´s electronic equipment is based on russian and chinese tech. Even if we assume the fighter lacks soft (electronic information related) performance, the new ability to set up a whole project mostly on their own is notable, with some significance for future developments. Note that even Iraque fielded drones, unknown to us in the last war! The iranian tech package undergoes a significant improvement ourdays with supercav torpedoes for the navy, excellent short to medium range AA-missles for the army and domestic fighterplanes for the airforce. The medium range ballistic missles, the nuke project and the domestic subsonic low level Shafaq-fighterbomber gives creditable offensive capability, too. Seems they know what they want...