Iran successfully tests new home-made fighter jet

[Iranian Monitor]

http://http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/21/content_6765518.htm

Iran successfully tests new home-made fighter jet

BEIJING, Sept. 21 -- Iran says it has successfully tested a new model of its home-made fighter jet. Officials say the Defense Ministry and the Air Force carried out the research, design and production of the "Saegheh" warplane.

The fighter jet was seen last year during Iran's large-scale military exercises.
It is a new generation of the previously tested fighter jet Azarakhsh.

The model is said to be similar to the US F-18 fighter plane -- and Iranian experts say it is more powerful.

Whether this plane is similar in performance to the US F-18 is something I don't know. But certainly the Saeghe was painted for this latest test to underline its similarity to the US F-18.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/21/xinsrc_412090421155785928431.jpg
Iran's domestically developed Saegheh fighter jet takes off for a test flight from Tehran's Mehrabad airport Sept. 20, 2007. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

http://www.steehouwer.com/review/f18.jpg
F-18 Blue Angels

[Iranian Monitor]

Here as some more pics from yesterday's test flight of the Saeghe fighter.

http://server33.irna.com/filesystem/86/06/29/060114-56-54.jpg
http://server33.irna.com/filesystem/86/06/29/503314-57-11.jpg

[Iranian Monitor]

http://www.iribnews.ir/PhotoGallery/Photo/_9f9d1b2a.jpg
http://www.iribnews.ir/PhotoGallery/Photo/_130fd7bb.jpg
http://www.iribnews.ir/PhotoGallery/Photo/_8a6075a3.jpg

[Ali_reza]

I'm not sure how performant these planes are but it's good to know we're starting to make our own fighters and getting better and better.

They look good.

[BigGuy]

I successfully tested my dick today as well.

What are you trying to kid someone? I want to see a real dog fight between USA planes and pilots and those killer Iranian Planes and pilots. Let's put it on PPV so we can also see what happens.

It would be great.

It would be better then UFC PPV's.

[Nick_78]

If by home-made you mean home-modified then yes, that is a very nice home-modified aircraft you have there.

And it is probably more similar in performance to the F-5F since that's what it is, a modified F-5F.

Its a decent aircraft, but to compare it to an F-18 is laughable at best.

[Ali_reza]

I successfully tested my dick today as well.

I'm sure you did.

What are you trying to kid someone? I want to see a real dog fight between USA planes and pilots and those killer Iranian Planes and pilots. Let's put it on PPV so we can also see what happens.

It would be great.

It would be better then UFC PPV's.

What are you babbling about ? No one's claiming that these planes are better than US warplanes. Once again, it's good to see we're making our own.

[Ali_reza]

If by home-made you mean home-modified then yes, that is a very nice home-modified aircraft you have there.

And it is probably more similar in performance to the F-5F since that's what it is, a modified F-5F.

Its a decent aircraft, but to compare it to an F-18 is laughable at best.

Even if it's modified, which i'm not sure it is, it's still a start.

[BigGuy]

I'm sure you did.



What are you babbling about ? No one's claiming that these planes are better than US warplanes. Once again, it's good to see we're making our own.

It might be better to think in terms of the quality of the pilot more then the planes.

[BigGuy]

I'm sure you did.



What are you babbling about ? No one's claiming that these planes are better than US warplanes. Once again, it's good to see we're making our own.

Maybe that is the real reason why the french seem to be pissed off at you guys. You won't have to buy any of their crap anymore.

[BigGuy]

Even if it's modified, which i'm not sure it is, it's still a start.

You can make a VW Beatle look like a sports car. But underneath it is still a beatle.

[Nick_78]

Even if it's modified, which i'm not sure it is, it's still a start.

I'm sure it is. And you're right, it is a start.

Some of the reports are pretty funny though. If I'm not mistaken this is the aircraft an Iranian official claimed is more difficult to see on radar because it is more maneuverable. I'll have to see if I can dig up that article, I may be mistaken but I think it was this plane. Comedy gold I tell ya'!

[Ali_reza]

I'm sure it is. And you're right, it is a start.

Some of the reports are pretty funny though. If I'm not mistaken this is the aircraft an Iranian official claimed is more difficult to see on radar because it is more maneuverable. I'll have to see if I can dig up that article, I may be mistaken but I think it was this plane. Comedy gold I tell ya'!

Iranian officials talk a lot of shit. I won't argue that. But it's a fact that Iran has progressed in the military domain ... beacuse it had too. The side effects of the embargo the US was'nt expecting.
I'm not arguing who has the best planes, my point is we have some home made "material" that can fly and that can sting. How bad can we sting ya in the face ? I hope we'll never find out.

[Ali_reza]

It might be better to think in terms of the quality of the pilot more then the planes.

Iranian pilots are quality. They were before the revolution in 1978 and the result of the war against Iraq was that the Iranian Air Force gained a lot of experience. So do'nt count on that.

Maybe that is the real reason why the french seem to be pissed off at you guys. You won't have to buy any of their crap anymore.

The french are'nt pissed with us anymore. Sarkozy made a speech last night saying he would'nt have used the word "war" like Bernard Kouchner did.

You can make a VW Beatle look like a sports car. But underneath it is still a beatle.

You're exagerating a tad here. No ?

P.S. : You have a multi quote button if you did'nt know ...

[Nick_78]

Iranian officials talk a lot of shit. I won't argue that. But it's a fact that Iran has progressed in the military domain ... beacuse it had too. The side effects of the embargo the US was'nt expecting.
I'm not arguing who has the best planes, my point is we have some home made "material" that can fly and that can sting. How bad can we sting ya in the face ? I hope we'll never find out.

Yeah, I'm not knocking the plane, or Iran's ability to produce them. Though they really should pick up the pace, haven't they only made two of these things? ;)

I do love when Iran releases a report on any of their new equipment though. Its almost as if there's a contest in Iran to see who can create the most ridiculous claim and the winner gets their submission released to the international media. :D

[Nick_78]

You can make a VW Beatle look like a sports car. But underneath it is still a beatle.



You're exagerating a tad here. No ?


That is a slight exaggeration. Its not like they were trying to polish a turd. The F-5 was and still is a fine aircraft, just a little old.

[BigGuy]

"I'm not arguing who has the best planes, my point is we have some home made "material" that can fly and that can sting. How bad can we sting ya in the face ? I hope we'll never find out."

I was in the back yard BarBQue a bee kept flying around me. I hate those things I opened my mouth and ate that thing. I used to like to do stuff like that just to see people reactions to it.

[BigGuy]

[quote=Ali_reza;12801562]Iranian pilots are quality. They were before the revolution in 1978 and the result of the war against Iraq was that the Iranian Air Force gained a lot of experience. So do'nt count on that.

So you have one of these then


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOPGUN


You're exagerating a tad here. No ?

Am I

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-MEYERS-MANX-SR-2-FRESH-RESTORATION-CA-CAR_W0QQitemZ220138911323QQihZ012QQcategoryZ7251QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

[Iranian Monitor]

Iran has developed and worked on several different versions of the Saeghe figher. The first test flight of the Saeghe in 2004 showed a fighter that was significantly larger than the F-5, with two fins:

http://medias.aeroweb-fr.net/actualites/09-2006/chasseur-iran-saegheh_829.jpg

During last year's military manuevers, Iran tested another version that more closely resembled the F-5, but had two fins:

http://www.mehrnews.com/mehr_media/image/2006/09/220381_orig.jpg
Saeghe fighter flying alongside an F-5 last year

The version shown yesterday had some additional modifications, but resembled the fighter that was tested last year.

In any case, there will be more than a dozen Iranian made planes flying in tommorrow's military parade, with the Saeghe and Azarakhsh fighters, along with the Tazarv and Parastoo trainers and the Iran-140 transport plane taking part in the ceremonies.

[daisrael]

A cheap knockoff from the paint to the airframe.
Looks like an F-5 from those pictures.

Got any specs on this?
Engines?
Size?
Armaments?

something other then a few pics and progaganda?