Commander: Iran's Stealth Aircraft to Fly Soon

Iran's airforce, arguably the weakest link in Iran's armed forces at the moment, needs to accelerate its programs. The many advances by Iran in related technologies, in terms of air-to-air missiles, stealth technology, engine production, munitions and radar, need to be translated into developing the necessary platforms to best utilize these advances.

Manufacturing an adequate number of 5th generation fighter planes, along with developing and/or acquiring anti-aircraft/missile systems like the Russian S-300, would go a long way to cover one of Iran's few remaining weak points.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8711152084

 

Here is a video with footage about the Iranian airforce, with F-14 Tomcats and Iran's own Saeghe fighters among the aircraft featured in the video.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA6nQykCIl4"]YouTube - Cradle of the Brave - ??? ??????[/ame]

 

In light of a discussion a while back, I thought I would post this video of the shipyards where the Jamaran destroyer and the Tareq submarine are being built.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zd8Se3wj3I"]YouTube - Iranian Naval Industry[/ame]

 

I posted that video because you had pestered me in a totally unrelated thread, accusing Iran of "propaganda", relying on some drivel posted in a site called "Strategy page", disputing two things specifically: Iran's progress in its missile program, which to me was obvious even before and in light of the 2-stage SLV Iran used to launch a satellite into space, is not even open to debate anymore. And, secondly, making this stupid argument:

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=16355543

Of course, I have posted pictures of some of the subs Iran has built before. But the purpose of the video of the sub and destroyer being built was to underline clearly the sources that are engaged in "propaganda".

You don't need to thank me for clearing up some misconceptions in your mind. But when you talk about propaganda, just remember that if the facts were as presented by your sources:

1) Iran would not have any F-14s capable of flying.
2) Iran would not have 5,000 centrifuges operating and would not have the quantities of low enriched uranium it has been able to enrich.
3) Iran would not be able to have a satellite launched into space on any rocket, much less a 2-stage rocket which clearly indicates Iran has the techncial capability to build ICBMs if it wanted to.
4) And Iran would not have the capability to build the planes, missiles, fighter aircraft, submarines, tanks and a lot more, that it has built and is building.

When Iran says that it is working on a stealth figther plane and that those planes will be entering service by next year, just take that to mean what it says.

 

It is a video that includes aircraft purchased by the Shah more than 30 years ago. And which Iran, contrary to what Western experts had hoped and often claimed would be the case, is still capable of flying. Capable because it has been able to develop much of the parts required for those planes.

Iran's ability to still fly the F-14 is truly amazing. Even the US navy had problems operating that plane, which is very maintenance intensive. Yet, Iran has been able to have its old fleet of F-14s operation thirty years after the revolution despite US sanctions. I have a copy of a book by Anthony Cordesman (supposedly the foremost American military expert on Iran) on the "Military Balance" in the Persian Gulf written in the early 1990s, when he claimed by that by the mid 1990s, Iran will not be able to fly any of its American built planes and certainly none of its F-14s.

The video also includes Iran's own domestically manufactured fighters, named Saeghe, as well as many different types of Russian built fighters and bombers.

 

Iran's submarine production began with midget subs, graduated to building small subs, with Iran in the final stages of unveiling a large submarine. I don't know a single "reputable" site that questions any of that, while there are enough reports about these submarine projects from so-called "reputable sites", including those affiliated with the US military. Before I repost the various articles (which I have posted before in different thread) on these programs again, perhaps you can post a single "reputable site" that disputes anything regarding Iran's submarine projects.

Iran's Nahang submarine

As for the similarities between the Saeghe fighter and the F-5, that is undeniable. And not surprising either. The notion that Iran should have re-invented the wheel in its first fighter aircraft project has no merit. Iran has been producing the parts of the F-5 for some time, and flying that plane for even longer. And, after all, the F-5 is also the predecessor model to the F-18 as well.

Of course, not all Iranian aircraft projects are modeled from US models and some feature original designs. The Tazarve trainer, for instance, which has been in service for 6-7 years. But the most important fighter project Iran is working on is the one mentioned in the report that started this thread: a stealth aircraft that has 5th generation capabilities. That aircraft, which began as the Shafagh project several years ago, has undergone many changes and transformation and finished its design stage. A smaller model has been built, tested and the first full scale version of the plane will be featured before next year.

 

Since you guys are so interested in the Saeghe fighter, here is a video of the plane in when it first entered service for the Iranian airforce in 2006, showing it firing its armaments and participating in war games.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexr944Allg"]YouTube - Footage of New Iranian "Saegheh" Fighter Jet[/ame]

 

That is a small submarine, not a boat. And it carries interesting armaments, serving a useful role in Iran's naval defense doctrine.


But if you are interested in boats, the picture below is Iran's domestically manfuactured Joshan missile boat, which entered service a couple of years ago.



This video features different Iranian subsurface vessels, submarines, hovercraft, landing craft and other naval vessels from the unity 87 naval war games.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EUF7RRNp-s"]YouTube - I.R. Iran Navy ( unity 87 wargames)[/ame]