| Azarakhsh | |
|---|---|
| Role | Strike fighter |
| Manufacturer | HESA |
| Introduced | 1997 |
| Status | In service [1] |
| Primary user | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| Number built | First Generation: 6 [2] 2nd Generation: 4 [2] 3rd Generation: 1 4th and 5th generation: unknown |
| Developed from | F-5E Tiger II |
| Developed into | HESA Saeqeh |
The Azarakhsh was developed in Isfahan by the Iranian army, Defense Ministry, and aircraft-manufacturing company HESA.[4]
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Design and development
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[2], but by mid-2000, four aircraft were said to be undergoing operational tests, with production proceeding at a rate of around ten aircraft per year[citation needed].A great deal of the aircraft is believed to be derived from the reverse engineered components of US fighter planes. Notable among these might be the F-14 Tomcat, the F-5E Tiger II, and the F-4 Phantom II.
Iran has yet to release any additional information about the aircraft and its capabilities are unknown. It is believed to be essentially a modified F-5[2], and claimed to be larger by about 10%-15%. The Azarakhsh is also said to use an upgraded version of N-019 Topaz radar.
On May 17, 2000, Iran's acting commander of the Air Force said that Azarakhsh had reached mass-production stage.[5] On August 5, 2007, Azarakhsh conducted a successful test flight.[6] On August 6, 2007, Ministry of Defense Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said, "[Azarakhsh] is now at the stage of industrial production and its mass production will start in the future." [7]
Azarakhsh
The first generation of the Azarakhsh is believed to be essentially a modified US F-5E (produced in Iran) and is claimed to be 10-15% longer. Mass production started by late 1997 and as of 2001 there were six in inventory, with a production schedule established for 30 aircraft over the following three years.[2] By 2008 around 90% of the parts of the aircraft were produced locally in Iran.[8]Saeqeh
Main article: Saeqeh
The Saeqeh is a follow on aircraft, derived from the Azarakhsh fighter. It has been compared to the F/A-18 by Iranian sources. As with many previous indigenous Iranian developed weapons, no performance data has been released to verify official claims. An unknown number of this generation have built and said to have entered service with IRIAF September 22, 2007.[9][10]
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