TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- 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.
Like an F-18, but 'more powerful'. Jeez, at least make the lie beleiveable. One of those things couldn't crash fast enough if it went against an F-18. Iran must be a strange place to live, with all the wierd stuff going on over there.
Designed, optimized and improved by Iranian experts to be F-22 and Typhoon toast, I suspect.
Presumably this is a national pride issue? I can't believe this plane would be more effective than the Su-35 which (including development costs) they could almost certainly get for a lot less money.
If you [disbelievers] seek the victory - the defeat has come to you. And if you desist [from hostilities], it is best for you; but if you return [to war], We will return, and never will you be availed by your [large] company at all, even if it should increase; and [that is] because Allah is with the believers. (Qur'an 8:19)
Victory cometh only by the help of Allah. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise. (Qur'an 8:10)
Last edited by - Qatada -; 09-07-2006 at 09:00 PM.
why does desist refer to wrong in the first part of the sentence and then return refers to an attack in the second part of the sentence when the only subject in the ayat is military forces...
why does desist refer to wrong in the first part of the sentence and then return refers to an attack in the second part of the sentence when the only subject in the ayat is military forces...
I think the translation wasn't too accurate before, i've replaced it with a more accurate [Sahih international] translation.
What a waste of money the production of military arms is. A war is not won unless it has won the hearts of the people. Warfare that depends on military might, only produces warfare and does not reduce the causes of war.
What a waste of money the production of military arms is. A war is not won unless it has won the hearts of the people. Warfare that depends on military might, only produces warfare and does not reduce the causes of war.
But Iran needs to invest for for the sake of defense. If Iran loses to Israel/USA, then that'll be a big blow to the Muslim world.
But Iran needs to invest for for the sake of defense. If Iran loses to Israel/USA, then that'll be a big blow to the Muslim world.
You are not going to believe this neither the USA nor Israel even want Iran. Contrary to popular believe the USA does not buy oil from Iran. True it comes from Iran, but it is owned by the oil companies that bought it from Iran. It is major oil coporations that drill for the oil and than sell it. No matter what contry owns Iran the oil production will be at the mercy of the oil companies, not any country.
Iran outside of oil is an extremly impovershed country. If the had not been able to sell the oil right to the major companies, there would be virtualy no economic development, there would have been no money for military arms. Iran needs to import nearly all of it's food. Virtually 100% of all the wheat products they use is bought from Canadian farmers. Much of the meat products come from Australia, Argentina and the USA. Without the oil income they would starve. Even now the building of military arms is dependent on buying the raw materials from other countries. Each of those planes could be a school, factory or hospital.
The oil based economy will end. there is only a limited amount of oil left to be sold. Once that is gone, so is Irans Economy. The money they are using for armaments would be put to far better use if it was to develope resourses and industrialization for the future, when the oil is gone. And the oil is going to be gone much sooner then they anticipate.
Having a well advanced army and a stong militia can very well lose the war for them. Iran dosen't even produce much of it's own gasoline and has to import it. It is not going to make much sense to have the best air craft ever, if you don't have the fuel to fly them. A well developed military is a poor trade if it is going to result in starving the people it was intended to protect.
You are not going to believe this neither the USA nor Israel even want Iran. Contrary to popular believe the USA does not buy oil from Iran. True it comes from Iran, but it is owned by the oil companies that bought it from Iran. It is major oil coporations that drill for the oil and than sell it. No matter what contry owns Iran the oil production will be at the mercy of the oil companies, not any country.
It's not because of the oil. It's because the ME is such a volatile region.
Iran outside of oil is an extremly impovershed country. If the had not been able to sell the oil right to the major companies, there would be virtualy no economic development, there would have been no money for military arms. Iran needs to import nearly all of it's food. Virtually 100% of all the wheat products they use is bought from Canadian farmers. Much of the meat products come from Australia, Argentina and the USA. Without the oil income they would starve. Even now the building of military arms is dependent on buying the raw materials from other countries. Each of those planes could be a school, factory or hospital
Apparently, Iran has enough money to sustain itself for year, as apparent through contracts with China, Russia, and other nations.
The oil based economy will end. there is only a limited amount of oil left to be sold. Once that is gone, so is Irans Economy. The money they are using for armaments would be put to far better use if it was to develope resourses and industrialization for the future, when the oil is gone. And the oil is going to be gone much sooner then they anticipate.
This why nuclear energy will benefit Iran.
Having a well advanced army and a stong militia can very well lose the war for them. Iran dosen't even produce much of it's own gasoline and has to import it. It is not going to make much sense to have the best air craft ever, if you don't have the fuel to fly them. A well developed military is a poor trade if it is going to result in starving the people it was intended to protect.
Iran had a good supply of energy. Why do they have to import gasoline?
It's not because of the oil. It's because the ME is such a volatile region.
That is true, and that is an issue that needs to be reolved
Apparently, Iran has enough money to sustain itself for year, as apparent through contracts with China, Russia, and other nations.
All are dependant on oil. The Arms sales of $100 milion per year is negligable. Irans daily income from the existing oil can be more than that.
This why nuclear energy will benefit Iran.
Nuclear energy is not yet the anticipated solution that people believe it is. It is very expensive to maintain and so far in ever country it has been tried it has not been cost effective. Here in the US we are slowly shutting down the plants that have been built as they are too expensive. The only real use for them has been as an excuse to produce plutonium.
Iran had a good supply of energy. Why do they have to import gasoline?
Iran like most of the oil producing countries, has built very few refineries. The demand was not sufficient for any major company to produce gasoline specificaly for Iran. So although the oil may come from Iran, it is useless until it is refined.,
Sadly many of the oil producing countries never encouraged the refining of it. Off hand I can not think of a single oil producing nation that does not need to import most of it's gasoline.
Sadly many of the oil producing countries never encouraged the refining of it. Off hand I can not think of a single oil producing nation that does not need to import most of it's gasoline.
So are you implying that if there was really a war, and Iran lost, then that's the end for Iran as a power in the ME?? It's a scary thought.
So are you implying that if there was really a war, and Iran lost, then that's the end for Iran as a power in the ME?? It's a scary thought.
In reality Iran has not been an ME power since the Persian Empire. It has been dependant on it's neighbors for many years. Iran on it's own does not have the reources to even support it's own population.
Advocates of further B-2 production assume that new B-2s would cost less than $600 million apiece, but the Air Force estimates the full cost of each new B-2 at approximately $1 billion. Depending on production rates, at least $1.7 billion and up to $3.5 billion per year could be required for renewed B-2 production. An additional 20 B-2s would cost a total of at least $20 billion, while others advocate production of the B-2 at a rate of at least three per year until the entire bomber force has been replaced by B-2s.
The world is happy for Iran to develope nuclear energy. The fear is they might develope nuclear weapons.
And then hand the weapons to Hezbollah.
If the USA actually hated Iran and the Iranian people, I believe we would gladly give them all the nuclear power plants they want and even our surplus nukes. They are both too costly for any country to maintain for any length of time. Totaly useless.
I believe Pakastan is beging to feel the ill effects of having made the mistake of entering into the Nuclear age.:
BAGHALCHUR, 17 May 2006 (IRIN) - Heaps of yellowish, sandy material and pale sludge can be seen around the village of Baghalchur, located in the barren hills around the city of Dera Ghazi Khan, around 300 km south of the capital Islamabad, in the southern Pakistani province of Punjab.
At first sight, the material seems innocuous, blending in with the sand and scrub all around. However, local people believe the material contains radioactive nuclear waste, brought in by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and dumped in the area by staff wearing full protective gear.
The PAEC has vehemently denied this. It maintains that any nuclear material in the region was stored only in underground tunnels and caves, posing no danger to the environment. A former chairman of the PAEC, Pervez Butt, has been quoted as telling the national media that the nuclear waste storage was being "carried out according to international standards”.
However, local residents in Baghalchur, and the many tiny hamlets scattered around it, comprising some 50,000 people in total, remain unconvinced. In March this year, the Pakistan Supreme Court heard a petition brought by four residents of Baghalchur in a local court.
Now it is just a matter of time before they get to face their own 3 mile island and Chenoybal.
Then even thinking about the maitainance for nuclear weapons. Those are expensive rascals to keep as pets, and actually totally useless as a war weapon. Use should only be left to idiots and maniacs as those are the only people who could possibly think they are affordable weapons, even if given as a gift.
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Jeez, at least make the lie beleiveable. One of those things couldn't crash fast enough if it went against an F-18. Iran must be a strange place to live, with all the wierd stuff going on over there.
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks