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.
There is no 'black market' for F-22s'. The U.S. hasn't sold any. And I haven't heard of any other, older U.S. jets being sold that way. Hugo Chavez has threatened to sell some F-16s', but they are an older model with no spare parts. Besides, reverse engineering isn't that easy with modern day fighters. And then there is the problem of finding enough competent pilots. I'm a firm believer that if the U.S. shows the world an advanced fighter, they have something even more advanced that they aren't showing.
They're buying F16s from Venezuela and are then upgrading it.
They haven't bought them yet, and anything that Iran would do to them wouldn't be an 'upgrade'. Iran can't get spare parts for their old F-4s'. How are they going to work on an F-16 ?
There is no 'black market' for F-22s'. The U.S. hasn't sold any. And I haven't heard of any other, older U.S. jets being sold that way. Hugo Chavez has threatened to sell some F-16s', but they are an older model with no spare parts. Besides, reverse engineering isn't that easy with modern day fighters. And then there is the problem of finding enough competent pilots. I'm a firm believer that if the U.S. shows the world an advanced fighter, they have something even more advanced that they aren't showing.
i know there hiding it right now in AREA-51
and Iran has a nuke but is just playing where is Waldo with the US....
A few countries. Canada, Spain, I'm pretty sure Taiwan does. Still, if you got your hands on one, you'd be grounded after one or two flights for lack of spare parts. The maintainance on these things is mind-boggling.
P.S. Quran, you've earned every one of those warning points.
So which planes are fairly replacable with spare parts?? F16s??
If you're someone the U.S. doesn't like (Iran), we don't sell them to you. Then you're screwed. Iran can't even get their F-4s' off the ground. The planes and parts are highly regulated things. The countries we do sell these things to must account for the stuff they buy, or they get cut off. That's why you don't see F-16s' flying all over the place. Plus, there are many variants of each model. (F-16a, F-16b, F-16c...) We don't sell the top of the line models.
Dont the Russians and Chinese have their own planes?? How advanced are those?
Russians MiGs and Sukois' aren't bad. But they don't do too good against U.S. stuff. We've seen that from the end of Vietnam till now. The Chinese fly MiGs. There is a good reason everyone wants F-16's and 18s'. Luckily the U.S. does a good job of keeping this stuff out of 'hostile' hands. If someone we sell to got caught selling their stuff to a 'third party', they'd get cut off, then all THEIR stuff would eventually be unflyable.
Dont the Russians and Chinese have their own planes?? How advanced are those?
Not nearly as advanced as the American planes. The Russians and China are also suspect about selling the highest military technology to Iran because they realise the loose cannon Iran is, and how it could end up biting them in the behinds the same way America arming Al-Queda did.
Remember, Russia is in conflict with Chechens, and China is not exactly friendly to any religious dominated state being communist. I doubt either would sell Iran anything serious they have.
Can engineers in enemy states make copies of F16s or makes similar planes??
A fighter plane nowadays is no longer an airplane. It is a computerized multi guided weapons system.
The physical part of the aircraft, is probaly the smallest part of the system. Todays aircraft are no longer flying machines they are basicaly an integrated computer system. A pilot is no longer a sky jocky he is now a computer programer, systems analyst and hardware operater. Air to air combat is no longer see them, shoot them. Most fighter pilots will probably never even make visual contact with their target.
Much of flying today is dependant on satellite navigation and ground control. To be honest if it wasn't for the need for judgement decisions the aircraft could be flown without the pilot. However, at the moment the plane still needs a human to make independent judgement calls.
Iran could buy a totaly built F-16, yet if the instruements are not properly programmed, it would be useless. I can not picture how an F-16 could be used against US forces for any length of time. All we need do is turn off the satellite and it will be lost, with no navigational functions. Yes, Iran could program their own satellite navigation system, but that also means they will need to send up several stationary orbit satellites.
todays fighter planes are flown from the ground and through satellites just as much as by pilot. In fact the ground system has more control over some of the planes actions.
guy and aeroplanes...they just cannot be separated :rolleyes:
guys will be guys...
25:36 And the true servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth with humility and when the ignorant address them, they respond with words of peace.
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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.
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