Iran has unveiled what it calls a “new domestic fighter jet” with President Rouhani saying Iran’s military strength is aimed at creating “lasting peace”.
The problem? The jet which Iran says is “100-percent indigenously made” is a 40 year old American designed F-5F Tiger.
My sources in #Iran Aviation Industries Org. say what #Iran‘s Islamic Regime president unveiled as domestically made fighter is a #US made F-5F but rebuilt under project “Azarakhsh-II”. 70% of the airplane is manufactured in #Iran. It is testbed of Kowsar-88 & Saeghe’s avionic. pic.twitter.com/Bs6Sc0E3xu
— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) August 21, 2018
According to Reuters, the President said:
“When I speak of our readiness to defend, it means we seek lasting peace. If we lack readiness, we welcome war. Some think when we increase our military power, this means we seek war. [But] this is peace-seeking because we don’t war to happen. If we don’t have a deterrent… it gives a green light for others to enter this country.”
According to Justin Bronk, a research fellow specialising in combat airpower and technology in the Military Sciences team at the Royal United Services Institute:
“The airframe appears to be an externally unaltered, two-seat F-5 Tiger. Whilst it may be domestically manufactured, it’s an entirely foreign airframe.”
This isn’t the first time this has happened, remeber this notable example?
Speaks volumes to me.
Their president is right though. “If we lack readiness we invite war”. Never has a more true statement been said. Anyone in the government reading this should take note. Still I hardly think anyone will worry that Iran has modernised F5 aircraft, they would last precisely 10 nanoseconds against a Typhoon or F35
Was it Teddy Roosevelt who coined the term ‘speak softly and carry a big stick”?
I support that statement! If you want peace. Prepare for war is another.
Not nano-seconds…..Just however long it tales the missile to get to the F5…..:)
No shit Sherlock?
It really would be comical if they weren’t genuinely serious in the threat they pose to the region if that regime continues. The Persian people are cultured and intelligent. I’m surprised they’ve let this little sideshow to their history go on for so long…
Cheers!
We can take most of the blame their Helions with operation boot/Ajax.
I saw a video on twitter the other day of an Iranian women scolding a cleric for saying he will have her arrested for not having her face covered.
She had support of local young men by the looks of it, removed her whole headscarf and chucked it on the floor.
I think if there is not more reform the Iranians will rise up again and return to being a secular democracy.
Which will only be good for the region.
Agreed Sole.
Think they have done well to be fair.
70% of a fighter jet manufactured in Iran, that’s 70% more than a lot of ther countries.
And I thought this site was ment to be “impartial”? Hardly a professional way of reporting defence news is it, by taking the piss.
I really, really doubt that 70% of it was built in Iran….
This must be the chief in charge of the project.. fresh from Iran.
Hush little one.
Hi folks, yes its does speak volumes.
I would not expect anything else really, however having said that, has anyone else seen the Sun newspaper, making reference to Gavin Williamson’s ideas of landing craft and tractors? Once again the tabs are at it again. Couldn’t find much about QE carrier, so had to no doubt misinterpret the minister’s comments.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs/the_papers
Shia exteremeism poses the most fundamental threat to our security.
The majority of Iranians are not extremist.
?
Where do you get that from?
ISIS, Al-QAEDA and Boko Haram are Sunni extremists.
How many British have been killed recently by Shia terrorists groups?
Iran potentially developing nuclear weapons, Iran has developed ballistic missiles, Iran actively supporting Houtis in the Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Assad in Syria. Threatening western oil supplies from the Gulf by destabilisation of Gulf states.
How British military personnel were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by Iranian supplied weapons?
If you look at the big picture Iran is the threat.
And you think Iran will attack us with Nuclear weapons? Iran has developed ballistic missiles, so why haven’t they attacked us with them yet. Even a deranged N Korean leader would not be stupid enough to randomly attack us with Nuclear weapons why do you think Iran would? You’re naming regional conflicts that we shouldn’t really have anything to do with, Yemen? Complete shitstorm over who has influence in the country, but who’s weapons have killed most civilians in Yemen? Certainly not Iranian. Hezbollah in Lebanon, yeah they are a terrorist group, also a political party, Hezbollah are most definitely… Read more »
You can believe what you like, but Dan Coats Director of National Intelligence USA says Iran poses the greatest threat to global security. I would rather believe him rather you.
Worldwide threat assessment 2018
The Iraqi Army was not composed of terrorists. The militias and insurgent groups that infested places like Basra and Baghdad were Shia terrorists. Often funded, armed, and trained by Iran. As for a play list of terrorism? Beirut – Twin barracks bombings in Beirut resulting in the deaths of 241 US Marines and 58 French Paratroopers along with 6 civilians. Bombing of the US embassy in Beirut 63 dead. Bombing of the French embassy 12 dead. Kuwait- Attempted assasination of the Emir of Kuwait 3 dead. Attempted destruction of multiple oil refineries. Bulgaria – Bus bombing in Burgas. Iraq looting,… Read more »
SS wrote: Hezbollah in Lebanon, yeah they are a terrorist group, also a political party, Hezbollah are most definitely not in the same mould as ISIS etc. I would not regard them as a threat to the U.K. they are a regional threat that could probably be dealt with through diplomacy as part of the Israel Palestinian conflict. In 2005, Lebanon was party to the cedar revolution , this came about after the former PM Rafik Hariri was assassinated. This resulted in the kicking out of the Syrian occupation forces who had occupied Lebanon for 30 years . This was… Read more »
Elliot “The only form of extremism that should ever be tolerated is that in defense of the Nation.” And you honesty believe the Shia militias in Iraq and elsewhere don’t believe that’s exactly what they are doing? The Brookings institute thinks so “The rationale for terrorism by Shi’a groups over that time frame was tethered tightly to Iranian state and Hezbollah organizational objectives, especially that of state/group survival.” You’ve listed attacks against military personnel and government staff in middle eastern countries, I’ve listed attacks against civilians in our own countries, You can’t see the difference? “If you are looking to… Read more »
And breath !
Somehow I doubt the people of Tikrit would agree with your belief that the Shias were not as bad same goes for Mosul. They burned, looted, and raped their way through both those cities with militias. As for whether a embassy is a legitimate target of war. No it roundly is not. Bombing or shooting ambassadors and their civilian staff is considered an act of terrorism whether it is done by a State or a Militia. As it is violence conducted merely to prove a political point against a civilian target. Furthermore in order to be a Legal Combatant you… Read more »
Iran supplied shaped charges to the Taliban in Afghanistan which led to a LOT of western casualties.
Again Douglas, like I have already tried to explain, those attacks were against western military on Muslim soil, the Shia extremist ideology is to drive western military and government out of the Middle East.
Sunni extremists targets civilians on our own soil, it’s ideology is based on a fundamentalist version of Islam that hates our way of life.
I am just saying they are different.
And it’s mine, and a lot of other peoples opinion, Sunni extremism (75% of all terrorist fatalities) is worse.
Or you could believe the facts..
That usually works
What do you class as worse Mike?
Two Sunni extremists butchering a serving British soldier on our streets?
Or Iran’s geopolitical aims on a different continent?
What does “Dan Coats” think?
Iranian supplied weapons killed and injured LOTS of UK and US personnel in Afghanistan.
Jour weapon supplied to Iraq killed many Iranian civilians during Iraq attacak to Iran. Your military troupes thousand kms from your lands near our ear are more important than our civil people in our land?
I would love to see Iran come in from the cold. As has been said, the Persian people have a rich culture, very bright and industrious and make great business people in general.
Their hard line regime is looking nervously over their shoulder at an increasingly inpatient population that demands social reform and an end to sanctions…
I personally hope that the Islamic jackboot they live under gets peacefully lifted from their necks and democracy flourishes … God forbid a civil war in Iran, it would be truly disastrous!
This a wonderfully bad example of political spin!! I am quite surprised that trump has not tweeted about this!!
My pennies worth of the subject at hand. The mad mullahs played the victimcard amongst the masses in which to get into power. Like the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt they promised that ‘Allah’ would see them right, however the rise of social media, the internet and the Arab spring (which got them into power) soon exposed them for the religious incompetents bigots they are. (prime example Morsi giving himself unlimited power) The people protested again (in their millions and in larger protests than agaisnt Mubarak. The Military said they listened to the people and removed him. (But more likely saw… Read more »
Great post Farouk, a detailed and thorough assessment. If the Iranian Regime stopped it’s terrorist backing activity overnight, the world world become a much safer place very quickly indeed. However, If Iran catastrophy failed like Syria, the destabilising effects would ripple around the world. We can only hope that one day a peaceful transition to democracy takes place. Iran is a hugely important Country, due to its Geographic location and influence, both from a historical and modern perspective. Forget the silly nonsensable cardboard steath fighters and rebuilt F5’s …. Iran does have rea and considerable soft power effect, they could… Read more »
I’m Iranian and I’m not impressed by the Kowsar-1 either but this is just poor reporting. It is not just a repainted F-5. First of all most of the components are built in Iran. Secondly, it has a new digital cockpit and radar.
But it is true that the air force in general is poorly funded and does not have good R&D programs. Iran is much better at ballistic missiles, surface to air missiles and radars. Plus a few more select areas.
I understand the desire to mock, but lets not forget they are keeping 20-odd Tomcats in service with a homegrown Phoenix replacement/improvement