Iran Planning to Build New Fighter, Training Jets

Iran plans to build semi-heavy and training jets, a senior Air Force commander announced on Monday, adding that the country’s experts have equipped Mirage fighters with state-of-the-art home-made weapons.
The plan for manufacturing semi-heavy fighter jets has been sent to senior officials to receive their approval, and “once approved, the Defense Industries will start building them”, Islamic Republic Air Force Chief Liaison Officer General Aziz Nasirzadeh told FNA on Monday.

He also referred to the mounting of modern equipment on Mirage fighter jets, and said, “We have mounted foreign-made fuel tanks on these fighter jets which has prolonged their flight duration and equipped them with home-made weapons and ammunition.”

The General said also elaborated on the features of the indigenous Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) military fighter jets, and said they enjoy air-to-air refueling capability.

The Iranian commander referred to the country’s plans to build new fighter jets, and said, “Other projects are also underway by the Defense Industries to manufacture more fighter jets, one of which is Kowsar training jet.”

In relevant remarks in August, Nasirzadeh announced that the Iranian Air Force and Aviation Industries Organization (affiliated to the Defense Ministry) are jointly manufacturing an advanced fighter jets.

“Manufacturing this military aircraft will make us fully needless of purchasing jet fighters from abroad, specially for training purposes,” Brigadier General Nasirzadeh said.

“We have taken very good measures in producing aircraft ammunition, long-range ammunition and smart missiles,” he added.

Earlier this year, former Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that the country planned to display new home-made defensive products in the near future, including a new aircraft for training purposes.

“We have on the agenda the production of other types of fighter jets and we will unveil Kowsar training jets in a not too far future,” Vahidi told reporters on the sidelines of the military parades held in Tehran on the occasion of the National Army Day on April 18.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems.

The country has repeatedly made it clear that its military might is merely based on the state’s defense doctrine of deterrence and that it poses no threat to other countries.