Posted on 09/06/2006 1:45:05 AM PDT by familyop
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.
Thanks for the morning laugh. :^)
Zolfaghar was not amused.
Which to me confirms the real reason for being where we are.
Baka!
Nice pic.
Holy cow, a Eurocope with a jet engine?
Do other nations have fighter planes with more than one pilot?
The report said the bomber Saegheh is similar to the American F-18 fighter plane, but "more powerful."Would they care to test that proposition?
They are Persians, not Arabs. That much I can agree with you on.
I know plenty of Iranians. I like them, in general. I went to A School in the Navy with them, went to college with them, and work with them.
I disagree that they are a modern western nation. They were on their way, but since the Shah was stabbed in the back by the US Government, they are materially no different than any other country over in the Middle East.
Any resemblance Iran has to a modern western country is a residue of the past.
Am I seeing things, or, in this photo doesn't it look like Darth Vader with wings?
A fighter aircraft is only as good as its pilot.
I'd put our against theirs any day.
Of course our pilots are far better trained and are part of a much more well-organized system of command and control. But even if both pilots were of equal skill and all command/control support was removed, I'd bet on one of our planes against one of their planes in a dogfight. How could a Russian-built plane (which this thing is) beat one of ours in combat?
[God help the pilot that goes against an F18 with that, cause Allah certainly won't.]
A friend of mine is a Navy Pilot. I think he did a total of 3 tours in Afgan and Iraq. I know he was one of the first few in when we flew into Bagdad. He says he and his buddies regret that there is not enough enemy fighter planes to shoot at. He admits they are all a bunch of "Top Gun Junkies" that want to use all of their vehicle capabilities and they just don't get enough live air to air targets to make it fun.
He has some good stories. My favorite is not being able to find a gas station while circling in Afganastan. He kept getting to tankers late and they would be out (twice). He said it was one of the very few times he had to return loaded down with munitions. I guess bringing munitions back to base is embarrassing or something.
Like a good old-fashioned butt-kicking, maybe?
Thanks for the comparison. Engineered and built in Iran huh?
They look EXACTLY like the ones that the Russians have designed and built.
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