Does Iran’s ‘Kowsar Fighter Jet’ Have A Chance Against Israeli F-35 Or U.S. F-22 Stealth Warplanes?

Iran's Kowsar Fighter Jet (Wikipedia)

EurAsian Times: Does Iran’s ‘Kowsar Fighter Jet’ Stand A Chance Against Israeli F-35 Stealth Warplanes?

How does Iran’s Kowsar jets compete against US & Israeli F-22 Raptors or F-35 Jets? According to experts, designed to perform close air support (CAS) and light attack operations, the fighters can also be used to support the training activities of Iranian pilots.

Amid decades of sanctions imposed on Iran which eventually forced Tehran to work on indigenous projects, including the “Kowsar” fighter jets that were finally delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.

The fighters which have been labelled by critics as a mere copy of the US F-5s were unveiled as the newest contender in the arena of aerial combat last year. The first fighter jet to be developed in the country, Kowsar is a labelled as a fourth-generation fighter aircraft which has been designed and manufactured by Tehran-based Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO).

The fighter jets which are designed to upgrade and strengthen Tehran’s aerial defence capabilities will now replace Iran’s ageing air fleet, most of which consist of fighters imported from the US and Russia.

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WNU Editor: There are many parts of a fighter jet that make it formidable. In the case of Iran's Kowsar fighter jet, I suspect that its biggest weakness is its avionics.

Iran Unveils Its First 'Made-In-Iran' Fighter Jet

Al Jazeera: Iran unveils new domestic fighter jet

Images released by state media show President Hassan Rouhani sitting in the cockpit of the aircraft named Kowsar.

Iran has unveiled a new domestic fighter jet, with President Hassan Rouhani saying Tehran's military strength was only designed to deter enemies and was aimed at creating "lasting peace".

Images broadcast on state television on Tuesday showed Rouhani sitting in the cockpit of the new "Kowsar" fourth-generation fighter at the National Defence Industry exhibition in Tehran.

State media said it had "advanced avionics" and multi-purpose radar, and it was "100-percent indigenously made" for the first time.
WATCH - Rouhani: Iran cannot talk to US while under sanctions (3:02)

Footage of the Kowsar's test flights was circulated by various official media.

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WNU Editor: It does look like an American F5 .... Iran launches its first homemade fighter jet which looks suspiciously like a decades-old American F5 (Daily Mail).

More News On Iran Unveiling Its First 'Made-In-Iran' Fighter Jet

Eyeing U.S., Iran says to boost military might, unveils new fighter jet -- Reuters
Rouhani unveils ‘made-in-Iran’ fighter jet meant to deter U.S. -- Global News/AP
Iran unveils homegrown fighter jet at a ceremony in Tehran -- CNBC
Iran unveils new fighter jet with Washington in mind -- FOX News
Iran unveils ‘domestic’ fighter jet, says military power deters US -- Euronews
Iran Reveals Newest Fighter Jet in Defiance of U.S. Sanctions -- Newsweek
Iran unveils new domestically made fighter jet (PHOTO) -- Trend News Agency (Iran)
Iran test-flies 1st homegrown fighter/trainer jet ‘Kosar’ -- Mehr News Agency (Iran)
Iran unveils first domestic fighter jet, President Rouhani checks out the cockpit (VIDEO) -- RT

Iran Posts New Video Footage Of Its F-313 'Stealth Fighter'

FOX News: Photos of Iran's new Qaher F-313 fighter jet prototype emerges

New photos emerged Saturday of a new prototype of Iran's stealth fighter jet, previous models of which were mocked by aviation experts who predicted it "would never fly."

The updated version of Qaher F-313 stealth fighter jet was unveiled during an exhibition for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, The Aviationist editor David Cenciotti reported. The exhibition showcased the achievements made by Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan within the last two years.

The prototype had the same shape as its 2013 predecessor but featured multiple changes, including a bigger cockpit, non-plexiglass canopy, dual exhaust nozzles, dorsal antenna and FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red) turret installed to the nose of the fighter jet.

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More News On Iran F-313 'Stealth Fighter'

Iran shows new footage of F-313 'stealth fighter' -- IHS Jane's 360
Iran shows off homemade stealth fighter jet -- UPI
Iranian F-35: Tehran 'Rightly Proud of Its Prospective 5th-Gen Stealth Fighter' -- Sputnik
Iran shows off its elusive new fighter jet – but not in flight (VIDEO, PHOTOS) -- RT
Iran’s Fake Qaher F-313 Stealth Fighter Is Back -- Dave Majumdar, National Interest
Iran's Fake Fighter Jet Is Back -- Iran Focus

Is Iran's Homemade "Fighter" A Fake?

F-311 Qaher

Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics: Iran's Homemade "Fighter" Plane Nearly Ready

The "Conqueror" still doesn't look ready for prime time, or particularly real for that matter.

Iran's Defense Minister claims that his country's indigenous fighter, the F-311 Qaher ("Conqueror") is nearing production. The fighter was first unveiled in 2013, when it was widely ridiculed as a fake.

The Qaher jet is supposed to be Iran's first locally designed and produced fighter plane. First revealed in 2013 to great fanfare, a full-size mockup was shown to the public. The plane then disappeared into obscurity.

The plane was designed and the mockup built by the Iranian government's Aviation Industries Organization. "The fighter jet is Iranian-made and all its parts have been manufactured domestically," Qaher's project manufacturer told Iranian state television at the introduction. AIO claimed the plane was made with "high tech materials"—without specifying what kind—and able to act in both the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. It is allegedly capable of flying "very low to the ground" and will also carry homemade weapons.

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WNU Editor: It does not look real.

Will Iran Succeed In Rebuilding Its Air Force?

Iran Air Force F 4 Phantom II interceptor fighter bomber. Wikipedia

David Axe, Daily Beast: Iran’s Trying to Rebuild Its Air Force

Iran used to have one of the best equipped air forces in the world, now it’s a joke.

After decades of financial and technological strangulation, the Iranian air force—at one time among the most advanced in the world—finally has an opportunity to modernize and potentially become a serious aerial opponent for the United States and other rivals.

The gradual lifting of international sanctions on Iran that began in January—a reward for Tehran agreeing to scrap its nuclear program—means the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force could, in theory, buy new jet fighters to replace its existing, mostly antiquated planes.

Don’t hold your breath.

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WNU Editor: A good analysis on why the Iranian air-force will not be a force to reckon with for a long time.

Iran Now Wants Its Own Drone Program

An image posted Nov. 18, 2013, by Iran's state-controlled IRNA news agency shows the Islamic Republic's alleged new Fotros combat drone. IRNA

US News and World Report: Here Come Iran's Drones

The nuclear deal will likely free up money for Iran to advance its drone program.

The U.S. military recently concluded its annual two-week exercise known as Black Dart. Conducted every year since 2002, but only open to select media for the past two years, Black Dart brings together government, academic institutions and private companies to test out their latest technologies designed for a single objective: confronting and neutralizing an enemy unmanned aerial vehicle (or UAV, also known as a drone). Black Dart, at its core, is a manifestation of the military's recognition that the United States does not have a monopoly on the development or acquisition of drones – and that this technology has already made its way to the bad guys, even if ours is much more sophisticated than theirs.

American policymakers would be well-served to keep Black Dart in the back of their minds as they contemplate the Obama administration's deal with Iran on its nuclear program.

WNU Editor: It may take a certain period of time but with this nuclear deal Iran will definitely have the money .... and with the end of sanctions .... access to the technology.

More Evidence That Iran's New Fighter Jet Is A Fake

Photoshop: Eagle-eyed observers claim the Iranian jet was superimposed upon a generic picture of Mount Damavand

Iran's 'Fake' Fighter Jet Which Experts Say Can't Fly Is Spotted In The Air (With A Little Help From Photoshop) -- Daily Mail

* Iran unveiled its homemade Qaher-313 stealth fighter jet last week
* Experts spotted design flaws and expressed doubts about the aircraft
* Suspect pictures of the jet in flight thought to be fake

Iran's freshly unveiled fighter jet has already been derided by aviation experts who likened the plane to a mock-up model and expressed serious doubts over whether it could actually fly.

And a new picture of the domestically produced Qaher-313 apparently soaring over Iranian mountains has done little to curb scepticism, amid claims the plane never actually left the ground but was simply superimposed over the snow-capped peaks using Photoshop.

Iran, which unveiled the stealth fighter jet at a ceremony attended by President Mahmoud Admadinejad earlier this month, claims its aircraft is capable of evading radar, carrying weapons and flying at low altitude.

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My Comment: If they lie about this .... trust me .... they will then lie about this.

Aviation Experts Call Iran's New 'Super' Stealth Fighter Jet A Fake

Iran’s New Stealth Fighter: A Fake? -- Harry Kazianis, The Diplomat

As covered yesterday, Iran proudly displayed its supposed new "stealth fighter," dubbed the Qaher F-313, or Conqueror-313. Since the unveiling of the plane, various reporters and defense experts have panned the aircraft as a fake.

John Reed over at Foreign Policy noted: " When I first looked at the plane Saturday morning, I could tell it was bogus. Look at the photos of the cockpit: there's barely any wiring. In fact, it looks like the Iranians dumped some rudimentary flight controls and an ejection seat into a shell molded in what they thought were stealthy angles."

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More News On Reports That Iran's New Jet Fighter Is A Fake

Iran's New 'Super' Stealth Fighter Jet Is Totally Fake -- Atlantic Wire
Aviation Experts Debunk Iran’s Stealth Fighter Jet Claims -- Yahoo News/Trending Now
This is not real: Iran's stealth fighter -- John Reed, Foreign Policy
Iran’s new stealth jet, or is it? -- Defense Tech

My Comment: It looks like Iran's last space launch with a monkey was also a fake.

Iran Unveils It's New Fighter

Iran Shows Off 'Qaher 313' Stealth Fighter Jet -- Wired

A prototype of a stealth fighter jet has been unveiled by the Iranian government as part of ceremonies to celebrate its 1979 Islamic revolution.

The Qaher 313 has a distinctive design, with relatively small wings, a twin tail and a tiny, bare, cockpit. Iran's defence minister Ahmad Vahidi said "The aircraft will be different from the other fighter jets Iran has already made."

It's being displayed in conjunction with the Ten-Day dawn ceremonies, which mark the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in the country in 1979. The aircraft was built by Iran's Aviation Industries Organisation - part of the country's ministry of defence.

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More News On Iran's New Fighter

Iran rolls out bold design for homemade fighter jets (VIDEO) -- RT
Iran unveils its very own stealth fighter -- The Telegraph
Ahmadinejad unveils Iran’s newest fighter jet that militant officials claim can evade radar -- Washington Post/AP
Iran says unveils new homemade fighter jet -- Reuters
Iran Unveils Radar-Evading Fighter -- RIA Novosti
Iran's New Qaher 313 Stealth Fighter Would Be Perfect For Attacking The US Navy -- Business Insider/Aviationist
Iran Unveils Homemade Jet -- Voice of America
Iran introduces new military plane -- UPI