Iran unveils new aircraft - the 'Saeqeh'

Islamic Republic News Agency
Friday, March 31, 2006

Iranian Aircraft Industries (IACI) has joined with Malek Ashtar's Aeronautical Research Center to develop the first indigenous Iranian military jet since the formation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, senior management sources told The Islamic Republic News Agency.

Much more ambitious and larger than the Shafaq, the Saeqeh light combat fighter hopes to address the domestic demand for next generation combat aircraft and advance training jets. The single seat, twin-engine plane will be suited for a variety of air to air roles and support requirements.

"The Saeqeh will be displayed at the next Kish Air Show, and we expect the aircraft to take off for its maiden flight very soon," an IACI source said. IACI conducted preliminary design work several years ago for a new advanced combat aircraft, but faced with mushrooming development costs of nearly $400 million it teamed up with IAMI to develop and promote a lightweight plane with clear potential for further military applications. The Saeqeh will fly at 1.7 Mach, or about 2,083 kph. It will weigh approximately 4,700 kg. The Saeqeh's cockpit and avionics will be compatible with the display and other systems in advanced generation fighters, including the F-15, F-16, MiG-29, Rafale and Eurofighter

. Systems will include embedded simulations of combat scenarios, simulated operation of weapons and self-defense systems and mission planning and debriefing capabilities. IACI also sees a strong market in Asia, and is likely to offer the aircraft to air forces operating 60's era aircraft.

Source : IRNA

Here is a "claimed to be" pic of the very aircraft :


Looks to have borrowed things from the F-5 . An interesting development nevertheless.

Just found more info on Iran's other airplane in development - the Shafagh.

Iran unveils jet trainer

Following years of speculation, Iran unveiled its new advanced jet trainer on August 10. Named ‘Shafaq’ the aircraft is powered by a single engine. It is similar in configuration to the Yakolev Yak-130 trainer featuring a blended wing, but differs in being equipped with twin vertical tails. A single canopy encloses both cockpits, which are equipped with digital avionics and multifunctional displays (MFD). Wearing serial number 01 the trainer was recently displayed for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and, according to the chief design engineer, it is currently undergoing flight tests.

The single-engined, tandem two-seat aircraft resembles the Yak-130 from its nose to just aft of the wings’ trailing edges, but it has a twin-tail design similar to the defunct Polish “Skorpion” ground attack aircraft. The wing area is larger and the angle of sweep appears more pronounced than the Yak jet trainer, presenting the possibility of the aircraft being capable of sustained supersonic speeds of perhaps just over Mach 1. It has a one-piece cockpit canopy and the tandem cockpit does possess central control columns, contrary to previous reports. It is equipped with digital avionics and MFD, marking a major step forward in the technology employed by Iran’s aviation industries. The aircraft will undergo further modifications before it enters service with the IRIAF. A light interceptor/ground attack version with an uprated engine is on the cards to fill the gap created by the retirement of the IRIAF’s F-5E/F Tiger IIs.

The other model on display at the Malek Ashtar stand at Kish was of the M-ATF air superiority fighter. The Iranian press reported a while back that the design stage of a fighter designated Saeqe-80 had been completed, this supposedly being a scaled-up F-5F with Russian engines. However, many experts believe the whole thing may have been an elaborate hoax to keep under wraps the development of M-ATF or a similar design. What may substantiate this is that, several months ago, a photograph of a twin-tailed F-5E called Saeqe-2 was released in the West. It looked no larger than an F-5 and therefore unable to accommodate two Russian afterburning engines. The twin tail appeared ‘scabbed on’, so the aircraft may have indeed been a test bed. Should we draw a comparison between Saeqe-2’s twin tail and the proposed M-ATF’s, it therefore obvious that Saeqe-2 has been fitted with M-ATF’s tail configuration to perform high—speed flight trials hence, Saeqe-80 may be nearing completion. Furthermore, it may indeed be a revised version of the much anticipated Azarakhsh (Lightening) fighter design.

- Combat Aircraft Vol.6, No.3, pg 17.

"Shafagh" - the project of a future combat aircraft

A step into the future is the project "Shafagh", which was presented at the conditions of the Malek Ashtar University of Technology. The sample, which as in and two-seaters are built and with different engines both when training as well as and multi-role use to find is, exhibits all characteristics of the modern building of combat aircraft. Beside models of the different variants also photos of a 1:1-Models as well as a wind tunnel model were presented. According to statements of participants the parts manufacture for the prototype already began. All versions of the airplane are to be equipped - so the official statement - "with engines by the native market". Whether with it self-developments or license and/or reproductions of foreign engines are meant, was not verifiable.

www.mig-21.de...

Iran's twin-seat Shafagh prototype nears completion
-Flight International

Iran's Malek-Ashtar University of Technology expects to conduct the first flight of its twin-seat Shafagh trainer late this year, with a first prototype nearing completion.

Also referred to as the M-AT/XXIC and exhibited in model form at last month's Iran air show on Kish Island, the Shafagh is believed to have last year completed mock-up inspection and windtunnel testing. Designed with assistance from Russian industry, the Iranian aircraft resembles Yakovlev's Yak-130 trainer, with large wing root extensions to enable high-angle-of-attack manoeuvres, but has a twin-fin vertical tail and a single engine. Tehran-based Malek-Ashtar says an engine has already been selected, but declines to name the powerplant. Successful flight testing could lead the Iranian defence ministry to approve the Shafagh for series production, with combat trainer and light fighter variants also under consideration.

Provisionally referred to as the M-ATF, the latter version is viewed as a potential replacement for the Iranian air force's Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II fighters.

Hmmm... it appears that the M-ATF / Shafagh is the Iranian equivalent of the Chinese L-15 (both are drawn from the Russian Yak-130 mould with Yakovlev's assistance)

I dunno about reality, but this M-ATF sure looks pretty stealthy from the outside.

why post this as if it is new

Everyhting here has been debated on ATS many times, what does this thread add that is new?

Well, the 'Saeqeh' has been officially unveiled. This landmark achievement deserves a thread IMHO.

Thats seems odd, that they have just unveiled it? I didn't even realise it was a secret.

I don't get where it is 'much more ambitious than the Shafaq' as it says in the link? It is after all only a modernised F-5 whereas the Shafaq looks completely modern. Maybe it is more ambitious in the sense that Iran is doing it alone whereas the Shafaq is more the work of overseas designers and engineers perhaps?

Nice plane, old news, and a geat deal or rounded edges to be very stealthy.

ID say a top notch trainer, but not in the big leagues as far as any combat asperations are concerned.

it looks nice but all the pics are of it in a hanger or standing still. lets see a picture of it in flight.

Will make for very nice target practice, but little else. Hey, what's with the nun in the cockpit? Is she a pilot?

Coming soon to a smoking hole in the ground near you Mehran!

Originally posted by kozmo
Will make for very nice target practice, but little else. Hey, what's with the nun in the cockpit? Is she a pilot?

Nun? Stop the anti-muslim crap.

Originally posted by planeman

Originally posted by kozmo
Will make for very nice target practice, but little else. Hey, what's with the nun in the cockpit? Is she a pilot?

Nun? Stop the anti-muslim crap.

Anti-Muslim? What are you talking about???

I guess she must be a flying nun, eh?

Originally posted by kozmo

Originally posted by planeman

Originally posted by kozmo
Will make for very nice target practice, but little else. Hey, what's with the nun in the cockpit? Is she a pilot?

Nun? Stop the anti-muslim crap.

Anti-Muslim? What are you talking about???

I guess she must be a flying nun, eh?

stop being racist.

you REALLY need to learn about the culture before you insult the heck out of them.


stealth_spy


your only about a year behind the rest of ATS with this info

I guess some people are just a little too sensitive to take a joke. Lightening up usually helps. Levity makes life more enjoyable.

Originally posted by Stealth Spy

Islamic Republic News Agency
Friday, March 31, 2006
"The Saeqeh will be displayed at the next Kish Air Show, and we expect the aircraft to take off for its maiden flight very soon," an IACI source said.

Source : IRNA

Here is a "claimed to be" pic of the very aircraft :
external image

I don't think that is the aircraft, rather a technology demonstrator. That picture is a few years old too. At any rate after Kish we will finally know what it looks like - I reserve judgement until then.

This is another picture which has circulated. I am unsure of its authenticity but as time goes on, it looses credibility by the day:


At any rate, the Shafagh looks like a more promising design and shouldn't be underestimated or written off as "just a trainer". It has the same engine as the FC-1/Mig-29 so has excellent light fighter potential. Contra to the suggestions made in the external sources re Yak-130 influence, it is in fact a natural progression of a Mig design - the Mig I-2000.

What is more, the shape of the tail section and generally blended lines (except under the LERX) strongly support the notion that it is to an extent stealthy. I # you not. Any informed observer will recognise the "butterfly" tail, outward canted twin fins etc - all typical of stealth designs such as the F-22 and F-35. It has to do the repetition of reflective angles. Where the wing departs normal stealth practices is in the circular inner section, although that could conceivably be low-observable. I am not suggesting that the design is stealthy to the degree of the F-22 et al, but clearly RCS is a MAJOR design factor. The Wind tunnel model, though it probably doesn't represent the final configuration, is an even stronger hint at stealth influences:







[edit on 1-4-2006 by planeman]

[edit on 1-4-2006 by planeman]

Originally posted by kozmo
Will make for very nice target practice, but little else. Hey, what's with the nun in the cockpit? Is she a pilot?

She is the designer of the aircraft. I think it is fair to ask you not to make fun of the appearance of the individual.

Originally posted by ElTiante
Coming soon to a smoking hole in the ground near you Mehran!

Is any mod going to deal with this? It is both an unprovoked personal attack and a one liner, and offers no information or perspective on the issue being discussed.

Regarding the topic being discussed, the "Saeghe" was released and flew several years ago, and the one that flew is the same one whose pictures are being shown in this thread. It caused some speculations, regarding whether if this was the real aircraft everyone was looking forward to or just a test aircraft. Since this new article discusses the "maiden flight" of a new aircraft, I can only assume that we have wait until some media information is released, and that the pictures on the thread are not the pictures of the aircraft discussed in the article.





[edit on 2-4-2006 by Sep]

Originally posted by waynos

why post this as if it is new

Everyhting here has been debated on ATS many times, what does this thread add that is new?

Correct, been covered before, here:
Iranian fighter developments (with photos)

Why is Iranian rearmament so under reported by the Western aviation press? The indigenous Iranian fighter shown in these illustrations and photos looks like a development of the US supplied F-5 fighter, but with new engines, wing and twin fins.

seekerof

Originally posted by Sep

Originally posted by kozmo
Will make for very nice target practice, but little else. Hey, what's with the nun in the cockpit? Is she a pilot?

She is the designer of the aircraft. I think it is fair to ask you not to make fun of the appearance of the individual.

Really??!! Are you sure?
Any sources to confirm that?

Here's something else that's pretty impressive:

Female Fighter Pilots in the PAF 2006




My..my! Can you imagine the discussions taking place in the air crew rooms of IAF bases all over India?
The IAF has femle pilots but they are only heli pilots and/or transport a/c pilots.

The pic above with the g-suits and oxygen masks suggests fighters alright!
So what would they be flying?
Doubt they'll be put on F-16s so is is F-6s, F-7s or Mirages IIIs?

Here are the a/c they trained on: (Just like any other PAF cadet)



[edit on 2-4-2006 by Daedalus3]

Originally posted by ElTiante
Coming soon to a smoking hole in the ground near you Mehran!

You beat me to it! I can't believe that they actually let a woman sit in the cockpit. Seriously.

Originally posted by A_Widows_Son
I can't believe that they actually let a woman sit in the cockpit. Seriously.

Who or what is "they"?
You are aware that there are a number of world air forces that have women fighter pilots, the US included?





seekerof

Exactly! Islamic nations is quite another thing though!
And usually these female pilots aren't F Ops on fighters!
So when you see Islamic Nation - female air force pilot - fighter pilot you go
That was the content of my post a couple of posts back.
Check it out!!