Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (FNA) Iranian air force commander here Saturday said his country has achieved the technology for manufacturing radar-evading fighter jets and would soon start production of such planes.
“Iran will launch production of the fourth and fifth generation of Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jets in the near future and these planes which will be radar-evading will start their flights next year,” General Ahmad Mighani said.
He pointed out that all the different generations of Saeqeh and Azarakhsh (Lightening) fighter jets are fully home-grown and that their design and production are carried out inside Iran.
The General reiterated that the said planes enjoy such an advanced technology which rivals with that of Europe, adding that Iran is now manufacturing the third generation of Saeqeh fighters.
He said that the air force is now busy with optimizing the avionic, radar and missile systems of its home-made fighter jets.
The General further pointed to the other achievements made by his forces, including the production of home-made radar systems, and overhaul of 747 passenger planes, adding that the air force will be able to do the overhaul for all giant transportation planes in future.
He also said that the Iranian air force has manufactured advanced missile systems whose technology rivals with the latest version of Europe’s missile technology.
Iran launched its own arms development program during the 8-year Iraqi imposed war (1980-88) in response to a US-led arms embargo, and since 1992 the country has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, and missiles.
Iran has been pushing its arms development program in recent years in a bid to reach self-sufficiency. It has produced its own jet fighters and armored vehicles as well as radar-avoiding missiles, smart bombs and ammunitions and other high-tech weapons.
Last November Iran said to have built a submarine equipped with sonar-evading technology, adding that the craft had been launched in the Persian Gulf.
Iran also test-fired an “ultra-horizon” missile, two powerful torpedoes and a Fajr-e Darya missile capable of avoiding radars and hitting several targets simultaneously using multiple warheads during extensive military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf last year.
