Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force /نيروي هوايي جمهوري اسلامي ايران

 


 Credit: Roundels of the world


                                        Last update 04-07-2023

To calculate the local (Iranian) calender deduct 621 to the Gregorian (Western) calender.

The Iranian governement uses the news channels to spread information about modfications/upgrades; sometimes it is not corresponding to realty or is misinformation. Quite a few given projects are thought not
to have reached production status. The Islamic Republic has been lately more open to supply information and in showing aircrafts, but sometimes mixing realty with propaganda. Good photos of F-5s have surfaced

thanks to local information agencies. Various very detailed information have been published by Tagweeh Babak in British (mainly) and French aviation magazines.


Northrop F-5 maintenance and modification/upgrade projects

An US arms embargo after the declaration of the Islamic Republic of Iran forced the Air Force toward self-sufficiency, initially focusing in mantainance of the F-5 fleet, manufacture of spare parts and later in upgrading

available airframes/avionics and building new aircrafts.

Maintenance goal was practically reached early, while manufacturing spare parts was only limited. They had to be unofficially imported; fictitious firms were established in several Western countries, trying to forward

these spares to Iran. Some actions were blocked, like the one in February 1993 when British customs seized 7'5000 General Electric J-85-21B blades that the firm DBI Ltd. had manufactured as replacement for

Iranian AF F-5s with an estimated value of USD 1m; in July 2003 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency searched 18 US companies suspected of having exported aircrafts (among which F-5) and missile

components to Multicore Ltd, an Iranian front company in London for clandestine procurement of weapons system.


The OUJ complex was established at Nahaja in 1986 to revise, re-construct damaged aircrafts, particularly during the war with Iraq, later to construct new, domestic devoped aircrafts


Reverse engeneering of parts for all aircrafts of US origin was organised through some existing aviation companies: HESA/Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries, based at Mehrabad and Isfahan (maintenance, repair of

all types of aircrafts), PANHA (repairing and mantaining  military helicopters and power plants,) GHODS (electronic devices) and Bashir Basir Industy (design, manufacture and upgrade of pilotless planes).
Mehrabad AB houses HESA's main aircraft repair, overhaul and manufacturing facilities; it boasted by 1995 the capability to manufacture 55% of engine and fuselage parts for the Northrop F-5s. Important repairs to

damaged airframes considerably slowed down HESA's capability to develop a new fighter, the Hazarakhsh (see below).


Zam-Zam project

Introduced only in 1995 to add chaff/flare dispenser on outboard underwing pylons. No photos have been shown.


Offogh (Horizon) project
In July 1999 it was announced that this project had improved the range of the APQ-159 fire control radar from 32 to 64 km in search modus and 16 to 40 km in tracking mode and the radar had been equipped with a

90 off-boresight capability, bringing with the Raad project the compatibility to employ Chinese CATIC PL-7, Russian R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) and Sidewinder AIM-9P. Earlier, at an exhibition in Tehran during February 1996,

one F-5E with an PL-7 missile was put on show.


                      Modification to use Chinese PL-7 (itself a copy of French Matra 550 Magic) air -to-air missiles was studied in 1994 or 1995.


Sattar 1 and Sattar 2 projects

These air-to-surface missiles have been revealed mid-1999; the first is said to have a 20 km range and the second is said to have a completely indigenous design, equipped with a Paveway-type search sensor and a

range of 30km. These two missiles are intended for use by Iran's F-4E Phantoms and F-5E Tiger IIs.


Air-to-air refuelling probe

An air-refuelling probe equipped Northrop F-5E was seen for the first time in April 2009. This was a prelude to the modification of the fleet to extend the rather limited range of this fighter, but was not followed on.


Self-sufficency
Improved overhaul/manufacture capacities to increase self-sufficeny were launched in 2008. The Air Force showed remarkable capability in building parts and overhauling aircrafts, including Grumman F-14s, Mikoyan

MiG-21s, Mig-29s and Pilatus PC-7s at "Shahid Babael AB/Izfahan" base.

Initial aim on the way to self sufficency was to manufacture an air-to-air missile, upgrade available avionics and airframes according to necessity. Following projects are known:


Fattar project

Manufacturing an air-to-air missile was high on the self-sufficency requirement. This was realised with "Fatter", consisting of an AIM-9P Sidewinder body and motor and completely new Iranian avionics. The missile is in

service since 2003, reported available in considerable number.


Saeqeh 80

Was an initial uprade using he same designs and airframe as the original Northrop ones.


Kowsar I (fighter)
This project, unveiled in 2018, was started to give a new lease-of-life to the remaining Tigers (around 60) in Iranian use and extend their service life till approximately 2040.

The Air Force Commander in Chief flew an F-5 on a final test flight in March 2018 at Vahdati AFB, recently overhauled in Iran; also anounced in September 2018 was first succcessfull overhaul of an F-5 (together with

an Mirage F.1) in 12.500 man/hours at "Shahid Nasser Habibi AB/Mashad" in Northeastern Iran.


                                                                                                 frame 1       Photo: MEHR Agency

                                                                               Newly overhauled Northrop F-5F, serial 3 on nose, at Shahid Nasser Habibi AB (Mashad)



Development and manufacture of "new" aircrafts

Second aim was to develop new aircrafts and avionics; this was realised in several projects. Each was given a name, which, unfortunately, often changed creating quite a confusion. Iranian secret and desinformation

policy does not help.


In April 1997 the Air Force declared that HESA had successfully designed, built and tested its first fighter aircraft; by late 1997 mass production was to start, most probably not exact; most probably it refers to the

Simorgh project (see below)


Simorgh project
The Simorgh (winged creature in the shape of a bird) project involved the conversion of stored Northrop F-5A and RF-5As into two seaters (mentioned totally 13), needed due to the shortage of advanced trainer in

the Air Force, replacing old Lockheed T-33As.

HESA was charged to realise it, starting with the conversion at its Izfahan factory from around 1991, later Iran Manufacturing industries (IAMI) at Izfahan/Shahid Babael AB. Northrop documentation was available and

clandestine import of avionics and cockpit transparencies from the USA was organized; work on the first airframe started around 1993. Seven are said to have been delivered

by the end of the year 2002, 9 by 2005

                                                                                                               Prototype Simorgh conversion, serial 09.   Photo: HESA?

                 Photo: Fly Angel
Overhaul facility showing 1 Simorgh two-seater. 1 Northrop RF-5A modified as Simorgh),           In-flight view of Simoragh code 11 and an unknown one; strangely tail and nose stripes
single-seater (?, 1 Northrop RF-5A and, probably, 1 Northrop F-5E.                                         seem to be blue/white/red instead of green/white/red like the national flag.


Unconfirmed information state that former Vietnamese Northrop F-5A were received at an unknown date and, at least one, modified to two-seater by HESA for use by the 85th Squadron, renamed Advanced Training
Squadron. A total of approximately 12 Freedom Fighters, fighter and reconnaissance, were modified to the Simorgh standard.

              

One of two Simorghs shown to the public was at Kish Island air show in October 2002, serial           3-7017B first noted camouflaged Simorgh landing at Tehran-Mehrabad on 17-06-08
3_7020b ex  RF-5A.Note 8 on tail showing its home base: 8th Tactical Air Base-Isfahan.                                                                                                              Photo: Shahram S
                                                                               Photo: Holger Müller www.mig-21.de

                                                                                           Photo: Shahram S.
                                                                 Simorgh 3-7013B landing at Tehran-Mehrabad on 17-06-08, note big "Simorgh" drawinging on tail, different
                                                                 to serial 3_7020B shown above; five Simorgh have participated at the fly-past in Tehran on 17-06-08.


Following projects are based on the Northrop F-5 and are probably only meant as technological demonstrators to help development of a much more advanced trainer/fighter named Shafagh, allegedly based on the

Russian-Iranian "Project Integral".

                                                                                                           Photo: @Ninja998998

                                                                 Former Iranian Air Tours Tupolev-Tu 154M used by HESA as testbed for the Russian K-36D ejection-seat.

                                                                 On top of the tail of was the forward part of a Northrop RF-5A, inside the RF-5A cockpit the new ejection seat.


According to iranian information the name Simorgh has been given to a transport aircraft, flown for the first time om 30-05-23, derived from the IrAn-140.


Silk Road project

Indipendent to all other projects it started as Silk Road II in 2001; the upgraded aircraft was to be manufactured by the Owj complex to include (mostly made in China) avionics upgrade: Sy-80 Fire Control

System (needing to expand radome slightly and delete of one M39 cannon) two MFD, GPS, TACAN, HUD, RWR and PL-5C air-to-air missiles. Seven Chinese, some Russian experts and aeronautical engineers

collaborated with local experts. The first reverse-engined aircraft was used as a test aircraft, followed by another single- and 1 double-seater but trials were abruptly stopped early 2007 by the Chinese

governement, complying with the UN arms embargo to Iran.


Azarakhsh (Lightning) projects

This is a reverse enginered of both the basic Northrop F-5E and F-5F aircraft presented as completely developed by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (HESA) at Isfahan and  locally built, but according to some
fonts, only original frames have been improved. Two single- and one double seater serials are shown on photos.
This capability was reached after manufacturing F-5E fuselages, avionics etc  refurbishment of damaged airframes. It has strengthened and reinforced composite wings, providing capability to carry 1'000 kg guided
bombs, a laser designator and a new, more advanced radar with some Russian parts. Additional improvements are in the possibility to carry locally developed new air-to-ground (Zulfiqar) and Shabaz-1/2 unguided,
large caliber rockets in addition to the normal Sidewinders and Chinese PL-7 air-to-air missiles and bombs. The General Electric J-85 engines were uprated with stronger thrust; first flight is given in 1997.  In April 1997
the Air Force declared that HESA had successfully designed, built and tested its first fighter aircraft; but by late 1997 mass production had not started.

The "new" aircrafts participated to the exercise "Blow of Zolfaqar", which began on 19-08-06. By mid-2000 four aircraft were said to have been undergoing operational tests and, officially, a production of about ten
aircrafts per year was foreseen to fulfil an order of 30-35 aircrafts, which never materialised.

                                                                                    Fake published by FARS information agency
                                                                                                             Mid-fuselage wings equipped Azarakhsh, fake photo
Two single and 1 double-seater Azarakhsh (of possibly 6 built by 2001) participated also to the National Army Day fly-past at Teheran on 17-04-2008, serial 3-7361 is shown hereunder. All these were simply
testbeds; at present (2022) they are stored.
                                                                                     Photo: News Agency/Shahram S.
                                                                                                                            Azarakhsh 3-7361 landing

                  
3-7174 Only double-seater Azarakhsh known, seen 17-04-08         Photo: MEHR agency          Fully bomb-laden double-seater Azarakhsh seen on take-off. It possibly is an Northrop F-5F
                                                                                                                                        painted in Azarakhsh colours during the excercise "Blow of Zolfaqar", on 06-09-06.                                                                                                                                         Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi/FARS NEWS AGENCY

A second upgrade, under the designation Azarakhsh II included "Silk Road II" Chinese electronics and ability to fire Chinese PL-7 and AIM-9J missiles but was not accepted by the Air Force. A standard
Northrop F-5F was shown publicly with this modification, renamed Azarakshsh II.

HESA F/B22
This was an new monufacturing Project by HESA on the basis of the Northrop F-5F; a new bubble canopy, single- instead of doule-seater, was to replace the original one. Back seat was removed and replaced by an
extra fuel tank, spin extened for extra fuel. Project was abandoned, no prototype was built.

Saeqheh I (Thunderbolt) project
Saeqheh is the most advanced F-5 Iranian modification project known, probably realised to learn about the effect of twin tail on the aircraft's performance to gain experience for the development of the new
twin-tail fighter named Saeqheh, confirmed by the commander of the Owj Complex (which built the aircaft) in 2017.

                                                                                             Drawing: Venga

New outboard canted fins were probaby influenced by the Canadian Venga TG-10, all-composite jet tainer and light strike aircraft, shown at Le Bourget in 1994, see above.

Saeqheh I was developed by MATSA Air Force Technology and Electronic Center and the Shahid Sattari Air Force University of Teheran, starting in 1998, first flight occurring on 30-05-04. Northrop F-5E airframes, rebuilt
from scrap, were converted to the new configuration (at least one is a former Vietnamese aircraft). Iranian made, partially digitalized, components have replaced some parts of the Emerson APG-159 radar; new platforms
have replaced the navigation systems and radios. It officially first flew 08-07-04 from Mehrabad AFB, entered service with the Air Force on 06-09-06 and was claimed to be the first completely designed and manufactured
aircraft in Iran. The project was transferred to Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries for further development in 2007.

                                                                                                     Photo: FARS Agency
                                                                        First prototype serial S110-001 in original colours. Visible is the F-18 similar fin and new square air inlets.

Three prototypes were built and it seems 9 additional modifications from Northrop F-5E were planned, against the wishes of the Air Force. Only a total of five aircraft's serials have been sighted till now now (2022)
in use by the 23rd Fighter Squadron at Tabriz.

Officially the aircraft entered serivice on 06-09-06. Known is the participation of the first prototype to the exercise "Blow of Zolfaqar", which began on 19-08-06 ending on 07-09-06, carrying out attack missions armed
with Multiple Rocket Launcher, as shown here accompanied by an F-5F; the aircraft was without Sidewinder missile rails at wing tips.



  Two additional prototypes flew from Tehran on 20-09-07. The three aircrafts joined the IRAF on 22-09-07 when they made their appearance to fly-by at  the National Army Day.
  All three aircrafts participated to the same event in the year 2008.

  Photo: FARS News Agency/Hosseini Fatemi


                   
                                                                 First and second prototype (background) S110-001/-002 landing at Mehrabad on 22-09-07. Note second
                                                                 prototype with modified pitot tube, fin attachment to fuselage, normal round air inlets, and new, slightly
                                                                 different paint for each aircraft, reminding US Blue Angels aerobatic team colours.
                                                                                                                                                                                           Photo: Shahram S.

Saeqeh participated actively at air-shows, among which the one at Bandar Abbas Naval Base on June 02nd, the air-parade at Teheran on Semptenber 22nd, and to exercise Milad-e-Noor-e-Velayat on June 22nd
to 24th 2009 in Southern Iran.

               
              Bombs armed Saeqeh 1 3-6367 during a Southern Iran excercise                                                Sidewinder (or local product) and cannon (rockets launcher?) 3-7367 armed Saeqeh 1
                                                                                                                                                at Dezful airshow in March 2013 

                                                                                       
                                                                                           Line-up of three Saeqh Saeqeh 1 at Teheran-Mehrabad

                                                                      
                                                                                      Camouflaged HESA Saeqeh-80 3-7367 seen at Mehrabad AB

One Saeqeh 1 equipped Squadron has been formed according to an statement made by the Commander of the Air Force made on 24-02-10, both for air defence and ground attack with bombs, rockets and cannons.
This is not tought to be a new Squadron, but the aircrafts integrated in the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Tabriz AB. Only 4 prototypes have been photographed at the same time.

                            Photo: DaraZ
Front view  IAI Saegeh 1, of interest four underwing armament pylons                          Over fusesalge view of Saegeh 1, serial 3-7378 2nd Tactical Air Base at Kish Island Air Show, 28-11-18

Iranian medias stated in January 2015 that mass production of the Saegeh has started, unofficial sources mentioned that 24 Northrop F-5s were planned to be modified. Only four Saeqheh have been shown together,
but probably only six were built
                                                                                 Photo: Simane
                                                                                                                Saeqeh single-seater being serviced.

                                                                                 Photo: Frank Grealish/IrishAirPics.com
                                                                                            Underfuselage view of the two Saegeh at Kish Island Air Show

                                                                                 Photo: Saeed Ezadi
                                                                  Line-up of  Azarakhsh, F-5F, Saegeh at Dezful/Vahdati AB on 24-03-10. Note tiger head on Northrop F-5F

                                                                        
                                                                                                          Interesting tail view of a Saeqeh I

frame 1           
        A mysterous Saeqeh I monument was shown at Mehrabad AB on a video.                                  Another mysterous monument, serial 7366, colours Saeqeh 1, tail Northrop F-5E
                                                                                                                       Who has details?
Saeqheh II
Three camouflaged two-seaters were shown for the first time at Teheran-Mehrabad in April 2015 (serialled 3-7368) and on 18-04-17 (serial 3-7182), one at Kish Island on 17.11.16 (3-7370).

     
           One of the first Saegheh II to be shown (possibly the prototype), serial 3-7182                                                            Front view of serial 3-7182

                                                                         Photo: unknown
                                                         Poor quality still from a video of a Saeqeh II carrying an underfuselage tank, underwing training (possibly)
                                                         air-to-air missile (which one?), no wing-tip missile.

According to local soureces there were 8 single- and 2 doubleseaters in service beginning 2020, reverse-engined aircraft was used as a test aircraft, followed by another single- and

1 double-seaters.

                                                                         Photo: unknown
                                                           Camouflaged Saeqeh I in company of a Northrop F-5F (3-7155 or 76?) used duriing an excercise in 2023

Kowsar 88 project (trainer), renamed Yasin3

In order to manufacture locally a replacement advanced trainer, called Kowsar 88, components of 3 surviving Northrop RF-5a and 6 Northrop F-5A were planned to be used, announced in 2012. First flight

was foreseen by February 2017 but was delayed due to the use of parts for the mock-up of the new fighter: Qather F-313. A total of 16 Kowsar was foreseen to be built, 11 Simorgh to be still used until

deliveries of the new aircraft was completed.


Kowsar project (trainer/fighter)

A new modernisation effort was started 2009, named Kowsar in 2018. IAMI was contracted to modify 47 Northrop F-5E and 16 Northrop F-5F and manufacture 4 new aircrafts to make losses good. The first of

these lasts flew on January. Several aircraft from the original project were used to fasten development. All (many) short-comings of earleir (Silk Road) project were to be settled and substituted by Iranian-built

items,even integrating Pilatus PC-7 and Bell AH-1J parts Iranian built radar, Bayynet II copy of the Chinese SY-80) was also installed.


Development of the project, the whole avionics had been modernized in-country:  INS/GPS, TACAN navigation suite, modern HUD+MFD with digital map, modern IFF, RWR, altimeter, a new ejector seat (based

on the Russian K-36, as used on the MiG-29) and J-85-GE-21 turbojet, called "Owj", also made in Iran.
As armament it carried one 20 millimeter cannon, could be fitted with 2 Fatir missiles (Iranian built AIM-9 Sidewinders), 2'400 kg of weapons with 5 minutes combat at maximum power/at sea level and several
types of Hydra rocket launchers. An Italian Grifo radar (Chinese model or its local model) is also carried.


The prototype airframe had already been locally manufactured earlier, difficulty at the time was to obtain new avionics, thus being unable to launch a full scale production. All this according to Iranian information;

quite a lot for a Tiger copy!


One new aircraft was shown to President Rohani visiting an armament exhibition in Teheran on 21-08-18. Mentioned this as a prototype two-seater (serial 3-7400) allegedly fully developed in-country by

Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (IAMI).


First flight of first two Kowsar modernized Northrop F-5Fs was respectively on December 2018 and January 2020 and delivered officially to the IRIAF on 25-06-20. The Air Forces commander stated that

15 trainers would be delivered by 2022. All this according to Iranian information; quite a lot for a Tiger copy!


It is clearly derivated from the Northrop F-5F; has only a single tail (not like double tails of the Saeqheh II). The aircraft has been produced/modified by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (IAMI).
A low pace of development/production was due to shortage of funds and technical problems.

                                                                        
                                                                                           Kowsar trainer seen in primer colours, showing modifications.

           
Partial view of production line; five aircrafts were on the line (published 18-11-18), probably seen at IAMI                             Leaflet with performances
The same aircrafts as those shown in our Iranian Republic AF site, acrobatic team.

                           
                                                                          Roll-out and underfuselage view of Kowsar, serial 3-7400   Photos: MEHR/ Iranian Ministry of Defence

                                                                                  
                                                                                                   Kowsar trainer overfuselage  Photos: MEHR/ Iranian Ministry of Defence

According to some sources an acro-team will be formed with this aircraft, staging a n airshow in the International Air Show to be held in 2020, later also in other coutries.
An acrobatic team of three aircrafts was shown in 2020. (see Iran Iranian Republic AF); one additional aircraft and 2 Northrop F5E are scheduled to be delivered ro the AIr Force.

Is the aircraft below developed in Iran set to replace the Freedom Fighter, or is it just another fake news as it has been several times earlier? Probably just a mock-up. Some
sources mention this was powered by General Electric J-85 engines (taken from a Tiger aircraft) just for a photo shooting or for rolling trias,

                                                                                  
                                                                                                                        Prototype F-313 08.      Photo: Irib News