Teheran, 6 Sept. (AKI) - Iran declared on Wednesday that an entirely Iranian made warplane - named 'Saegheh' (thunder) - has become operational, after successfully finishing a test flight during a major ongoing military exercise being held in the northwestern part of the country. "The test flight, during which Saegheh launched an air-to-surface missile, was a total success," said the head of Iran's amed forces, Ayatollah Salesi. "Saegheh is 100 percent Iranian made and no foreign country has collaborated in its development," Salesi added. Iranian state television reportedly broadcast images of the plane taking off and said that it is "similar to the American F-18 but stronger."
And now, another view...
State media in Tehran say Iran's military has carried out a successful test flight by a new fighter-bomber - a jet that actually is a remodeled version of an American warplane Iran acquired decades ago.
The reports say the remodeled plane, called the Thunderbolt (Saequeh, in Persian) was redesigned and upgraded using only Iranian expertise and equipment. The jet carries a locally built missile with the same name. Iran's army chief, Ataollah Salehi, is quoted as saying the new fighter carried out a mock bombing mission Wednesday, in northwestern Iran. He added that Iran received no outside help for the project.
Televised pictures indicate the new plane is a modified F-5 fighter jet - a U.S.-made aircraft that was supplied to Iran before the Islamic revolution in 1979 that led to a break in relations between Washington and Tehran. | Designed in the late 50's, produced in the 60's and 70's. Nice plane for it's time. The US Navy still has a few used as an aggressor aircraft to represent a hostile fighter in simulated combat with U.S. fighters. How nice of the Iranians to provide more targets for them. |
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