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The IAMI Azarakhsh (Persian: آذرخش, lightning) is Iran's fist domestically manufactured combat aircraft. Iran was not previously known to have a aircraft production capability. In April 1997 Iranian Brigadier General Arasteh, a deputy head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces declared that Iran had successfully designed, constructed, and tested its first fighter aircraft. By late 1997 Iran had begun mass producing the aircraft. By mid-2000, four aircraft were said to be undergoing operational tests, with production proceeding at a rate of around ten aircraft per year.
A great deal of the aircraft is derived from the reverse engineered components of US fighter planes. Notable among these are the F-14 Tomcat, the F-5 Freedom Fighter, and the F-4 Phantom II. Numerous enhancments and upgrades were also built into the design from an early stage.
Iran has yet to release any additional information about the aircraft and its capabilities are unknown. It is believed to be essentially a reverse engineered F-5F, but larger by about 10%-15% and powered by two Tumansky RD-33 turbofans, as used on the Mikoyan MiG-29. The Azarakhsh is also said to use the MiG-29's N-019M Topaz radar.
Specifications (Azarakhsh)
All data somewhat speculative
General Characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 17.70 m (58 ft 1 in)
- Wingspan: 9.20 m (30 ft 2 in)
- Height: m (ft in)
- Wing area: 21.9 m² (236 ft²)
- Empty: 8,000 kg (17,600 lb)
- Loaded:
- Maximum takeoff: 18,000 kg (39,600)
- Powerplant: 2x Tumansky RD-33, 81.6 kN (18,300 lb) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
- Range: 1,200 km (750 miles)
- Service ceiling: m ( ft)
- Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
- Wing loading:
- Thrust-to-weight:
Armament
Related content
Related development:
F-5 Freedom Fighter
Comparable aircraft:
Designation sequence:
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