HESA Azarakhsh
{{Short description|Iranian fighter aircraft}}
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{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Azarakhsh
| image = An IRIAF HESA Azarakhsh in Vahdati Airbase Air Show.JPG
| caption = HESA Azarakhsh on display at Vahdati Air Base
| type = Light fighter
| manufacturer = Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA)
| designer =
| produced =
| first_flight =
| introduction = 1997
| retired =
| number_built = 6[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/azarakhsh.htm GlobalSecurity.org] Azarakhsh (Lightning)
| status = In service{{cite news|title=Global Security|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce-equipment.htm}} (production completed)
| unit cost =
| primary_user = Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
| more_users =
| developed_from = Northrop F-5
| variants =
| developed_into = HESA Saeqeh
HESA Kowsar
}}
The HESA Azarakhsh ({{langx|fa|آذرخش}} Âzaraxš, "Thunderbolt") is a jet fighter aircraft manufactured by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA). It is widely regarded as a rebuilt and renamed American Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II although Iranian authorities claim it is Iran's first domestically manufactured combat jet fighter.{{cite web |url=http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Iran.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-02-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216120054/http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Iran.pdf |archive-date=2007-02-16 }} Tel Aviv University Publication, Analysis by the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies
The Azarakhsh was developed in Isfahan by the Iranian military, the Iranian Defense Ministry, and aircraft-manufacturing company HESA.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/azarakhsh.htm|title=Azarakhsh|author=John Pike|work=globalsecurity.org|access-date=12 May 2015}}
Development
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 it was reported that Iran had begun producing the aircraft and by mid-2000 four aircraft were said to be undergoing operational tests, with production proceeding at a rate of around ten aircraft per year{{Citation needed|date=September 2007}}.
On May 17, 2000, Iran's acting commander of the Air Force said that Azarakhsh had reached mass-production stage.[http://www.payvand.com/news/00/may/1098.html Pavyand.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404003235/http://www.payvand.com/news/00/may/1098.html |date=2022-04-04 }} Payvand's Iran News
On August 5, 2007, Azarakhsh conducted a successful test flight.[http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-235/0708056117190330.htm Azarakhsh fighter conducts successful test flight] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014184134/http://irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-235/0708056117190330.htm |date=2007-10-14 }} IRNA On August 6, 2007, Ministry of Defense Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said, "
Design
=Azarakhsh=
Production started by late 1997 and as of 2001 there were six aircraft reported to be in service. Iran has yet to release any additional information about the aircraft and its capabilities are unknown.
There are no known differences between the Azarakhsh and the original Northrop F-5E. Coupled with the fact only very few Azarakhsh jets have been observed since the claimed start of production indicates that the Azarakhsh is not a new-built jet fighter, but a rebuild of existing Northrop F-5s.{{cite web |url=http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-irans-fighter-jet-ripoff-just-fake-news-19487 |title=The Buzz :: Why Iran's Fighter-Jet Ripoff Is Just Fake News |publisher=nationalinterest.org |date=2017-02-17 |access-date=2018-05-23}}
=Saeqeh=
{{main|HESA Saeqeh}}
The HESA Saeqeh is a follow on aircraft, derived from the Azarakhsh fighter.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} As with many previous indigenous Iranian developed weapons, no performance data has been released to verify official claims. An unknown number of this generation have been built and are reported to have entered service with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) on September 22, 2007.IRNA [http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0801063451003932.htm 4th, 5th generations of Sa'eqe jet fighters to be produced] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604191735/http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0801063451003932.htm |date=2008-06-04 }} January 5, 2008Payvand News [http://www.payvand.com/news/07/sep/1232.html Saeqeh fighter planes tested successfully in Iran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007212423/http://www.payvand.com/news/07/sep/1232.html |date=2020-10-07 }} September 20, 2007
= Kowsar =
{{Main|HESA Kowsar}}
In August 2018, IAIO unveiled the Kowsar (or Kosar) jet trainer and strike aircraft. The Kowsar will be produced in single and two-seater versions.{{cite news |url=https://www.edrmagazine.eu/project-kowsar-88 |title=European Defence Review magazine |year=2018 |access-date=24 August 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.forces.net/news/new-fighter-jet-unveiled-iranian-military |title=New Fighter Jet Unveiled By Iranian Military |publisher=British Forces Broadcasting Service |work=Forces Network |date=21 August 2018 |access-date=22 August 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/21/iran-unveils-new-fighter-jet-president-says-us-knows-consequences/ |title=Iran unveils new fighter jet as president says US 'knows the consequences' of an attack on Tehran |last=al-Atrush |first=Samer |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=21 August 2018 |access-date=23 August 2018}}
See also
References
{{Commons category|HESA Azarakhsh}}
{{Reflist}}
{{F-5 family}}
{{Iran Military}}
{{Iranian Aircraft}}
{{Weapons of Iran}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesa Azarakhsh}}