If It Worked For The Russians. . .

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. . .then why not the Iranians?

The Russians completely copied our B-29 Stratofortress, naming it the TU-4:

Our C-5A Galaxy, calling it the Antonov AN-124:

Our space shuttle, calling it the Buran:

So why wouldn’t the Iranians produce their first-ever mass produced jet airplane based upon reverse-engineering of American products, the Azarakhsh (Lightning)?

Iran has begun industrial-scale production of its first domestically manufactured fighter jet, state-run television reported Monday, part of Teheran’s efforts to become militarily self-sufficient.

The plane was first tested in 2006 and was derived from the reverse engineered components of US combat aircraft.

“The airplane, Azarakhsh, was made by Iranian experts, and it has already reached the industrial production stage,” the television quoted Iran’s defense minister, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, as saying.

First question popping into my fetid brain: will an Iranian jet actually fly?

(BTW, interesting article here: entitled “Why Russian Warplanes Suck.”)
BZ
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8 thoughts on “If It Worked For The Russians. . .”

  1. Looks like an F-5 Tiger. Why reverse engineer the F-5? It’s 30+ years old. Seems to make more since to buy the most current Russian aircraft and try to duplicate them. Oh well, training will be the deciding factor. Even our latest fighter, the F-22, is useless if the pilot is poorly trained.

  2. 08 07 07
    Hey BZ:
    Thanks for pointing this out. Yes I do believe that the Iranian jet will fly. All the MORE reason for us to do something about them. If we cannot bring their scientists over to our side, then we need to ACT and Immediately. As I pointed out on one of my posts, the Iranian journal of Physics indicates that they are a group of experts in the sciences. We need to MOVE IMMEDIATELY!

    Ah, have a great week as well!

  4. BZ,

    Here is a link to an article about the aircraft on StrategyPage.

    http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20070807.aspx?comments=Y

    I love the last paragraph:

    Iran began working on the Azarakhsh ten years ago, and has built about ten so far. The aircraft performs mainly as a propaganda vehicle. Thus every successful flight is hailed as a major achievement for the Iranian defense industry.

    Don’t think there is much to fear from this plane. I’m more than happy for the Iranians to duplicate technology we developed 50 years ago.

  5. Well, and IMO the only difference between what Hitler did with Germany and his war Machine vs. that dirt bag in Iran was secrecy, and WE KNOW what Iran is doing.

    We have the ability to stop them but when? PC, the UN, and out right enemy appeasement by liberals and the like will be the sole reason for the mushrooms clouds that are inevitably going to bloom in all their glory one day.

  7. Once again Islam leads the way, backwards a few decades. Yes the plane will fly and fight, but how many can they afford to build, and how will they stack up against a modern American fighter? I agree that it is probably more of a propaganda show-piece then a major threat.

  8. Iran will be using this against it’s neighbors.
    The folks in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia might be a little worried, other than that it’s just cannon fodder for our AF. if someone actually decided to fight where we should be fighting.

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