Iran Unveils Its Own Stealth Fighter Jet, the Qaher F-313

An anonymous reader writes "Iran has unveiled a new home-made combat aircraft, which officials say can evade radar. The single-seat Qaher F313 (Dominant F313) is the latest design produced by Iran's military since it launched the Azarakhsh (Lightning), in 2007. President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad said it had 'almost all the positive features' of the world's most sophisticated jets.Footage from state TV showed the jet in flight, but not its take-off or landing."

Comments

very very stealthy

[sribe]

So stealthy, that I bet no other country will ever be able to detect one in flight ;-)

Re:very very stealthy

[stoolpigeon]

I think this close up of the cockpit makes it clear that that static display isn't functional. The video looked a lot like an RC.

Re:very very stealthy

[91degrees]

It's possible that that is simply a mock-up they used for the cameras. This is pretty common amongst western countries so Iran could be the same. And Iran is spending a fair chunk of cash on science and technology. Plus they have had some access to Russian technology so that should give them a decent leg-up.

I'm not willing to commit to saying this is legit, but I'm reluctant to dismiss it out of hand as well.

Re:very very stealthy

[Charliemopps]

The most telling part is the shell of the cockpit. Look at the walls... it's clearly fiberglass and only about 1/8" thick. I doubt that would withstand any reasonable airspeed at all. Look behind the seat... more fiberglass. Then there's the even more obvious... where do you put your legs?!? The switches and knobs on the right-side are almost totally obscured by the fiberglass overhang. How would you get to them? And then... the funniest part... all the writing I see is in English... lol

Re:very very stealthy

[Luckyo]

You'd be surprised at stuff you see stuck in early prototype cockpits. They used to shove production CRT TVs to showcase early versions of multifunctional displays in military prototyping. Because just making a TFT panel back then cost huge amounts to make a couple for every prototype. Then production stuff carried TFTs.

Regardless, this thing is obvious vaporware aimed at internal propaganda, just like the rest of Iran's fighter jet programs. But cockpit mockup and usage of everyday crap in it isn't the telling part. It's the build of the thing, like ridiculously small engine intakes or radome that couldn't fit any modern military jet radar. Cockpit could actually be a real prototype (though doubtful).

More info on GlobalSecurity.org

[funky49]

I love these guys: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/qaher-313.htm

David Cenciotti noted that the plane featured “implausible aerodynamics and Hollywood sheen” and was laughably small for a fighter jet. He also commented thatthe cockpit was far too basic for a sophisticated aircraft, and appeared “similar to those equipping small private planes. ... The nose section is so small almost no radar could fit in it ... The air intakes are extremely small, whereas the engine section lacks any kind of nozzle: engine afterburners could melt the entire jet. ... It looks like this pilot is in a miniature plane” and it appeared “nothing more than a large mock-up model.” Iran also broadcast video footage of the Qaher F-313 in flight, which Cenciotti said appeared to fly like a “radio-controlled scale model more than a modern fighter jet.” He also noted it was suspect that Tehran did not release takeoff and landing footage of its new aircraft.

Re:Looks like a model

[Sulphur]

"Thrustmaster Mark II joystick stuck to a pole"

That is the last time I lend my gaming gear to Abdas! I wonder why he wanted to borrow my duct tape as well.

That is duck tape used to assemble canards.