Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
The Islamic Republic is working on new home-made fighter jets, Brigadier General Abdolkarim Banitarafi, deputy of Iran's Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) said.
The organization is building new fighters based on the operational needs of the army, Banitarafi said, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Feb. 18.
The official further said that the new Iranian-made fighters will be unveiled in the new future without disclosing exact timeframe.
"We have signed some agreements for building more new fighter models," Banitarafi said, adding building new training aircrafts is also on the IAIO' agenda.
Iran recently unveiled a new homemade fighter jet dubbed Saeqeh 2 which is a developed version of the previous Saeqeh fighter and is produced by the country's Ministry of Defense.
The two-seat jet fighter can be used for close support in tactical missions and training pilots at an advanced stage, he said.
Iran unveiled its first domestically manufactured fighter jet, called the Azarakhsh (Lightning), in 2007. Saeqeh (Thunderbolt), which is a single-seat jet fighter was derived from the American Northrop F-5 and is the second generation of the Iranian Azarakhsh fighter. Iran unveiled its first squadron of Saeqeh fighter jets in an air show in September 2010.
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