Iran Flaunts an Indigenous Fighter Jet, Says Plane Comparable to F-5
August 5, 2007 by pulkit
Iranian propaganda received a shot in the arm with the unveiling of an indigenous fighter plane. The Iranians are touting it to be a state-of-the-art aircraft, on an even keel with the American F-5. It goes by the name Azarakhsh, which means Lightning in Persian. It is hard to tell whether the fighter jet is as potent as its fancy name makes it sound, as such developments are veiled by a haze of secrecy and propaganda. Its veneer can only be blown in a real battle; that might not be far-off, given Iran’s defiant ways. Iran, ironically enough, has an aging fleet of American origin, brought in the pre-Islamic halcyon days.The myriad of sanctions imposed on Iran make it strenuous for the bellicose state to buy planes or their spare parts.Anyways, you can sample the din of Iranian hoopla below:
“The success of this domestically developed fighter plane is another example of the technological achievements of our country,” said Isfahan governor Morteza Bakhtiari, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.[source]
