Iranian Air Force (IRIAF/IRGC-ASF) | News and Discussions

[Michael]

Chinese tech suddenly jumped miles above in 2000s. They suddenly could produce KLJ-7/10 from producing 3rd gen SY-80 FCRs. Western tech stolen or not, they built it in China. Iran is unfortunately still looking for this breakthrough in manned aviation.

No country's scientific capabilities can improve "suddenly."

The reasons you perceive it as "sudden" are:
1. I don't like to boast;
2. You don't pay much attention to me.

 

[Mr Iran Eye]

I won't name him, but Mr. X told me to copy and paste his answer here. He's excellent on combat aviation issues in my group. So Mr. X said:

Dear Emirzad,

I've heard you insist that the Kowsar fighter jet project has been abandoned, but frankly, that doesn't hold water. Let me explain why it's false, with concrete and recent facts that show this program is very much alive and evolving.

In September 2023, the commander of the Iranian Air Force announced that the construction of a Kowsar squadron (as a predator fighter and bomber) was in its final stages and would soon join the forces. And in November 2024, reports indicated that sixteen Kowsar-88s (an advanced trainer variant) were planned for the next decade, with plans to cannibalize parts from older F-5s for engines if necessary. There is no indication of abandonment; on the contrary, Iran continues to invest to mitigate sanctions and modernize its fleet.

The Kowsar is still being discussed in 2025 as an operational asset, with mentions of its role in the Iranian fleet alongside other indigenous aircraft like the Saeqeh. There are no credible rumors of the project being halted—just Western criticism of its technical limitations, which is understandable given the constraints, but that doesn't mean it's dead.

In short, Emirzad, if you have solid evidence for your claim (not just hearsay), share it; I'm curious. Otherwise, it's time to acknowledge that the Kowsar is still a high priority in Iranian plans. What do you think?

You mention on the Pakistani forum that IRIAF only built 5 kowsars, but your statement is incorrect.

No, not "just 5": as of June 2020, three Kowsars were delivered to the Iranian Air Force, and series production, which began in 2018, aims for at least seven initial units, with plans for a full squadron and 16 training variants (Kowsar-88) within the next decade. The facts speak for themselves—reliable sources like Wikipedia and Airforce Technology confirm that this is far more than your underestimated figure. If you have evidence to the contrary, show it!
What makes you say that?

Yes, Wikipedia does mention "5" as an estimate of the number built to date (based on the 3 delivered in 2020 plus the prototypes), but this figure is marked "citation needed" – so it's not definitive and hasn't been updated recently. This doesn't change the fact that series production began in 2018 with at least 7 units initially planned, and that the project is still active: in service, with no sign of stopping, and with variants like the Kowsar-88 planned for the coming years. If the point is to say "it's not many, so it's abandoned," that's a simplification – Iran is moving forward despite the sanctions, and reliable sources (Jane's, etc.) confirm that it's continuing. So, what's still holding you back?

Mr X

 

[ToddE]

Agreed in everything. Just let me add that F5/Kowsar has its niche.
Instead of putting those Yak130 in QRA alert in Mehrabad, they could do it easier with Kowsar and Azarakash IR missiles.
It is faster and it is combat capable with visual range IR missiles. Yak 130 should be just for training and OCU (operational conversion unit) to jump from Kowsar to Mig29 or even Su35. Even Kowsar have a gun to fight those insidious drones in contrast to Yak130.

I wrote few pages ago that a fully armed and operationalized Kowsar is much better than fully armed YAK-130M/M2. Plane can hit 0.9/1.6 without/with afterburners, can climb at 35K ft/min pulling 7-8Gs. It can cover up larger area for combating UCAVs/kamikaze drones and ALCMs/SOWs. For point defense, it can also search and track enemy intruders at BVR ranges (an F-15 at 120 KM), can launch BVR or E-warfare attack from distance while can launch HOBS at WVR ranges. It can datalink with IADS, drones and other fighters for larger Search n Track operation over a city. For CAS it has 4 inbuilt flight/weapons computers, can look down shoot down for PGM or more accurate unguided strike thanks to onboard Ballistic Computers. Who in their right mind would not want this plane as their Advanced Trainer + Light CAP compared to 20 Million USD tagged YAK-130? Any sane country would order 100 of these for AT + point defence. Look at FCK-1 programs for starters.

But here is the problem, except for 4-5 prototypes, it does not exist in IRIAF !

IAIO has been trying to domesticate local F-5 production for 30 years now. It resulted in 3 Azarakhsh, 6 Saegheh, 5 Kowsar, 2 Yasin ATs in 3 decades. All prototypes, none mass produced. IAIO due to its corruption, lack of budget, incompetence, ZERO accountability from leadership, has failed to deliver a production line. This is why I favor YAK-130 over local F-5 because YAK-130 comes in as CKD and in few days flies right away with its R-73s. No matter how good local F-5 looks on paper, it cant just fly.

No country's scientific capabilities can improve "suddenly."

The reasons you perceive it as "sudden" are:
1. I don't like to boast;
2. You don't pay much attention to me.

Please explain why should I write essays on reasons behind Chinese technological advancement in a post solely about Iranian domestic F-5 production?

 

[ToddE]

I won't name him, but Mr. X told me to copy and paste his answer here. He's excellent on combat aviation issues in my group. So Mr. X said:

Dear Emirzad,

I've heard you insist that the Kowsar fighter jet project has been abandoned, but frankly, that doesn't hold water. Let me explain why it's false, with concrete and recent facts that show this program is very much alive and evolving.

In September 2023, the commander of the Iranian Air Force announced that the construction of a Kowsar squadron (as a predator fighter and bomber) was in its final stages and would soon join the forces. And in November 2024, reports indicated that sixteen Kowsar-88s (an advanced trainer variant) were planned for the next decade, with plans to cannibalize parts from older F-5s for engines if necessary. There is no indication of abandonment; on the contrary, Iran continues to invest to mitigate sanctions and modernize its fleet.

The Kowsar is still being discussed in 2025 as an operational asset, with mentions of its role in the Iranian fleet alongside other indigenous aircraft like the Saeqeh. There are no credible rumors of the project being halted—just Western criticism of its technical limitations, which is understandable given the constraints, but that doesn't mean it's dead.

In short, Emirzad, if you have solid evidence for your claim (not just hearsay), share it; I'm curious. Otherwise, it's time to acknowledge that the Kowsar is still a high priority in Iranian plans. What do you think?

You mention on the Pakistani forum that IRIAF only built 5 kowsars, but your statement is incorrect.

No, not "just 5": as of June 2020, three Kowsars were delivered to the Iranian Air Force, and series production, which began in 2018, aims for at least seven initial units, with plans for a full squadron and 16 training variants (Kowsar-88) within the next decade. The facts speak for themselves—reliable sources like Wikipedia and Airforce Technology confirm that this is far more than your underestimated figure. If you have evidence to the contrary, show it!
What makes you say that?

Yes, Wikipedia does mention "5" as an estimate of the number built to date (based on the 3 delivered in 2020 plus the prototypes), but this figure is marked "citation needed" – so it's not definitive and hasn't been updated recently. This doesn't change the fact that series production began in 2018 with at least 7 units initially planned, and that the project is still active: in service, with no sign of stopping, and with variants like the Kowsar-88 planned for the coming years. If the point is to say "it's not many, so it's abandoned," that's a simplification – Iran is moving forward despite the sanctions, and reliable sources (Jane's, etc.) confirm that it's continuing. So, what's still holding you back?

Mr X

ROFL

- Mr. X is you
- This "secret Telegram group" does not exist.
- People with actual "Inside Scoop" become journalists, not post "secrets" on Telegram.
- Provide evidence of this mass produced batch please?
- You assumed that aviation enthusiasts follow wikipedia, lol. We cite actual evidence like serial numbers and globally accepted WAF. IRIAF is a highly camera friendly force, serials can be counted for all planes, aint nobody hiding any airframe in Iran.
- Counted serial numbers in 8 years ... 3-7400, 3-7164 and 3-7180 ... One delivery was later announced without serial and Sat imagery showed one airframe in primer outside HESA's plant.
- Janes does not produce serial numbers of planes, WAF does and is the global standard. Learn before making up stories on internet about aviation.
- Cut the Bob of Baghdad like crap, nobody is buying it in age of information. People like you are responsible for downfall of Iranian aviation because of peddling corrupt people's narrative 24/7.

 

[Mr Iran Eye]

ROFL

- Mr. X is you
- This "secret Telegram group" does not exist.
- People with actual "Inside Scoop" become journalists, not post "secrets" on Telegram.
- Provide evidence of this mass produced batch please?
- You assumed that aviation enthusiasts follow wikipedia, lol. We cite actual evidence like serial numbers and globally accepted WAF. IRIAF is a highly camera friendly force, serials can be counted for all planes, aint nobody hiding any airframe in Iran.
- Counted serial numbers in 8 years ... 3-7400, 3-7164 and 3-7180 ... One delivery was later announced without serial and Sat imagery showed one airframe in primer outside HESA's plant.
- Janes does not produce serial numbers of planes, WAF does and is the global standard. Learn before making up stories on internet about aviation.
- Cut the Bob of Baghdad like crap, nobody is buying it in age of information. People like you are responsible for downfall of Iranian aviation because of peddling corrupt people's narrative 24/7.

No! It's not me, far from it. He's much more competent than I am in the field of aviation and much more organized. I like to pass on these messages because it's essential to get answers from people who are far more knowledgeable. This is a real problem here, and he agrees with me. He replied earlier today; here is his response :


Haha Emirzad, calm down, yaar, you're going to give us all a heart attack with your theories!

No, I'm not "Mr. Iran Eye" pretending to be a ghost. I'm Reza, who worked at HESA (2009-2017). I now work in the private sector in Tehran, but I'm still in three or four Telegram groups with colleagues who are still involved with IRIAF/HESA. That's all. Iran Eye just asked me to pass on what I told him last night, because I almost never go on the forums (too much noise, not enough solid sources).

So there you have it, this is Reza speaking directly to you now.

Regarding the Kowsar:

The first three delivered in 2020 → 3-7400, 3-7164, 3-7180 (official photos, everyone has them).

The fourth (no visible number in public photos) → rolled off the assembly line in late 2021, used for integration testing of the new avionics package (internally known as "Block 10").

The fifth → seen in March 2023 at TFB.7 (Tabriz), painted light gray, number partially obscured but confirmed by two friends who still work there.

Two more (the 6th and 7th) are in final assembly this year, destined for the two-seat Kowsar-88 version; the engine parts come from cannibalized old F-5s and upgraded Owjs.

So no, it's not "just 3 or 5 and that's it." It's slow, it's discreet, but the production line is still moving. If tomorrow you see 20 Kowsars in official photos, you'll be the first to be surprised, but we already know they're arriving little by little.

So Emirzad, now that you know who I am (Reza, not a bot, not Iran Eye), do you want to keep digging or are you going to say I'm a fake again?

And this group? Not secret at all, just restricted to enthusiasts – Iranians, ex-pilots, engineers who work in the civilian sector but keep an eye on the IRIAF. We speak freely, without Western censorship, and yeah, there are scoops that don't make it onto Wikipedia or Jane's.

 

[Comandante]

Yak-130M/M2 have BARS-130 AESA radar. With R-73M+R-77 they can easily take on incoming drones/loitering munitions, SOWs/ALCMs.

IRIAF either invests heavily in YAK-130M or builds 100 Kowsars for this role. Seems like YAK-130 is already winning the role if initial order of 36 is true. They can later order another 30-40 airframes as CKD and F-5 fleet + Kowsar project can RIP.

The Yak 130m is still just a prototype, production has not started. According to the previous ones, it cannot be made in Iran either!

 

[Shags101]

ROFL

- Mr. X is you
- This "secret Telegram group" does not exist.
- People with actual "Inside Scoop" become journalists, not post "secrets" on Telegram.
- Provide evidence of this mass produced batch please?
- You assumed that aviation enthusiasts follow wikipedia, lol. We cite actual evidence like serial numbers and globally accepted WAF. IRIAF is a highly camera friendly force, serials can be counted for all planes, aint nobody hiding any airframe in Iran.
- Counted serial numbers in 8 years ... 3-7400, 3-7164 and 3-7180 ... One delivery was later announced without serial and Sat imagery showed one airframe in primer outside HESA's plant.
- Janes does not produce serial numbers of planes, WAF does and is the global standard. Learn before making up stories on internet about aviation.
- Cut the Bob of Baghdad like crap, nobody is buying it in age of information. People like you are responsible for downfall of Iranian aviation because of peddling corrupt people's narrative 24/7.

Not going to lie every time I see a post on the Air Force thread thinking it might be new aircraft like su 35 hell I would take kowsar 3.0 lol but it just seems like the same rehashed stuff I will even take a simorgh converted gunship which I think would be a great stop gap for patrolling Irans borders

 

[PakAl]

Yak-130M/M2 have BARS-130 AESA radar. With R-73M+R-77 they can easily take on incoming drones/loitering munitions, SOWs/ALCMs.

IRIAF either invests heavily in YAK-130M or builds 100 Kowsars for this role. Seems like YAK-130 is already winning the role if initial order of 36 is true. They can later order another 30-40 airframes as CKD and F-5 fleet + Kowsar project can RIP.

Iran must forget about F5s and Kowsar. I understand they want domestic solution but fighter jets are too complex, the biggest challenge is the engine, even Turkey and China struggle, Its better to save funds and go for YAK 130 which is perfect for CAS, training etc, the next target must be Su35s or su30s, 4.5++ fighter jet. But will Russia sell? In 2007 it was reported Iran bought Su30s.

I want Iran to go for Yak130s and K8s as CAS and trainers, then go for Jf17s for light weight fighter jets and finally J10CE for air superiority. Its a big IF but Iran neighbour used it effectively and Iran must take advantage. The next step will be J35s.

 

[Shags101]

Iran must forget about F5s and Kowsar. I understand they want domestic solution but fighter jets are too complex, the biggest challenge is the engine, even Turkey and China struggle, Its better to save funds and go for YAK 130 which is perfect for CAS, training etc, the next target must be Su35s or su30s, 4.5++ fighter jet. But will Russia sell? In 2007 it was reported Iran bought Su30s.

I want Iran to go for Yak130s and K8s as CAS and trainers, then go for Jf17s for light weight fighter jets and finally J10CE for air superiority. Its a big IF but Iran neighbour used it effectively and Iran must take advantage. The next step will be J35s.

im not saying Irans aviation building skills are on par with turkey or Pakistan because it’s not maybe one day but not today but always the problem when relying on countries like Russia or china they can cut you off tomorrow if it doesn’t benefit them to help you Russia till this day shows that and china you would think they would want to help counter western influence has no desire to do that all minus some chemicals for missile production but what good are those chemicals if you can’t stop a bombing raid from the air

 

[PakAl]

I wrote few pages ago that a fully armed and operationalized Kowsar is much better than fully armed YAK-130M/M2. Plane can hit 0.9/1.6 without/with afterburners, can climb at 35K ft/min pulling 7-8Gs. It can cover up larger area for combating UCAVs/kamikaze drones and ALCMs/SOWs. For point defense, it can also search and track enemy intruders at BVR ranges (an F-15 at 120 KM), can launch BVR or E-warfare attack from distance while can launch HOBS at WVR ranges. It can datalink with IADS, drones and other fighters for larger Search n Track operation over a city. For CAS it has 4 inbuilt flight/weapons computers, can look down shoot down for PGM or more accurate unguided strike thanks to onboard Ballistic Computers. Who in their right mind would not want this plane as their Advanced Trainer + Light CAP compared to 20 Million USD tagged YAK-130? Any sane country would order 100 of these for AT + point defence. Look at FCK-1 programs for starters.

But here is the problem, except for 4-5 prototypes, it does not exist in IRIAF !

IAIO has been trying to domesticate local F-5 production for 30 years now. It resulted in 3 Azarakhsh, 6 Saegheh, 5 Kowsar, 2 Yasin ATs in 3 decades. All prototypes, none mass produced. IAIO due to its corruption, lack of budget, incompetence, ZERO accountability from leadership, has failed to deliver a production line. This is why I favor YAK-130 over local F-5 because YAK-130 comes in as CKD and in few days flies right away with its R-73s. No matter how good local F-5 looks on paper, it cant just fly.

The reason for not mass producing may be related to safety issues, its too risky to spend billions on local platform when safety standards cannot be met. Any updates on Qaher 313, it has been 12 years.

 

[ToddE]

No! It's not me, far from it. He's much more competent than I am in the field of aviation and much more organized. I like to pass on these messages because it's essential to get answers from people who are far more knowledgeable. This is a real problem here, and he agrees with me. He replied earlier today; here is his response :


Haha Emirzad, calm down, yaar, you're going to give us all a heart attack with your theories!

No, I'm not "Mr. Iran Eye" pretending to be a ghost. I'm Reza, who worked at HESA (2009-2017). I now work in the private sector in Tehran, but I'm still in three or four Telegram groups with colleagues who are still involved with IRIAF/HESA. That's all. Iran Eye just asked me to pass on what I told him last night, because I almost never go on the forums (too much noise, not enough solid sources).

So there you have it, this is Reza speaking directly to you now.

Regarding the Kowsar:

The first three delivered in 2020 → 3-7400, 3-7164, 3-7180 (official photos, everyone has them).

The fourth (no visible number in public photos) → rolled off the assembly line in late 2021, used for integration testing of the new avionics package (internally known as "Block 10").

The fifth → seen in March 2023 at TFB.7 (Tabriz), painted light gray, number partially obscured but confirmed by two friends who still work there.

Two more (the 6th and 7th) are in final assembly this year, destined for the two-seat Kowsar-88 version; the engine parts come from cannibalized old F-5s and upgraded Owjs.

So no, it's not "just 3 or 5 and that's it." It's slow, it's discreet, but the production line is still moving. If tomorrow you see 20 Kowsars in official photos, you'll be the first to be surprised, but we already know they're arriving little by little.

So Emirzad, now that you know who I am (Reza, not a bot, not Iran Eye), do you want to keep digging or are you going to say I'm a fake again?

And this group? Not secret at all, just restricted to enthusiasts – Iranians, ex-pilots, engineers who work in the civilian sector but keep an eye on the IRIAF. We speak freely, without Western censorship, and yeah, there are scoops that don't make it onto Wikipedia or Jane's.

Stop polluting the technical thread with your theatrics and AI written trash, you have ZERO inside scoop or evidence to back up the stupidity you post here.

Dear @Persian Gulf, Deliberate attempts at spreading misinformation, disguised as "inside" information should be discouraged in technical threads like this IMO.

 

[ToddE]

The Yak 130m is still just a prototype, production has not started. According to the previous ones, it cannot be made in Iran either!

YAK-130M very much exists, you dont see it because no one has ordered it yet. Also why cant it be assembled inside Iran? current YAK fleet also came as CKD kits, the M version wont be very different I believe.

Also we do not know what kind of YAK-130 IRIAF is operating now, some videos of them I have seen of them show them flying with R-73 and a large ECM pods, could very well be a customized version.

 

[ToddE]

Iran must forget about F5s and Kowsar. I understand they want domestic solution but fighter jets are too complex, the biggest challenge is the engine, even Turkey and China struggle, Its better to save funds and go for YAK 130 which is perfect for CAS, training etc, the next target must be Su35s or su30s, 4.5++ fighter jet. But will Russia sell? In 2007 it was reported Iran bought Su30s.

Plane flies on local turbojets "OWJ" (J-85 II copy) which have shown ZERO problem so far so I dont know what you are talking about. Turkey and China can not be used in same sentence lol. China is a superpower, Turkey's STEM or overall industrial capabilities match Iran at best if you minus the imports.

Extreme budget cuts killed the program, nothing else. In technical capability, local F-5 (Kowsar) >>> YAK-130M as AT/CAS/Light CAP. YAK-130 option is better overall because it comes as CKD and flies in few days by passing the IAIO corruption.

I want Iran to go for Yak130s and K8s as CAS and trainers, then go for Jf17s for light weight fighter jets and finally J10CE for air superiority. Its a big IF but Iran neighbour used it effectively and Iran must take advantage. The next step will be J35s.

Relax, we are getting SU-35S but remember Airforces have not been tested in modern actual wars (stretched over months). With the rapid advancement in missile capabilities and new doctrine of mass missile strikes, who knows what will happen to airbases hosting shiny fighters.

 

[ToddE]

The reason for not mass producing may be related to safety issues, its too risky to spend billions on local platform when safety standards cannot be met. Any updates on Qaher 313, it has been 12 years.

Budget cut and nothing else. Read articles on key-aero about it. IRIAF had no money to order a 22-25 million Advanced Trainer/Light CAP fighter when they were struggling to keep the already posessed fleet in air on a budget of 200-400 Million USD (IRGC missile corps averaged at 6 Billion USD a year).

Supreme leader of Iran ordered to thrice the defence budget recently so we are seeing newer acquisitions for IRIAF. But even with this hypothetical 30 Billion USD defence budget, I believe the IRGCASF will take atleast 20 Billion USD straight way and rightly so.

 

[ToddE]

Anyone know the name of ECM pod ?

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