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

[Emirzad]

We have mig-29 that everyone loves
We have f-14
I don't see anything based on them
You think su-35 will be different

Technology is no problem for Iran since most of the stuff we have already seen is there to be used/purchased. IRIAF just needs $$$. Just going by what we have seen as aviation industrial capability, they can create modern prototypes of any sort but IRIAF can't order it due to lack of cash so assembly lines are never established seriously.

 

[the saint]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829870942841127261

Another rumor?

 

[strateger]

Iranian Air Force needs to be able to produce 3 from scratch jets, all of which they should be able to reverse-engineer and modernize or get technology from allies in Russia and China.

Simple to produce, reliable, simple to operate, and highly effective. Ground support, air-to-air capabilities, and bomb trucks. If they could reverse engineer the F4 as well that would be a great 4th option to add.

Kowsar -


MIG 21/Chengdu J7 -
Simple to produce and highly effective. Chinese need to share their upgrade package and it's a legitimate threat. China was producing these brand new until roughly 2015.... They have lighter and stronger airframe, a full glass cockpit, a new double delta wing, 3 Multi functional HUD displays and HOTAS, helmet mounted sights and a radar cross section reducing fuselage. Conformal fuel tanks meanwhile address the range limitations of both the MiG-21 and former J-7 variants, allowing the J-7G to better operate offensively. The fighter was designed in the 2000s, and strongly reflects the sophistication of China's technologies available at the time.

The fighter can reach speeds of Mach 2.2, where the U.S. F-16C is restricted to just Mach 2, and the Chinese platform's formidable maximum altitude of 17.5km far surpasses that of the U.S. light fighter, which is restricted to under 15.5km. The J-7G fighter requires less maintenance, can deploy more air to air missiles, and ultimately remains in many ways superior to its American counterpart



SU-22/SU-17
Also simple to produce and highly effective bomb truck. IRGC already developed weapons systems, smart bombs, and glide bomb kits for the SU-22.

 

[Hack-Hook]

Iranian Air Force needs to be able to produce 3 from scratch jets, all of which they should be able to reverse-engineer and modernize or get technology from allies in Russia and China.

Simple to produce, reliable, simple to operate, and highly effective. Ground support, air-to-air capabilities, and bomb trucks. If they could reverse engineer the F4 as well that would be a great 4th option to add.

Kowsar -
View attachment 62452

MIG 21/Chengdu J7 -
Simple to produce and highly effective. Chinese need to share their upgrade package and it's a legitimate threat. China was producing these brand new until roughly 2015.... They have lighter and stronger airframe, a full glass cockpit, a new double delta wing, 3 Multi functional HUD displays and HOTAS, helmet mounted sights and a radar cross section reducing fuselage. Conformal fuel tanks meanwhile address the range limitations of both the MiG-21 and former J-7 variants, allowing the J-7G to better operate offensively. The fighter was designed in the 2000s, and strongly reflects the sophistication of China's technologies available at the time.

The fighter can reach speeds of Mach 2.2, where the U.S. F-16C is restricted to just Mach 2, and the Chinese platform's formidable maximum altitude of 17.5km far surpasses that of the U.S. light fighter, which is restricted to under 15.5km. The J-7G fighter requires less maintenance, can deploy more air to air missiles, and ultimately remains in many ways superior to its American counterpart

View attachment 62451

SU-22/SU-17
Also simple to produce and highly effective bomb truck. IRGC already developed weapons systems, smart bombs, and glide bomb kits for the SU-22.

View attachment 62453
View attachment 62454

All the work of these airplane can be hand over to a kowsar with an upgraded engine .
Perhaps something in class of rd-33 or rd-93 without after burner.
Such engine can provide more than 2x owj with afterburner with a lot less fuel consumption and give kowsar supercruise ability. And That way it will be alot easier for logistics compared to produce 3 -4 different airplane

 

[RescueRanger]

Iranian indigenous production is very impressive. Bravo Iran.

 

[Piet]

Iranian Air Force needs to be able to produce 3 from scratch jets, all of which they should be able to reverse-engineer and modernize or get technology from allies in Russia and China.

Simple to produce, reliable, simple to operate, and highly effective. Ground support, air-to-air capabilities, and bomb trucks. If they could reverse engineer the F4 as well that would be a great 4th option to add.

Kowsar -
View attachment 62452

MIG 21/Chengdu J7 -
Simple to produce and highly effective. Chinese need to share their upgrade package and it's a legitimate threat. China was producing these brand new until roughly 2015.... They have lighter and stronger airframe, a full glass cockpit, a new double delta wing, 3 Multi functional HUD displays and HOTAS, helmet mounted sights and a radar cross section reducing fuselage. Conformal fuel tanks meanwhile address the range limitations of both the MiG-21 and former J-7 variants, allowing the J-7G to better operate offensively. The fighter was designed in the 2000s, and strongly reflects the sophistication of China's technologies available at the time.

The fighter can reach speeds of Mach 2.2, where the U.S. F-16C is restricted to just Mach 2, and the Chinese platform's formidable maximum altitude of 17.5km far surpasses that of the U.S. light fighter, which is restricted to under 15.5km. The J-7G fighter requires less maintenance, can deploy more air to air missiles, and ultimately remains in many ways superior to its American counterpart

View attachment 62451

SU-22/SU-17
Also simple to produce and highly effective bomb truck. IRGC already developed weapons systems, smart bombs, and glide bomb kits for the SU-22.

View attachment 62453
View attachment 62454

It seems that the IRIAF's struggle for new a/c is not so much an external one as it is an internal one - due to the impediments already highlighted in this tread.

I read somewhere that production time of either a Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong or JF-17 Thunder has been cut down to a matter of weeks.

Previously I posited that one possibility could be the acquisition of s.c. 'green' FC-1's from China. That is, with the necessary avionics and systems requiring by it to fly. The engine, an RD-93XX would naturally also be 'exported 'with it.

Kowsar's electronics such as the radar, EW-suite, mission computer and SATNAV would have to be successfully married to FC-1 subsequently.

Don't know what industrial and political problems might occur though. Especially by Pakistan.

The offensive side of this a/c could be read over from Kowsar. Hopefully by that time with a BVR missile up to the task of fly around in its neighborhood.

Example: -




The carriage of External Weapons Pods (EWPs') will be able to increase the number of weapons that can be carried, while also a keeping watch on the a/c's RCS.

Regarding the MIG 21/Chengdu J7, given a solid nosecone to accommodate a larger radar and wingtip hardpoints, it would strongly remind of the proposed Project Shahid Erfanian fighter. Below.



Married to Kowsar's other goodies as per above, and a modern turbofan - RD-93MA - would just about be mandatory. Possibly adding CFT's, IFR and an elongated spine, would not hurt this a/c either.

As far as Kowsar itself is concerned, the rather nominal time-production rate - that is as far as I am under the impression - do not cut it when compared to a Chinese built 'green' FC-1 &Chinese MIG 21/Chengdu J7,

If Kowsar is engaged as a testbed for future aerodynamics', electronics and possibly a single engine, that would make a lot of sense.

Piet

 

[strateger]

All the work of these airplane can be hand over to a kowsar with an upgraded engine .
Perhaps something in class of rd-33 or rd-93 without after burner.
Such engine can provide more than 2x owj with afterburner with a lot less fuel consumption and give kowsar supercruise ability. And That way it will be alot easier for logistics compared to produce 3 -4 different airplane

You mean that building SU-22 and J7 airframes/engines/etc would not be necessary and that Kowsar could do it with better engines?

The J7 is a Mach 2.2 aircraft with a much higher ceiling. I don't think Kowsar would ever be made to perform like that. Also, it's much bigger. That being said they are similar in other ways. They can both carry 4 bombs, they can both carry advanced air-to-air missiles, etc. That being said, the Chinese J7G is better than an F16. Perhaps Iran could even buy the first few squadrons and the knowledge to produce locally. China stopped building them in 2015. One last thing, Iran already has glide bomb and cruise missile upgrade kits for J7 aircraft.

Kowsar can't replace SU-22 though. Kowsar has 4 hardpoints, SU-22 has 12. It can carry 9,000 pounds of bombs or cruise missiles. It's a better bomb truck/cruise missile carrier than Kowsar. F4 can fill this role as well.

The Russian/Ukrainian war is proving that very advanced/complicated/expensive fighter aircraft isn't going to win. Glide bombs, cruise missiles, drones, ballistic missiles, and air-defense is better.

Kowsar/J7 = fighters and ground support
SU22/F4 = Glide Bomb and Cruise Missile carriers

 

[mulj]

You mean that building SU-22 and J7 airframes/engines/etc would not be necessary and that Kowsar could do it with better engines?

The J7 is a Mach 2.2 aircraft with a much higher ceiling. I don't think Kowsar would ever be made to perform like that. Also, it's much bigger. That being said they are similar in other ways. They can both carry 4 bombs, they can both carry advanced air-to-air missiles, etc. That being said, the Chinese J7G is better than an F16. Perhaps Iran could even buy the first few squadrons and the knowledge to produce locally. China stopped building them in 2015. One last thing, Iran already has glide bomb and cruise missile upgrade kits for J7 aircraft.

Kowsar can't replace SU-22 though. Kowsar has 4 hardpoints, SU-22 has 12. It can carry 9,000 pounds of bombs or cruise missiles. It's a better bomb truck/cruise missile carrier than Kowsar. F4 can fill this role as well.

The Russian/Ukrainian war is proving that very advanced/complicated/expensive fighter aircraft isn't going to win. Glide bombs, cruise missiles, drones, ballistic missiles, and air-defense is better.

Kowsar/J7 = fighters and ground support
SU22/F4 = Glide Bomb and Cruise Missile carriers

iran needs at least 100 air superiority aircrafts before considering what you propose.

 

[Ali_Baba]

If Russia does actually deliver the Su-35s to Iran, then Iran should try and buy the 24 Su35s that China operates ( but China not want anymore! ). It will be a quick capability uplift for the IRIAF. Lord knows they need all the help they can get right now.

Hopefully Iran has learnt it lession that it needs to recapitialise its IRIAF - the current air arm is not fit for any purpose at all.

 

[Persian Gulf]

The Russian/Ukrainian war is proving that very advanced/complicated/expensive fighter aircraft isn't going to win. Glide bombs, cruise missiles, drones, ballistic missiles, and air-defense is better.

that works for two large neighbours going to attrition warfare

not so much to two smaller countries separated by 1200km

 

[Ali_Baba]

Iranian Air Force needs to be able to produce 3 from scratch jets, all of which they should be able to reverse-engineer and modernize or get technology from allies in Russia and China.

Simple to produce, reliable, simple to operate, and highly effective. Ground support, air-to-air capabilities, and bomb trucks. If they could reverse engineer the F4 as well that would be a great 4th option to add.

Kowsar -
View attachment 62452

MIG 21/Chengdu J7 -
Simple to produce and highly effective. Chinese need to share their upgrade package and it's a legitimate threat. China was producing these brand new until roughly 2015.... They have lighter and stronger airframe, a full glass cockpit, a new double delta wing, 3 Multi functional HUD displays and HOTAS, helmet mounted sights and a radar cross section reducing fuselage. Conformal fuel tanks meanwhile address the range limitations of both the MiG-21 and former J-7 variants, allowing the J-7G to better operate offensively. The fighter was designed in the 2000s, and strongly reflects the sophistication of China's technologies available at the time.

The fighter can reach speeds of Mach 2.2, where the U.S. F-16C is restricted to just Mach 2, and the Chinese platform's formidable maximum altitude of 17.5km far surpasses that of the U.S. light fighter, which is restricted to under 15.5km. The J-7G fighter requires less maintenance, can deploy more air to air missiles, and ultimately remains in many ways superior to its American counterpart

View attachment 62451

SU-22/SU-17
Also simple to produce and highly effective bomb truck. IRGC already developed weapons systems, smart bombs, and glide bomb kits for the SU-22.

View attachment 62453
View attachment 62454

Given the threats that Iran faces, it needs aircraft in the Su27/30/35 category with Su-57s down the road. If Iran does not want buy from China and wants to stick with Russia -then so be it. It however, cannot ignore its airforce anylonger. Iran needs to be control its airspace and contest airspace or sanitise airspace near its borders.

 

[tsunset]

Given the threats that Iran faces, it needs aircraft in the Su27/30/35 category with Su-57s down the road. If Iran does not want buy from China and wants to stick with Russia -then so be it. It however, cannot ignore its airforce anylonger. Iran needs to be control its airspace and contest airspace or sanitise airspace near its borders.

This is not Iran that doesn't want China or Russia fighters/products, this is Russia and China that do not want to sell to Iran (for a variety of reasons)

 

[Ali_Baba]

This is not Iran that doesn't want China or Russia fighters/products, this is Russia and China that do not want to sell to Iran (for a variety of reasons)

There were UN sanctions that prohibited sales - those are gone now. Lets see if the above report is true or not.

 

[Hack-Hook]

The J7 is a Mach 2.2 aircraft with a much higher ceiling. I don't think Kowsar would ever be made to perform like that. Also, it's much bigger. That being said they are similar in other ways. They can both carry 4 bombs, they can both carry advanced air-to-air missiles, etc. That being said, the Chinese J7G is better than an F16. Perhaps Iran could even buy the first few squadrons and the knowledge to produce locally. China stopped building them in 2015. One last thing, Iran already has glide bomb and cruise missile upgrade kits for J7 aircraft.

It's also a lot less maneuverable with a lot higher rcs .
It's Mach 2.2 with afterburner . For how long it can sustain that without afterburner it has less speed than f-5 cruise speed

What I told you an rd-33 without afterburner on f5 can sustain higher speeds a lot more

Kowsar can't replace SU-22 though. Kowsar has 4 hardpoints, SU-22 has 12. It can carry 9,000 pounds of bombs or cruise missiles. It's a better bomb truck/cruise missile carrier than Kowsar. F4 can fill this role as well.

Kowsar actually have 7 two at wingtips , 2 under each wing and one under belly

 

[Readerdefence]

Hi,
Or the other option is buy Russian jets
With Chinese upgraded gadgets,like
AESA if Russian can’t provide & if Russian
Not ready to give R37 get Chinese Pl15
I’m sure Russia and China both can work out mutually and be beneficial with Iranian fighter deal
Thank you