Iran's shafagh stealth aircraft and other advanced aerospace industry developments

[Ethan]

[Admin Edit: Lets keep things in perspective here, the jet is from Iran, its Iran we are talking about and future of this new jet that Iran is developing. What other countries would do as far as partnership is concerned is yet to be seen...]

The whole world has placed an embargo on then and what happens. They come making everything from Tanks, APCS, SPG, to 3 different kinds of fighter and not counting the AJTs and co production in jet liners as well as Turboprop planes. Over the next few days I'll be posting information about more of their products but here is the first one.

Iran's new fither jet seems to be a product of collaboration with the Mig bureau. The design for a new Iranian light attack aircraft the Shafaq / Shafagh (Farsi for “before the dawnâ€) This two-seat Advanced training and Attack aircraft appears to be based on the Russian-Iranian "Project Integral" and are fitted with Russian ejection seats.

The Shafaq is designed by the Aviation University Complex (AUC), part of the Malek Ashtar University of Technology. At the start of the program Iran received help from Russia and the aircraft was back then known as ''Integral'', Russia later backed away from this project due to several reasons and Iran carried on the project by itself and the aircraft became known as ''Shafaq''. The Shafaq is a supersonic aircraft, made of radar-absorbing material. It has a large leading edge root extension (LERX) and a root aft of the wing which gives it an unusual circular sub-section.

A 1/7 scale model of the Shafaq has already completed testing in the AUC's wind tunnel and pictures have already been revealed which show that a Full-scale model has already been built. The Shafaq will be built in several variants which include a Two-Seater Trainer, Two-Seater Light Attack and a one-seat fighter-bomber variant. Roll-out of the first prototype is scheduled for 2008. In August 2004 it was reported that the Shafaq prototype jet was ready for flight.

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[dabrownguy]

I love the look but its just an adanced trainer/light fighter. Iranians should have completey reversed engineired the f-14 tomcat.

 

[india2020]

That isnt stealth is it?The weapons are externally fitted,the engine is fitted to the rear,its got an after burner........how can all this come into stealth???It looks more like the the LCA with out its delta wings and a twin tail. :

 

[gf0012-aust]

That isnt stealth is it?The weapons are externally fitted,the engine is fitted to the rear,its got an after burner........how can all this come into stealth???It looks more like the the LCA with out its delta wings and a twin tail. :

No, it's not stealth. Not on that configuration anyway.

btw, ram coatings only work if the basic airframe is sympathetic, you cannot add a ram coating to a jet and make it stealthy (to any significance)

the max it will benefit is approx 20% on a sympathetic design.

 

[SABRE]

The body is similar to F-14. I doubt the performance would be same.

 

[Aegis]

The body is similar to F-14. I doubt the performance would be same.

It looks more of F/18 to me than F-14 except it is single engine! I would not be surprise of the tecnical technology and abilities of the iranian.They r regarded as the best in middle east.

 

[redsoulja]

[Admin Edit: Different thread was created to discuss pak iran relations, then WHY people keep bringing the relations issue with this? This topic isn't discussing Irans relations with its neighbors or Pakistan's relations with its neighbors. Grow the hell up already! ]

it ssems to look stealthy, but aesthetics isn't everything, i wonder if the russians will provide the engine and other needed parts for this craft or will iran attempt to actually indigenously make the parts by itself using russian assistance

 

[gf0012-aust]

[Admin Edit: Different thread was created to discuss pak iran relations, then WHY people keep bringing the relations issue with this? This topic isn't discussing Irans relations with its neighbors or Pakistan's relations with its neighbors. Grow the hell up already! ]

it ssems to look stealthy, but aesthetics isn't everything, i wonder if the russians will provide the engine and other needed parts for this craft or will iran attempt to actually indigenously make the parts by itself using russian assistance

The Russians withdrew from this project approx 5-6 years ago when it was known as Project Integra.

Some issues:

- Unknown plane (most opinions based on a toy model with no technical mockups even seen in public)
- Russia would be unlikey to re-enter a partnership when it has commitments in place for it's own aircraft of type - and Russia actually does have a demonstrated capability and long history of design and development in the aircraft industry
- Iran took 3 years to design a centreline fuel tank for some of its aircraft - not exactly the sign of a country with a burgeoning aircraft industry - or exactly a demonstration of technical competence


There are numerous other technical and political reasons why this is unlikely.
A bit of reality is fairly critical to assessing the viability of things like this. Enthusiasm is admirable - but at the expence of some distinct empirical evidence, it can become an exercise in optimism rather than delivery and capacity.

I have no intention of stating the political reasons in this thread as it will end up being hijacked and is really something for Strat or Social forums - but they are legion.

 

[highsea]

This was also known as the Mig LFI or I.2000. Here is an artists conception from another thread:

I did a little searching, and found this on another forum:

This is taken from www.airforcemonthly.com

Iran’s Stealthy Advanced Attack Aircraft

ALTHOUGH IRAN was known to be involved in the design of an advanced trainer and attack aircraft, little information had been available about the project until the show.

Known as Shafagh (Farsi for ‘light before the dawn’). The aircraft is being funded by Iran’s Ministry of Defence and has been designed by the Aviation University Complex (AUC), part of the Malek Ashtar University of Technology, one of Iran’s biggest design bureaux. The Shafagh is a sub-sonic aircraft, made of radar-absorbing materials with an empty weight of 11,000lb (5,00kg). It has a large leading edge root extension (LERX) and a root aft of the wing which it gives an unusual circular sub-section. The Shafagh boasts seven hardpoints – three under each wing and one on the fuselage centreline station.

The five-year project, working to the specifications of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, began three years ago and is currently in the initial design stage. Aerodynamic testing with a 1/7 scale model in the AUC’s wind tunnel has already been completed. Several photos at the stand showed that a full-scale mock up has been built, revealing a rather spacious cockpit. One source told AFM that installation of a Kilmov RD33 engine is currently being considered, which would dispel any misgivings about using a US engine because of sanctions.

Russian industry is alleged to be involved on the project, although no one would comment on this. Roll-out of the first prototype is scheduled for 2008. According to personal at AUC, it has the responsibility of designing and developing air vehicles for the Iranian Armed Forces based on their orders, conducting aerodynamic testing; structural and system testing, and the flight tests and eventual manufacture of the prototypes.

I do not vouch for any of this. The posting was over a year old, and the website listed does not respond. There is some little bit of data available on the Mig LFI from Jane's, but as GF mentioned, Russia backed out of the project several years back.

A look at the plan view leads me to doubt that this is a supersonic AC. Primarily due to the lack of sweep in the wings, the circular profile of the wing roots, and the oversize cockpit. Also, at only 5,000 kg., it's quite a ballerina. But that's just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth. It looks like a trainer concept to me with an attempt at acheiving a low RCS thrown in. (if you discount the external weapons)

I do not know what show they were referring to in the article, but here is the picture of the full-scale mockup mentioned in the AFM writeup:

As far as it being built entirely by Iran, we have the problem of engines, avionics, and weapons, none of which Iran can produce on their own, AFAIK.

 

[gf0012-aust]

The indicators to date have been that if anything it's a variation of Mako. Russia is committed to Mako - so she would not be interested in a competing design.

As such, it's not a fighter. At best it appears to be a LIF concept.

 

[Ethan]

GF you observations are faulty. Iran's Aviation industry is quite sophisticated. Go to www.globalsecurity.com and check out the planes being put of by the Iranian Aviation Industry. Russia and Iran are cooperating on multiple civilian aviation products including a 100+ passengers regional jetlines.

Either way, the project is not baed on an Iranian design it's based on the Mig design. This is going back to early to mid 90s when Mig bureua had placed a proposal for a light attak aircraft/Advanced trainer. This is more along the lines of a next generation aircraft like the British Hawk light attack aircraft/ Advanced trainer. Russia had rejected the proposal.

Somewhere along the lines it became a joint Iranian/Russian project. Yes it is subsonic and is to be powered by a RD-33 non afterfurning turbofan. It's midsection body seems to show a familiarity with the rumored Mig I-2000 design which what a proposal for the Pak-FA/MFI project. However, Mig lost. But just because there is a certain similarity in look doesnt mean it is derived from it. The only thing that is stealthy about it is that is using RAM in it's structure.

This aircraft is a next generation light attack aircraft and an Advanced jet trainer. For Iran that is quite a step forward. And actually they have built a full mock prototyppe.

 

[gf0012-aust]

GF you observations are faulty. Iran's Aviation industry is quite sophisticated. Go to www.globalsecurity.com and check out the planes being put of by the Iranian Aviation Industry. Russia and Iran are cooperating on multiple civilian aviation products including a 100+ passengers regional jetlines.

With the greatest of respect to what you say, I've been involved with a number of projects for aircraft through various contracts including:

Hornet builds
Orion ASW Upgrades
Kaman Seaslug ASW builds
BAE 146 modifications
Il-38 assessment
Airbus 320
DC-9 upgrades.

There is a world of difference between building a jet passenger aircraft (prop and jet) to a LIF, to a fighter.

The fact that Iran took 3 years to build a centreline tank for extra range on their combat aircraft should send a pretty clear message about their combat development capability. It does not take 3 years to design and integrate a fuel tank unless you have a technical or engineering resource deficiency.

 

[Ethan]

Dear GF: I hope you are not basing your opinion entirely on just the issue of Iran taking three years on designing a fuel tank. There could have been a variety of issues, any where from funding to on again and off again priority. You'll find examples like this all over I am sure.

Iranians have successfully upgraded and kept in service the American warplanes despite the embargo. When the Iran hostage crisis started and the diplomatic ties between the two nations were severed, the Northrop Grumman engineers and technitians on their out managed to sbotage the entire Iranian F-14 Tom-cat inventory, forcing them to the ground. However, Iranian engineers managed to get the planes flying again (part of them that is).

Iran managed to modify the Mig-29s it acquired to have the air refueling capabilities hence increasing their range. More than that, not just any country jet build jet liner from ground up. You have to have quite a sophisticated aerospace industry to do something like that.

The Iranian project is very much real and I never suggested that it was Iran who designed the thing from ground up. It is a Russian design to be built in Iran.

 

[Aussie Digger]

There is a reasonably detailed article on Iran's military aviation in the December Airforces Monthly magazine. In relation to the shafagh aircraft, the article has this to say, "Also involved in jet fighter design was the Iranian Ministry of Defence's Aviation Research Centre.

From the early 90's, it had been recruiting Russian engineers and scientists to design an advanced jet trainer-light attack aircraft based on the Russian Eurasia Integral concept. However, despite a lengthy development process and the construction of a full-size mock-up, the project (named Shafagh [Dawn]) went no further, and the russians left.

Shafagh has since been transferred to the MoD's Malek-e-Ashtar Industrial University, where it has undergone some changes including proposals for a chin-mounted air intake similar to that of the F-16 Fighting Falcon. There are now hopes of completing a flying example." (AFM December 2004, p37).

And Ethan from my experience hereabouts, if gf says something is so in relation to defence industry matters, than I am readily inclined to believe him, over other sources that "some" people come up with here. Unlike almost everyone else here, he regularly confers with the people who actually design and BUILD the things we (some of whom are [or in my case were] hands on users) discuss.

In addition he himself is an active member in the defence industry scene and by his own admission has had significant involvement in a wide range of defence projects. Take it from me. He knows what he's talking about...

 

[Ethan]

Aussie Digger: I dont doubt his intelligence or his experience. I am sure he is well qualified. But I havent exactly been sitting around either. Either way, I think if you look at the projects the Iranian are involved in you'd have to admit that they have been able to establish a sohisticated aerospace industry and have made respectable advances and that is all that I am saying. To dismiss them and say them entirely I think would be a mistake. But this is simply my opinion.

 

[muslim282]

Its quite funny to see the comments being posted by people who know very little about the iranian aviation industry and also the shafagh project.
These pictures are almost 2 years old.
Please refer to AIRFORCES MONTHLY January 2003 edition of a detailed report about the iran airshow 2002.
The shafagh in the article was to have a Zvesda K-36D ejection seat, has seven hard points, empty weight of 5000kg and powered by a derivative of the klimov RD33 engine, a spacious cockpit and 3 large LCD,s.
The russians have not pulled out, but instead are supplying the technical expertise on the project. Alot of the parts may be off the shelf russian products being used on latter models of Mig 29,s.
The last l read on the project was that the iranians were testing the FBW and other avionics.
Also according to AFM-Jan2003 iran has reverse engineered the Bell-205 and Pilatus PC-7s. They are also close to completely reverse engineering the Bell-206 and AH-1 Cobras.
The F-5 copy has been flown and tested and is awaiting serial production. It is said to be a scaled up version, around 20-25% larger than the american F-5,s it has a twin tail rather like the F18 hornet and a single engine (most possibly an RD-33) apart from that the information and data has been very limited. Though the iranian press has repoted that the F-5 copy was involved in dropping various types of free fall bombs, napalm was mentioned.
The iranians have always been very tight lipped and data and info is very limited as are the sources. A mention of a reverse engineerd copy of the
F-14 was also present.
The technical assisstance without a doubt will be of Russian, Chinese and Ukranian origin.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Are the Iranians doing it with private Russian contractors then - when it was under Project Integra, they pulled out. So any progress would be at a private level rather than state (Russian) sanctioned?

I've got a question in to a mate who works in an assessment area out at Dryden to see if he can give me further info. The last time I chatted to him about this project he was quite confident that the Russian/Iranian side of things was fractured.

They were attempting to go the chinese path of dual using COTS components.

In the same breath, there was also talk of an attempt at installing a Klimov into one of their F5's as a mule. It would be a bit like a high speed lawn dart.

addendum.

I've just sent my contact another email to see if he can add some light. That may not be possible depending on whether the info is considered unclass for public domain. He works out at where all the Mig 29's were evaluated and was involved with the assessment of the 2 Su-27's that were bought in a few years back as well. So he's placed in an area that does has some reasonable idea of whats been happening etc....

But, as I said, it's also an issue of what is allowed to be said.

 

[Ethan]

Saeqeh-80 / Owj fighter is another Iranian project. Very little technical information is available about the fighter. According to a video released by Iran in July 2004, it looks like an F-5 with canted vertical stabilizers.

There is some speculation that Iran was cooperating during the era of the Shah in development of the F-18 A/B fighters and it has technical drawings available. To some extent the fighter may have been infuenced by these tecnical drawing. However, this is pure speculation.

Does anyone has any credible information about this fighter project.

 

[gf0012-aust]

There is some speculation that Iran was cooperating during the era of the Shah in development of the F-18 A/B fighters and it has technical drawings available. To some extent the fighter may have been infuenced by these tecnical drawing. However, this is pure speculation.

Yes. I think it is speculation. The F/A -18 was a legacy of work done by Northdrop on the F-17 Cobra - which started off as an internal project and managed to be promoted to an external opportunity.

 

[berry580]

That isnt stealth is it?The weapons are externally fitted,the engine is fitted to the rear,its got an after burner........how can all this come into stealth???It looks more like the the LCA with out its delta wings and a twin tail. :

:cop :cop

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