Iranian Indigenous Trainer Aircraft Developments

0901.jpg


https://youtu.be/gVoz_jh6wNA

Looks like an AT-3.
 
Here a video showing the Iranian Kowsar/Kosar Indigenous Trainer during engine test on 2017-04-19 and roll tests on 2017-05-21.
https://youtu.be/e8BPT8avEq0
James Drew said:
Meet Iran's New Military Training Jet, The 'Kosar'
Iran has developed a new twin-engine military trainer named Kosar to prepare future pilots for advanced fighters. The aircraft could take flight within the next five or six months after starting ground testing.
Video Credit: Iran’s Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) research center
Obtained by James Drew, Defense Editor, Aviation Week & Space Technology at the MAKS -2017 air show in Zhukovsky, Russia.
Source:
Code:
https://youtu.be/e8BPT8avEq0
 
Looks like it has new powerplants.
I don't think so, personally.
It looks like it has a new back jet efflux pipe, but the shot inside shows a narrower internal jet exhaust.
The intakes look sized for something like the J-85.

However...

When one looks at the design of the engine bays, it is very clear that they have an engine in mind which is larger than the J-85.

I suspect this is still a prototype, and that a production version will use turbofans of a greater diameter.
 
4 years ago, it was thought that the engine fitted was the Oje turbojet, a reverse engineered J-85.
Here is a pic from 2019.

Perhaps the extended tailpipes have to do with exhaust velocity induced stress on the rear fuselage?

I still personally think, looking at the slim engines in the larger engine bays, that this is designed for a larger engine, such as a turbofan.
 

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Circa 1985, an engineer published a textbook on how to design military jets. His design study looked like the CASA C-101, Taiwanese AT3 and the latest offering from Iran. Did they all read the same textbook?
 
Is every high wing a Luscombe rip off, or is it just a consequence of only a few layouts making sense for a given objective.
 
Some interesting articles on the development of two-seater jet trainers in Iran :
 
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This is the result of beginning of researchs I am currently doing about Iranian trainers projects. This text contains errors, if anyone has more info about that, or anything to add, he is welcome ! :)

The need for jet trainers dates back to the 1980s, when the Iranian Air Force could no longer send its pilots to foreign countries for training.
The project of indigenous trainer was named "Ya-Hossein".
To compensate this lack, the Simorgh project was launched. The objective was to convert single-seat F-5A airframes into F-5Bs as a temporary solution. (It seems that the first Simorgh flew in 1989, but I have no confirmation.)
In the meantime, the project of an Iranian designed trainer continued with the first result being the HESA (Owj) Dorna.
IRIAF HESA Dorna (139) at Tehran Doshan Tappeh (23 July 2019).jpg IRIAF HESA Dorna (139) at Tehran, Mehrabad (27 September 2015).jpg
It was a small two-seater powered by a J85-GE-13 engine and it flew in 1995, but it seems that it was not satisfactory and that the J85 lacked power.
From April 1994, due to the design flaws of the Dorna, a series of improvements and aerodynamic modifications were applied to the design, and a new aircraft was born, named Tondar with the serial number 778-1. It fly for the first time in 1998.
(I couldn't find any pictures of 778-1, has anyone ever seen one ?)

It seems that this last one was not yet satisfactory because its aerodynamic design was still improved to become a new aircraft, the JT-2 Tazarv. The evolution of Tondar in Tazarv will be made from April 1998 to 2001.
The first JT2-2 Tazarv, coded "778-2" will fly for the first time on January 22, 2001.
It was first revealed in October 2002 at the air show on Kish Island.
The Tazarve is built in composite materials (apparently carbon fiber and glass-reinforced plastic construction) and is powered by a J85-13 or J85-17 without afterburner, but its thrust was insufficient and the aircraft lacked energy.

Pictures of Tazarv "778-2" :
IRIAF Owj Tazarve (778-2) at Tehran Doshan Tappeh (23 July 2019).jpg IRIAF Tazarve (778-2) inflight.jpg
IRIAF Tazarve (778-2 & 778-3) at Mehrabad Int'l airshow (2015).jpg

Between 2003 and 2005, another prototype, the "Tazarv-2", was built. It had slight aerodynamic improvements on the tail and the exhaust nozzle.
Coded "778-3" it was fitted with four hard points under its wings to carry small rockets or cannon pods. (no confirmation)


Note the differences between the two aircrafts.
Tazarv-1 & Tazarv-2 taxiing at Mehrabad ahead of their final flights (22 September 2007).png

Following this, the Tondar prototype "778-1" began to be modified into the Tazarv-3 "778-4".
But while the modifications were not completed, the IRIAF staff asked Owj to have three Tazarvs prepared for use in the 2007 Holly Defence Week parade. Since only two Tazarvs were available, it was decided to use the Tondar and put it back in the air quickly, but temporarily, despite its aerodynamic deficiencies. A series of modifications were made to its control surfaces.
And in order to reduce the vibrations, the technicians attached lead plates to the wings and riveted the wing to the fuselage with aluminum rivets one week before the show.

Two days before the parade, the first flight test of the aircraft so configured took place, piloted by Colonel Mojtaba Mir-Asgari and another unknown test pilot.
This flight of functional control (FCF) is carried out over Parand, Karaj.
But during one of the normal evolutions, the wings of the plane separate from the fuselage. The pilot at the rear ejects safely, while Mojtaba Mir-Asgari remains stuck in the out-of-control aircraft.
The other two aircraft, "778-2 & 778-3" will fly the last time on September 22, 2007 for the parade.
After that, they remained grounded in Karbar ramp of the 1st IRIAF independent transport base, where the Owj complex is located to the southeast.
 
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A look at the serials numbers of Iranian trainer prototypes.
Dorna : 139
Tondar : 778-1 (later converted to Tazarv configuration)
Tazarv-1 : 778-2
Tazarv-2 : 778-3
Tazarv-3 : 778-4, (Tondar airframe modifed, crashed before the completion of the modifications.)
 
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A nice, but incorrect artist's view of Dorna.
IRIAF Dorna (139).jpg
For comparison :
IRIAF HESA Dorna (139) at Tehran, Mehrabad (September 2015).png

The Dorna wing is really straight.
 
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A much better video of the Yasin, showing much of the actual construction process.

A brief comparison to the initial version/prototype revealed before this in 2017 (painted green initially, and now seen in white livery in the background in this video) shows quite a bit of difference/refinement when one looks closely.

View: https://youtu.be/diZ7zMYWzw0
 
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Here is a pic I found on the internet to illustrate some of the changes/refinements.
There are actually quite a few other changes this picture doesn't mention that can also be noticed in these, and other pics.
 

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The improved Yasin trainer, first seen earlier this year, has apparently completed its first flight the other day (or at least that's when the video was released). See video below:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDIkBHC3LY


The interesting thing I noticed in the video is how the Yasin's NLG is extendable much like later model F-5s, which lines up with previous observations that the Yasin reuses many F-5E/F landing gear components.
 
Concerning Iran's previous subsonic jet trainer designs, I love the image below, which shows the Dorna and both Tazarves all in a line:
 

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Iran's trainer programs aren't just limited to various jet-powered programs, they have also pursued attempts to first replace their PC-7s via the HT-80 program and more recently with the T-90 upgrade program for the existing Pilatus trainers.

Not 100% certain how old the HT-80 concept goes back but it appeared in several additions of Jane's All the World's Aircraft in the early 2000s as seen below.

The T-90 upgrade program however is more concrete and has resulted in at least a few aircraft seeing improvements that at least include a more modern "glass cockpit" based on the limited images available.
 

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