Unfortunately, for my part I never had the proof that these improved F-5E had received a new radar and that they were produced in more than 4/5 examples.
Whether it's the Saeqeh, Azaraksh or Kowsar, I'm still waiting to find out more.
Although it would be really too extraordinary if the Iranians had just made them for disinformation purposes. I think they really modified the F-5E, but there is no evidence that there are more than a few, and that there is a production line.
Moreover, we have never seen the F-5+ with improved missile: R-77, R-73 ...
It's a pity, because there was a good article on Iranian F-5 modernizations on "The F-5 Enthusiast Page". But this site disappeared recently.
Iran choose to maintain F-5 E/F thus invested in developing capacity to upkeep those.
Further development of aerospace industry to produce new examples is logical move.
Although most of manufacturing output goes to maintaining jets already in service.
At some point F-5 E/F will be completely replaced by Kowsar and newer fighter jets.
As lifespan of airframe is exhausted beyond possibility of any lifespan extensions.
Those that can be maintained are likely converted to Kowsar standard if possible.
Another is Yasin jet trainer that went through revision and set for mass production.
This is time when results of their research and development come into full effect.
As such happened with North Korea in realm of ballistic missile they developed.
Guys ... I think we should come back to reality in this thread!
I would have taken you seriously if you didn't wrote this:
The Q-313 is not even close to anything realistic, not even by chance an option to evolve into a "fifth generation type" and Iran - regardless of all its achievements - is far, far away from being able to "copy the RD-33" or "develop a new fighter jet with larger jet engine like F101/F110!" or a fighter in the class of the F-14!
Qaher was unveiled in 2013 with a physical model for representing fighter project.
In 2016 unveiled reverse engineered J85-GE-21 turbojet engine under name Owj.
In 2017 there was a full scale prototype that has conducted tests on runway.
In 2018 unveiled domestically produced F-5 E/F jets under name Kowsar.
In 2019 new aircraft design Yasin jet trainer was unveiled with test flight.
In 2020 unveiled reverse engineered FJ33 turbofan under name Jahesh.
In 2023 disclosed project is being reformed and adapted into UCAV.
Also in 2023 disclosed parts of CFM-56 being domestically made.
J85-GE-21 has annular combustor along blades made out of titanium alloy.
*also continuous spool compared to J85 that has cannular combustor.
FJ33 has bladed disk turbofan with mediuo ratio bypass and has two spools.
*has annular combustor and features titanium blades on its bladed disk.
CFM-56 is derived from F101 and F110 is further development of F101 turbofan.
*F110 utilizes bladed disk for it's turbofan.
Progress they made in past 10 years could not be more obvious now than ever before.
Simply forget this ... any further such claims should be moved into the what-if section.
Yet you have wrote this:
The Q-313 is not even close to anything realistic
This is not a what if !
It is a project on which the Iranians have been working for ten years now. This proves that it is "serious".
Having doubts about the feasibility of a project does not make it a what-if.
Otherwise, many projects in other countries would also be what ifs. Many builders have already tried to make projects beyond their possibilities.
The future will show us who was right. It seems that new pictures of the project should be published soon, that the articles I mentioned above.
Anyone claiming it being mockup has wishful thinking of what if it was a mockup.
Copying the CFM56 is more aimed at keeping their Western airliners airworthy given the embargoes in place that make getting hold of spares very difficult. Certainly Iran has been adept at making its own supply chains to keep old kit running.
CFM-56 being derived from F101 probably gave it more support for cloning.
Compared to Trent series of turbofan engines used by some airliners that Iran has.
