IAMI (HESA) Azarakhsh
IAMI (HESA) · Iran · first flew 1997 · fighter
The Azarakhsh is an Iranian light fighter developed by HESA, closely derived from the American Northrop F-5 and promoted as Iran's first domestically built combat jet.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.45 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- F-5-derived layout with twin tail-mounted engines
- Sharp pointed nose and small swept wings
- Wing-root leading-edge extensions
Recognise the F-5 lineage: a slim pointed nose, small mid-mounted swept wings, twin engines in the rear fuselage and a single swept fin.
Specifications
- The IAMI (HESA) Azarakhsh has a length of 14.45 m (47 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.13 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1700 km/h (1056 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Iran declared the aircraft designed and tested by 1997, with small-batch construction reported over the following years and a publicised test flight in 2007. It draws heavily on reverse-engineered F-5E structure and systems.
Variants
Development of the Azarakhsh fed directly into the later Saeqeh, which added a distinctive twin-fin tail. Only a handful of Azarakhsh airframes are believed to have been completed.
Where you'll see it
The type serves the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force in small numbers and has no UK relevance, being an indigenous response to arms sanctions. It is used for light fighter and training tasks.
Related aircraft
- IAMI (HESA) Parastu
- IAMI (HESA) IrAn-140 Faraz
- IAMI (HESA) HT-80
- F-22 Raptor
- Hawk 127
- L-159 ALCA
- Lockheed Martin A-4AR Fightinghawk
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