AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,
Tehran: Iran announced on Thursday it has developed a new war plane — named the “Azarakhsh” (Lightning) — which it describes as similar to the American F-5. “The Azarakhsh fighter jet has been completely manufactured by Iran and it is comparable to the F-5 fighter jet,” Brigadier General Javad Mohammadian was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA.
The air force, army and navy have been showing off their capabilities and new hardware for the past month in the Zolfaghar Blow military maneuvers, which come amid mounting international concern about Tehran's nuclear program.
State-run television also announced that Iran had successfully tested a 2,000-pound (about 900 kilogram) guided bomb named Ghased, or “Messenger,” aimed at enhancing its defensive capabilities.
A guided bomb typically uses laser technology to more accurately hit its target and is a weapon commonly used by the world's air forces.
Iran on Wednesday had announced the development of a war plane named “Saegheh” (Thunder), which it described as similar to the American F-18 fighter jet.
The F-5 was developed as a small, cheap fighter jet meant for military assistance programs, while the F-18 is a medium-sized attack aircraft.
Tehran has insisted that it seeks only civilian nuclear power, but is facing a US drive for sanctions on the UN Security Council after missing a deadline ordering it to halt sensitive uranium enrichment operations.
