HESA Kowsar

The HESA Kowsar (Persian: کوثر‎, also spelt Kosar)[1] is an Iranian fighter jet based on the American Northrop F-5.[2][3] The aircraft is equipped with new fourth generation avionics in combination with an advanced fire control system.[4][1]

Kowsar
HESA Kowsar
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA)
First flight August 2018
Introduction 3 November 2018
Status In service
Primary user Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Number built 4
Developed from Northrop F-5
HESA Azarakhsh
HESA Saeqeh
Unveiling the HESA Kowsar
HESA Kowsar production line

Western analysts have described the plane to be inefficient as a weapon, but having potential for training a new generation of Iranian fighter pilots.[5] According to the Iranian state-media, this fighter jet has "advanced avionics" and multipurpose radar, and it was "100-percent indigenously made".[6] It also uses digital data networks, a glass cockpit, heads-up display (HUD), ballistic computers and smart mobile mapping systems.[7][8]

Development

On November 3, 2018, there was a ceremony that inaugurated the launch of the Kowsar assembly line at the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Company with at least seven being made.[9] President Hassan Rouhani was present as he inspected the Kowsar in the Defense Industry Day event celebration[10] in Isfahan.[11]

The Iranian press acknowledged that the design for the Kowsar is based on the Northrop F-5, but also lauded it for being the first fighter jet manufactured from the ground up by a Muslim nation[12] and referred to it as a Fourth generation fighter.[13]

There were reports of a crash by an Iranian-operated F-5 days after the Kowsar's existence was announced.[14]

Export

On November 26, 2018 Brigadier General Abdolkarim Banitarafi, head of Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), announced that Iran was ready to export the HESA Kowsar jet and had agreements with Russia, China and Indonesia.[15]

Design

The Kowsar, like the Saegheh and the Azarakhsh, was made based on the frame of the F-5.[16]

Variants

The Kowsar is produced in single and two-seater variants.[7]

Operational history

On 25 June 2020, the Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics announced that three new Kowsar aircraft had been delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, in a ceremony in Esfahan. The images published showed the aircraft painted in non-combat colours.[17]

Reactions

Official

Israel's defense minister Avigdor Liberman told press that it was a "natural reaction to an economic crisis", adding "[t]he Iranians are feeling very pressured by the continued US sanctions and in reaction they are coming out with these things, but we also shouldn’t dismiss it". Ofir Gendelman, spokesperson of the prime minister's office tweeted "The Iranian regime unveils the Kowsar plane and claims that it is ‘the first 100% locally-manufactured Iranian fighter jet,' It boasts about its offensive capabilities. But I immediately noticed that this is a very old American war plane (it was manufactured in the ‘50s). It is from the F-5 class of jets which has not been in use for decades".[18] However, according to Northrop Grumman, "Approximately two-thirds of the original production F-5's remain operational in 26 countries, including the United States."[19]

Commentators

Alex Lockie opined that the aircraft "looks like a big joke", but its untold purpose –serving as a jet trainer and a light attack plane– could "save Iran's air force".[20]

According to Douglas Barrie, military aerospace senior fellow at the IISS, the Iranians have possibly made upgrades and changes to the Kowsar while keeping the basic F-5 jet frame.[21] He also suggests that while Iran can reverse engineer the jet frame, the problem lies in sourcing engines and avionics.[22]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. "New Fighter Jet Unveiled By Iranian Military". Forces Network. British Forces Broadcasting Service. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  2. "Iran unveils new domestically-produced fighter jet". BBC. 21 Aug 2018. Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
  3. "Eyeing U.S., Iran unveils new fighter jet". Reuters. August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  4. "European Defence Review magazine". European Defence Review magazine. 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  5. Iran's New Warplane Seen Limited as Weapon, Useful for Training, Michael Lipin, Farhad Pouladi at globalsecurity.org, August 25, 2018
  6. "Iran starts mass-producing locally designed Kowsar fighter jet". Al Jazeera. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  7. "Iran unveils first domestic fighter jet". Presstv.com. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  8. "PressTV-Iran launches mass-production of Kowsar interceptor jet". www.presstv.com. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  9. "Iran launches production of F-5-derived Kowsar fighter - Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-17. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  10. Dudley, Dominic (2018-08-21). "Iran's 'New' Fighter Jet Provokes Derision, As Observers Note Likeness To U.S. Jet From The '60s". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  11. "Iran launches mass-production of Kowsar "fourth-generation" fighter jet". Air Recognition. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  12. "Le chasseur supersonique Kowsar produit en masse". Presstv.com. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  13. "Iran-chasseur-iranien-Kowsar-avion-dentrainement-". Presstv.com. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  14. "Iranian F-5 jet crashes southwest Tehran days after unveiling native 'Kowsar' jet". Kurdistan 24. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  15. "Official: Iran says ready to export fighter jets". Presstv.com. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  16. AFP (2018-08-21). "Israel mocks Iran's 'indigenous' fighter jet as copy of obsolete F-5". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  17. Binnie, Jeremy (25 June 2020), "Iran announces delivery of Kowsar jets, shows F-5Fs", Janes, retrieved 29 July 2020
  18. "Israel mocks Iran's 'indigenous' fighter jet as copy of obsolete F-5", Times of Israel, 21 August 2018, retrieved 29 July 2020
  19. "F-5 Tiger Fighter Jet". Northrop Grumman. Retrieved January 3, 2021. Approximately two-thirds of the original production F-5's remain operational in 26 countries, including the United States.
  20. Lockie, Alex (2018-08-23). "Iran's new jet fighter looks like a big joke - but its real purpose could save Iran's air force". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  21. Reid, David (22 August 2018). "Military experts say Iran's new fighter jet is actually a US plane from the 1970s". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  22. "Iran's first indigenously developed fighter jet looks a lot like the American F-5". The Defense Post. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
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