HESA F-5E Saeghe in Asia Minor II camouflage scheme

During the run-up to the 2015 Iran Military Day, imagery of another IRIAF Saeghe has turned up in Asia Minor II upper-surfaces camouflage scheme. This aircraft  is Northrup (HESA) F-5E Saeghe, serial 3-7369 (cn S110-004).

Photographed by S. Tabib on 09APR15 at Tehran/Mehrabad TFB-1, this Saeghe fighter-bomber also appears currently assigned to 23rd TFS at Tabriz/Shaheed Fakouri TFB-2.

Saeghe serial 3-7369 as it appeared in its original demonstrators colors during an airshow on 04FEB15 at Tabriz/Shaheed Fakouri TFB-2 [photo: Sina Atefi Pour]

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IRIAF Northrup (Owj) F-5E Saeghe in Asia Minor II camouflage scheme

Public debut of IRIAF HESA F-5F Saeghe II

On 09FEB15, Iran publicly unveiled the IRIAF HESA F-5F Saeghe II ("Thunderbolt II") two-seater fighter-bomber and advanced trainer, serial 3-7182.

IRIAF HESA F-5F Saeghe II reportedly features new NAVAIDS and Iranian variant of NPP Zvezda K-36 type  ejection seat. There are also rumors the aircraft's flight deck incorporates electronic (digital) instrument displays.

Overall finish of refurbished, modified Northrop F-5F Tiger II appears to meet relatively high standards. This unit also appears to be the first Saeghe aircraft to do away with demonstration colors in favor of the three-tone Asia Minor type camouflage pattern, more befitting of tactical combat aviation.

Frontal view of IRIAF HESA F-5F Saeghe II fitted with 2× wing-tip AAM launch rails and 4× under-wing pylon stations

IRIAF HESA F-5F Saeghe II fighter-bomber/advanced trainer in flight

Vertical stabilizer of IRIAF HESA F-5F Saeghe II, serial 3-7182 indicates marking of Tabriz/Shaheed Fakouri TAB-2; this aircraft likely joining existing IRIAF F-5E Saeghe I single-seat fighters of 23rd TFS.

Video still of IRIAF HESA F-5F Saeghe II fitted with centerline drop tank and what appear to be AAM training rounds attached to the inner under-wing pylon stations (and not the wing-tip AAM launch rails).

COMMENTARY: According to aviation writer Babak Taghvaee, this Saeghe II was built from a 21OCT00 accident-damaged F-5F from Dezful/Shahid Vahdati TAB-4. Subsequently, the airframe was at times relegated to parts reclamation as well as restoration, before the fuselage was finally shipped to Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) to be used as the basis for the Saeghe II. Taghvaee goes on to state that Project Saeghe 80 and 90 remain active, with current Saeghe aircraft envisioned for upgrade to SR.II level, and the entire fleet of IRIAF F-5 aircraft converted to Saeghe types by 2030. If accurate, Iran's military leadership would be basing its plans for a maintaining of the status quo, where the IRIAF continues to be denied access to new deliveries of foreign import combat aircrtaft.

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Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Iran to Unveil Modified Fighter Jet

Iranian officials announced on Saturday that the newly modified and upgraded Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jet will be unveiled soon. The new Saeqeh is a modified version of F-5E Tiger aircraft, with twin-seat configuration and twin-tail vertical stabilizer, and improved payload capacity and operational range.  

“The new generation of Saeqeh is a twin-seat fighter jet, which has more power, mobility, navigation equipment, fire power, payload and operational range compared with its single-seat version,” Manucheher Manteqi, Managing Director of Iranian Aviation Industries Organization, said during an interview with Tasnim news. (Tasnim, 3 January)

Saeqeh, and its predecessor Azarakhsh, have been shown in air shows in non-tactical paint scheme, like the photo above, for many years, and used mainly as demonstration aircraft. Today’s announcement indicates that Saeqeh could be fully operational and integrated into IRIAF F-5 squadrons. Manteqi did not say, however, how many F-5s will be modified as Saeqeh fighters. 

File photos: Original Saeqeh demonstration aircraft, with single seat, shown during an air show in Tehran in 2008. Saeqeh is a modified F-5E Tiger aircraft. Iran announced on Saturday that a new Saeqeh is now modified into a twin-seater fighter jet and is fully operational. (Photo: Fars News Agency)

IRIAF Northrop (HESA) F-5E Saeghe documentary - Persian

Documentary on Iran's HESA Saeghe military aircraft project. In some ways, documentary is styled similar to that of the "Wings of Russia" series. 

The Saeghe project appears to have originated as a means of circumventing Northrop's ownership of the F-5 design. However the project has apparently shown disappointing results, with at least one example reportedly reverting to a number of Northrop's original specifications. To date, a HESA Saeghe has yet to publicly shed its flashy demonstrator colors for those of a true combat aircraft, and in more recent publicized maneuvers the aircraft is outfitted as an attack aircraft, not a fighter.

The video's depicted aircraft industry more closely resembles that of an aircraft serial refurbishment facility than it does an actual aircraft manufacturing plant..