| Shafaq | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Trainer / Attack aircraft |
| National origin | Iran |
| Manufacturer | Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) |
| Designer | Aviation University Complex |
| First flight | 2017 (forecast, but not achieved) |
| Status | Prototype |
| Primary user | Iran |
| Number built | One prototype |
| Developed from | M-ATF |
The HESA Shafaq or Shafagh (Persian: هواپیمای شفق, "Twilight" or "Aurora") is an Iranian subsonic stealth aircraft project being developed by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA).[1]
According to reports, the Shafaq will be a subsonic aircraft, but this might be changed. Additionally, Iranian Officials have reported that the Shafaq will have a skin of radar-absorbing material.[2]
This two-seat advanced training and attack aircraft appears to be based[3] on the Russian-Iranian "Project Integral" and are fitted with Russian ejection seats. Reportedly, there are plans to produce three versions—one two-seat trainer/light strike version and two one-seat fighter-bomber versions.[1]
The Shafaq is designed by the Aviation University Complex (AUC), part of the Malek-Ashtar University of Technology (MUT). At the start of the program, Iran received help from Russia[3] and the aircraft was known as Integral. Russia later backed away from this project for several reasons[citation needed] and Iran carried on the project by itself renaming it Shafaq. The Shafaq is designed as a sub-sonic aircraft,[3] and made of radar-absorbing material. It has a large leading edge root extension (LERX) and a root aft of the wing which gives it an unusual circular sub-section.[1]
A 1/7 scale model of the Shafaq has already completed testing in the AUC's wind tunnel and pictures have already been revealed which show that a full-scale model has already been built.[3] The Shafaq will be built in different configurations including a two-seater trainer, a two-seater light Attack and a one-seater light attack variants. Roll-out of the first prototype was scheduled for 2008.[2] The Shafaq's advanced cockpit features color MFDs and a Russian-made K-36D ejection seat.
According to AIO (Aerospace Industries Organisation), the aircraft was expected to be flight tested during 2017, and featuring twin, outwardly canted vertical fins. This type of a tail design has become a favoured aerodynamic feature of Iranian designers that dates back to the development of the reverse-engineered Iranian version of the Northrop F-5, the HESA Saeqeh.[4]
Data from Trend[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
