F-5 Lookalike First Tested In 2006

As if the situation throughout the Middle East wasn't tense enough, on Monday Iranian state television reported the country recently began full-scale production of its first homegrown fighter jet, dubbed "Azarakhsh."

As ANN reported, the aircraft -- reverse-engineered from components of several US combat planes, and bearing more than a passing resemblance to a Northrop F-5 (file photo of type shown above,) but with twin tails -- entered testing in 2006.

Though unlikely to pose a serious challenge to US and Israeli fighter planes, the close-support fighter is another sign of Iran's intent to become militarily self-sufficient.

"The airplane, Azarakhsh, was made by Iranian experts, and it has already reached the industrial production stage," state television quoted Iran's defense minister, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, as saying, according to The Associated Press.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Najjar also trumpeted Iran's intentions to design more advanced aircraft, including fighters incorporating stealth technology, and greater use of composite materials.

"By successful test of the Azarakhsh, planning for production of fifth-generation airplanes began," he said.

The announcement is the latest in a series of military advancements from Iran... although experts have taken news of Iranian-designed long-range submarine-to-surface missiles, short-range surface-to-surface missiles, and even a "stealth missile," with a grain of salt.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org