Saegheh Production To Begin Saturday

In a surprisingly visible display for the oppresive Islamic republic, on Thursday Iran publicly tested two of its domestically-manufactured fighter jets. The ceremony at Mehrabad Airport was attended by political and military leaders, reports UPI.

Alalam Satellite TV reports the two Saegheh fighters -- the name means "lightning" in Farsi -- performed maneuvers over the airport.

As ANN reported, the Saegheh -- which looks a bit like a Northrop F-5 Tiger (diagram above), but sporting twin vertical stabilizers similar to an F-18 -- was first test-flown last year. Analysts believe the aircraft was reverse-engineered from components of several US combat planes.

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 planes are due to enter full-scale production Saturday, according to the Alalam report, to commemorate the anniversary of the start of the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq.

The Saegheh is reportedly the first in a series of fighter aircraft dubbed Azarakhsh by the Iranians (that name, too, means "lightning.")

Iranian defense officials say the planes are similar to the US F-18, but 'more powerful,' reports UPI.

They did not elaborate, and no technical specs were disclosed.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org