Iranian F-313 Fighter

[andrewj]

Der Spiegel are showing the unveiling of a "new" Iranian fighter , the F-313 , interesting shape , but possibly only a mock-up. Could be a real life what-if..

http://www.spiegel.de/video/iran-praesentiert-angeblich-neuen-kampfjet-video-1251305.html

Andrew

[kitbasher]

Looks like the man from Tehran has crossed a Barracuda UAV with a 66%-scale F-35 and an Angel Interceptor.
Plenty more images on Google - all from  German sources by the look of it.

[AS.12]

Interesting, as Al Jazeera are showing a picture of the twin-finned F-5 derivative with IRNA attribution.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/201322111018687384.html

Though their story is sourced from "agencies" rather than the usual AJ man-on-the-scene.

Edit: I pinged AJ a quick note to ask if they're sure that's the correct image...

[sandiego89]

Perhaps an early entry for the 2013 Whiffies!  Looks fake to me.  The canopy does not look right/poor fit, no panel lines (unless thier low viz program is better than we think).  Tough to see, but no brake lines?

Another link showing the "aircraft" in flight and the pilot climbing in, well really climbing on it!  Small jet and no movment when he steps in.  Nice jet noise dubbed in, but looks like a model, just a little too twitchy and too high a roll rate.  I do not speak Farsi, so not sure if they are saying it is real.  

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/iran-reveals-new-qaher-313-stealth-fighter-381806/

[Captain Canada]

Neat looking aeroplane ! Obviously not a flier. The one pic with the pilot sitting in the cockpit is hilarious....would have been even better if the canopy started to close !

If I knew anything about photoshop, I'd fill that cockpit full of gumballs, cause with that big goofy canopy, that's what it looks like to me...a giant gumball machine !

[PR19_Kit]

Those down-turned wing tips are UNBELIEVABLY thick for something that's meant to go fast! And is that nosewheel straight off an F-5?

[Chris Payne]

That looks like a mockup for the press but there could well be a flyer out there as there is footage of a flyer on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ok2aMgfBdCs

[PR19_Kit]

That's the same link that sandiego89 mentions and I tend to go with his evaluation that the 'flying aircraft' is actually a model.

It has far too low an inertia and is twitching all over the sky. Note that you don't see it taking off or landing, which most announcements of a new type would major on.

[Spey_Phantom]

from a whiff perspective, its a cool looking aircraft with a X-36/F-19 vibe to it.
however, even though it looks stealthy, i cant take it seriously as a weapon 

first of, the aircraft is to small, unless the pilot is parapalegic, it looks impossible to slide the legs beneath the panel.
besides, the short nosecone leaves very little space for avionics, radar, ....
the intakes are also a bit small and that thrust nozzle, puh-lease 

the first flight video is obviously an RC model.
so, in my final thought: "it looks impressive from a design point of view, but it looks a bit raw built. more of a prototype of a prototype.
in other words, this is othing more then a propaganda stunt for the press.

[crudebuteffective]

the one on show is obviously a mock up , i've seen more panel lines on a frog kit!

[pyro-manic]

Really bad placement of the intakes, too. No good at all if you're at any substantial AoA.

[Mondria]

thay maybe working on it, but I dont think its real they have done nothing even close to it before.

[rickshaw]

You know, I reckon we should offer our services to the Iranian Government.  I reckon we could produce a much more convincing mockup... 

[MiB]

Hahahahahah Oh My God! Hahahahohohoh There are some ULM whit better cockpit!!!
But it is a good act of propaganda 

[rickshaw]

That looks like a mockup for the press but there could well be a flyer out there as there is footage of a flyer on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ok2aMgfBdCs

Could be but as there is nothing to scale it against, it could just be a RC model.  I'd have preferred to see it landing/taking off, with the camera relatively close by.   Iran has the ability to build such an aircraft but I suspect this is a little too advanced for it.  I'd expect to see a follow-on from their modified F-5 Saegheh fighter, perhaps along the lines of the YF-17.  This is a big leap for them and I doubt it's "stealth" capabilities.  If they have built it and it does fly, then they're managing a lot despite the sanctions.