This is taken from
www.airforcesmonthly.com Iran's Stealthy Advanced Attack Aircraft
ALTHOUGH IRAN was known to be involved in the design of an advanced trainer and attack aircraft, little information had been available about the project until the show. Known as Shafagh (Farsi for light before the dawn?). The aircraft is being funded by Iran´s Ministry of Defence and has been designed by the Aviation University Complex (AUC), part of the Malek Ashtar University of Technology, one of Iran?s biggest design bureaux. The Shafagh is a sub-sonic aircraft, made of radar-absorbing materials with an empty weight of 11,000lb (5,00kg). It has a large leading edge root extension (LERX) and a root aft of the wing which it gives an unusual circular sub-section. The Shafagh boasts seven hardpoints ? three under each wing and one on the fuselage centreline station. The five-year project, working to the specifications of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, began three years ago and is currently in the initial design stage. Aerodynamic testing with a 1/7 scale model in the AUC?s wind tunnel has already been completed. Several photos at the stand showed that a full-scale mock up has been built, revealing a rather spacious cockpit. One source told AFM that installation of a Kilmov RD33 engine is currently being considered, which would dispel any misgivings about using a US engine because of sanctions. Russian industry is alleged to be involved on the project, although no one would comment on this. Roll-out of the first prototype is scheduled for 2008. According to personal at AUC, it has the responsibility of designing and developing air vehicles for the Iranian Armed Forces based on their orders, conducting aerodynamic testing; structural and system testing, and the flight tests and eventual manufacture of the prototypes.
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