The warplane, a supersonic, is a twin-seat fighter jet
designed and manufactured by the local experts.
In a ceremony held in capital Tehran, the new aircraft was
unveiled and delivered to the Iranian Air Force.
Brigadier General Amir Hatami, Deputy Defense Minister of
the Islamic Republic, and Lieutenant Commander of the Air Force Brigadier
General Alireza Barkhor attended the unveiling ceremony of Saeqeh-2.
According to Hatami, the new fighter’s mission is to provide
"close support in tactical operations.”
He noted that another application of the plane is to provide
advanced training for pilots.
The deputy minister said many "indigenous systems” have been
installed on the homegrown jet.
Iran has made great achievements in recent years in its defense sector and
attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and
systems.
Azarakhsh (meaning lightning) was Iran's 1st domestically-manufactured
combat jet.
Saeqeh fighter jet is a follow-up aircraft of Azarakhsh. Iran unveiled its
first squadron of Saeqeh fighter-bombers in an air show in 2010. Saeqeh-2 comes
as a development upon it and an Iranian official recently said it is equipped to
track ultra-regional aircraft.