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A few more picture of the F-313
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This group is open to everyone who likes any kind of aircraft
In case anyone is willing to talk, I will just leave this here:
There is rumor that the current variation of the Q-313 is not meant to be fighter but a low level light bomber or as a an Anti-Aircraft Carrier Attack Jet. The reasons for such speculation are:
* Taking out US Aircraft Carriers is somewhat of a linchpin of all Iranian defense strategies, be it with swarms of anti-ship missiles, or small boats.
* The aircraft has quite thick wings with downward angled tips. This suggest it can use ground effect to fly low for most of its mission. Also the sizable FLIR suggest this isn't meant to fly fast but slow and low over the surface.
* The intakes are located on the top of the aircraft. This is not the bast placement if one seeks to pull any sort of high angle of attack maneuvers. which suggest the placement has to do with avoiding sea/dust-spray ingestion into the engines.
*The incorporation of low observable shaping and materials to further delay detection by the target.
* The small protruding cockpit may be a fixture which in future may be removed to make this unmanned. It may be even used as a suicide drone. Someone even did a quick illustration of that: Defence.pk
There is also another rumor that Qaher 313 development is divided into several phases, in which the first phase it will have the role of close air support, than a light fighter and in the final phase it will turn into an interceptor. Something that the above speculation supports.
Iranian defense minister mentioned that will take estimated 3 years for completing the first Iranian domestic heavy turbofan engine. Perhaps the later development phases will commence after that.
If i remember correctly, it was originally reported as a trainer, possibly due to its small size and simplistic control panel. I'm not sure if that was a mis-report or if it was just a what-if posited at the time it was declared a fake in the West. I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt that it is real and can fly.
With that, my guess based on available information is that this is a light interceptor/advanced trainer. And, assuming it works (for which I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt), and assuming Iran can and is willing to export these, they could be quite effective at taking market share in the light fighter market. This is of course ignorant of the costs of the aircraft, for which I can make no assumption.
But who knows, the planes looks good and could add diversity to the market if it can get off the ground. Certainly a rocky path ahead, but an interesting one.
"Suicide Drone" is an oxymoron, because if unmanned, then there is no suicide. It is of no consequence, as it is fake. It is quite transparent.
Janes.com