Iran voiced its readiness to export domestically built fighter jets and training aircraft, hoping to find potential buyers during the 9th International Iran Air Show taking place on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf on 26-29 November 2018.
Head of Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) Brigadier General Abdoklarim Banitarafi broke the news on Monday before the Air Show’s opening ceremony, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
“We have already taken the necessary steps to export products that we are authorized to sell,” he told reporters, noting that Tehran will resume selling trainer jets as well.
Banitarafi said Iran had already reached export agreements with China, Russia and Indonesia.
Iran unveiled Kosar jet fighter (photo), which is equipped with avionics (aviation electronics) and fire-control systems, in September.
Kosar was unveiled in a ceremony participated by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran who ordered the fighter jet to fly.
The new fighter jet uses the fourth generation of military digital network and is equipped with heads-up display (HUD) system to increase the precision-striking power of weapons, advanced and multi-purpose radar for fire-control to boost the precision to trace the targets and threats and high-precision navigation system.
Kosar can be manufactured in two types of single-cockpits and double-cockpits and the second type can be used for training pilots in addition to enjoying combat capabilities.
According to the Iranian officials, the fighter jet is a supersonic combat plane different from the training Kosar 88 plane unveiled in April 2017.
Meantime, Army Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Hossein Dadras announced early September that Kosar had gone on line for mass-production.
“The Defense Ministry, in cooperation with the Air Force, is mass-producing the fighter jet,” General Dadras said.
He added that Kosar has undergone different ground and air operational tests by the Iranian Air Force experts for numerous hours.
“We have ordered this fighter jet for the Army,” General Dadras concluded.
