Iranian Leader’s Military Aide and former Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan announced that the two home-made fighter jets, Qaher 313 (photo) and Kosar 88, have performed their fast taxi run tests, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.

“Qaher is a training jet plane with the combat role of supporting the ground forces. The fighter jet has carried out flight tests, one of which is fast taxi, during which the fighter jet should run on the runway at high speed in preparation for a flight,” General Dehqan said.

“We have gone forward to the stage of the fast taxi for both Qaher and Kosar 88 fighter jets,” he added.

Qaher 313 is one of the ten 5th generation fighter jets designed and manufactured in the world. Radar evasion is one of the main features of 5th generation fighters.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems.

The country has repeatedly made it clear that its military might is merely based on the state’s defense doctrine of deterrence and that it poses no threat to other countries.

In February 2015, Iran unveiled a new home-made combat fighter, named Saeqeh 2 (Thunderbolt 2), which can also be used for training purposes.

“The double-cockpit supersonic fighter jet, which has been designed and built by the defense ministry's aerospace industries organization in cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Air Force, can be used for combat missions, close-range cover and backup in tactical missions, and also advanced pilot training programs,” Former Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said, addressing the unveiling ceremony. 

He said the aircraft had been built on the basis of a new design which had maximized its combat power, adding that the plane had also been equipped with advanced electro-avionics and weapons systems to train pilots for flying with the existing or new heavy fighters.