Iranian officials announced their readiness to transform their “fifth-generation” stealth aircraft into a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) before the end of February.
According to 19fortyfive, Tehran has become a leading producer of drones, but the country’s aviation industry has fallen behind. Since the Iranian Air Force continues to use an updated version of the F-14 Tomcat, its claimed capabilities seem overstated at best.
The Qaher, according to Iranian authorities, can carry a 4,400lb bomb or at least six missiles. Tehran’s previous defense minister said the UAV could fly at low altitudes, carry various Iranian weapons, and have a tiny radar-cross section.
Experts and aviation enthusiasts have mostly discounted Iran’s claims for various reasons. Iran has now revealed photos and videos of their brand-new, top-tier fighter. One video shows an Iranian pilot crouching in the jet’s cockpit, which is too tiny to fly a human person.
The internal cargo cannot be transported by the Qaher because there is no room for a pilot. The analytical and sensing technology needed to create the fighter’s stated capabilities were also beyond Iran’s technological reach.
The Qaher’s nose appears to have a similarly major fault in its construction. Because of the nose’s size, there wasn’t much room for radar within. Without a nozzle, the engine’s afterburners would melt the entire fighter’s airframe.
The report reveals that the Qaher was never intended to be a 5th-generation stealth fighter aircraft, but it may see new life as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The drone program run by the Iranian leadership has grown more deadly. Iran has increased its investment in unmanned aerial vehicle research and development as its missile defense program has grown. Iran has perfected the production and distribution of low-cost, low-tech, but lethal drones to its regional proxy organizations during the past ten years or so.
Recently, Iran has sold many deadly drones to the Russian Armed Forces.
According to a report, the Shahed 131 and 136 are single-use kamikaze drones that Iran has sold to Russia as an affordable substitute for cruise missiles.
The Mohajer-6 is a multi-role drone that can be used for collecting intelligence and can carry a missile payload, both of which Russia has shown interest in purchasing.
