“The fighter jet is enjoying the state-of-the-art equipment and able to use precision weapons. All the weapons that can be assumed to be used by an advanced fighter, either air-to-air missiles, bombs, or air-to-ground missiles, have been included in Kosar,” Second Brigadier General Mohammad Zalbeigi, Commander of Tehran-based Shahid Lashkari airbase, told Mehr News Agency on Saturday.

“The country is mass-producing Kosar fight jet,” he added, noting that these fighters will be deployed where ever the country feels they are required to face threats or perform operations.

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force is fully ready and will not let enemies even think about aggression against Iran, Zalbeigi warned.

The domestically-made fighter/trainer jet ‘Kosar’, mainly developed by the Iran Aviation Industries Organization, was unveiled back in July 2017 and showcased to an international audience at MAKS air show in Moscow.

The twin-engined, two-seat Kosar jet successfully ran through test-flights on August 21, 2018, in the presence of President Hassan Rouhani. The event was part of the programs planned to commemorate Iran’s Day of Defense Industry, during which the president is scheduled to deliver a speech.

‘Kosar’ enjoys many advanced features including an indigenous avionic and fire-control system, multi-function digital displays, ballistic weapon calculator, an advanced HUD system to increase strike precision, and an advanced multifunction fire control radar to boost the identification of targets and threats.

‘Kosar’ is an advanced fighter jet with a Close Air Support (CAS) role that has made Iran one of the few countries with the know-how of designing and manufacturing such jets equipped with 4th generation avionic and fire-control systems.

The jet is being mass-produced with one-seat and two-seat, the latter of which can be used for both military and training purposes.

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Brigadier General Abdolkarim Banitarafi made the remarks on State TV IRIB 2 last night, hours after the first home-made supersonic fighter jet named ‘Kosar’ was unveiled in the presence of President Hassan Rouhani yesterday morning.

“Kosar fighter jet is 100% indigenous and built inside the country. It’s a predator aircraft whose mission is to closely provide air cover to ground operations,” Banitarafi said.

He added that the fighter jet enjoys advanced electronic equipment and it can carry various kinds of missiles and bombs that are designed and manufactured domestically and there will be no need to any foreign help.

Since the aircraft is indigenous, so it can be developed easily in cooperation with the country’s academic centers and universities, Banitarafi noted.

He added that the new Iranian fighter jet uses the fourth generation of military digital network and enjoys advanced equipment that are of great help to its pilot.

Iran Aviation Industries Organization head further said that after the operational tests, some changes will be made to the aircraft and it will enter the mass production stage.

He said that domestically manufacturing Kosar fighter jets will save Iran millions of dollars and will produce hundreds of jobs for Iranian youth.