Gentlemen,
At the risk of, no doubt, sounding like a broken record player ... I would say, the idea of needing a STATE OF THE ART ENGINE is borderline insanity, for Iran. I can justify this.
In 1962 An engine was produced for a fast car, it was a 5.0L TI-VCT-V8, for one of my favorite cars, a Ford Mach 1. This engine still to this day, is an awe inspiring engine. Yes, it is not Eco-Engine, does not have KL-KN-teptronic engine control system, it is not integrated with a computer as is many of high stack engines for top of the line cars, however, still to this day, this twin independent camshaft timing engine without any computer or other fancy bells and whistles, is powerful and reliable and doesn't have some of the major issues (when break down) that other fancy engines have. Much more reliable, even more than the Jaguar supercharged AJ126 5.0L that has Adaptive Dynamic InControl Sequential Shaft made in (yes) Germany, although people are told that it is in Coventry, LOL.
I was in Coventry with the main project director who was a friend of mine at University and we drove to Warwick (right by the castle) and had a beer (a few actually) at the Warwick Mill pub that has the glass floor and you can see the river underneath. He said, and I quote, "I wished we just used the 5.0 Ti-VCT-V8 with a engine management control computer, instead of all this development for a crappy engine, that has been nothing but an expensive f**** nightmare of idiocy.
My point:
Having worked in the Aviation Engine industry for 3 decades, I would categorically say, IRAN DOES NOT NEED THE BEST TURBOFAN ENGINE in the world. Iran just doesn't need it. The myth of turbofan is what the Americans have used to sell expensive engines and (more important to them), get MAINTENANCE contracts from Arab countries (so CIA can go and reside there) that cannot think for themselves and ask themselves, why would they need a turbofan, if they have so much oil, and if they have aerial refueling, and such an expensive piece of equipment, that has (depends on engine of course) about 30% more parts that can go wrong?
Any of the engines mentioned by Ray_Atek would work fine - IF IRAN'S AIR COMBAT STRATEGY IS SOUND.
The West have fooled everyone about turbofan. Ask people that I have worked with over many years, who actually maintained engines, they spoke to me as the liaison for engine re-design and structural analysis, and manufacturing. They told me what they think.
Never seen so many maintenance crews (an pilots), proportionately, love an engine as much as P&W J52 turbojet, and never seen more people hate the engine TF-30 turbofans as much as the people I worked with or came across through contact at RR, or the American military base in U.K. that had FB-111.
Yes there are some good turbofan engines, .... yes, AL31 is good, etc. etc. but let's be real here.
Do not let American marketing fool you into thinking that IT HAS TO BE A TURBOFAN. Absolutely not.
I would prefer Iran spend money (instead of an engine, and hiring someone like me), to spend money to turn Fakour 90, into a R37 - more efficient missile engine, high grade composite fuel tec-sip high energy with light composite body, or AIM 120D and/or Meteor missiles.
Turbofan does not offer IRREPLACIBLE ADVANTAGE.
Once again, DOES NOT OFFER IRREPLACIBLE ADVANTAGE.
Multi-channel, multi-mode, multi-band AESA radar DOES. R37 with its incredible range and Meteor, DO.
Iran does not have enough money, nor time, to invest in turbofan of 30,000 lb class.
It cannot also buy from Russia, not in a sensible way either. Iran should, as I have bored all of you so many times, need to rely on its own and use one of the engines that Ray-Atek mentioned above. It is perfectly fine.
If IRIAF researcher are visiting this site, as I know they do, DO NOT FALL FOR THE TRAP OF AMERICANS. Take a look at the IRGC, they fight based on America's weaknesses, not strengths. U.S. would LOVE for Iran to get bugged down in engine development for the next 20 years. Don't do them a favor. Iran already spends 35% of its IRIAF budget on retirement funds, war wounded salaries and compensation, etc. Iran does not have the money to spend on such a huge mistake.
Simpler turbojet engines of late 1970s, are pretty good, for what Iran needs. Many known knowns, much quicker for Iran to develop, EVEN add todays technology to the old design (when it makes sense), e.g. blade coating, etc.
My humble opinion, of course.
Long live the wonderful, righteous nation of Iran and her brave people.
Engines manufacturing: Not just US, Russian, and China, let's not forget France, UK, and Germany. They can build good engines too, although have little incentive to do so.
Thank you for your mentioned project management factors.
Nowadays we see many technical changes in Air frame and Avionics,
And not on engines.
Waiting to complete each part of fighter jet, is a deep time wasting management.
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