I'm not sure what you're saying, so Kowsar/Saeqeh is not an analog of F-5 ? Yes the body is made out of synthetic materials like carbon fiber, yes it has a more modern radar which is built under license from China, but it's still an analog of the F-5. It's based on the F-5 blueprint. Its dimensions are more than 90% identical.
Just to give you an example, the US has been building the C-130 Hercules for 50 years years. A C-130 Hercules built in 2022 is completely different from a C-130 Hercules built in the 1950s or 60s but it's still a C-130 Hercules. The new C-130's, their airframes are built from different materials, the technology, the components, sensors, everything is different, but it's still a C-130. They could call it anything they want but as long as its based on the same blueprint, it's basically the same thing.
Honestly I don't think the SU-35 is the best fighter jet out there, I don't even think it's the best 4th generation fighter on the market, but Iran's airforce cannot purchase western jets. so they have two choices, SU-35 or J-10 and it seems that they chose SU-35. Compared to the F-5 it's faster, more maneuverable, can carry a larger payload and has thrust vectoring. It's not a bad platform.
You keep mentioning that F-5 can be upgraded with newer and better components, which is true, but you disregard the fact that the same can be said about the SU-35. Iran's airforce can upgrade its components/sensors including radar, avionics, etc if they find them to be insufficient. I don't see them upgrading anything right away but in a few years they very well might.
If Iran could build a medium-heavy fighter jet that could live up to modern standards, then there would be no need to look elsewhere, but if they could then they would have already by now. I'm not talking about a display model or prototype that doesn't fly (Qaher), I'm talking about mass production of a modern platform. I think the F-5 is a decent platform for what it is, but it's not suitable as a frontline fighter. As a secondary platform in a support role, yes, but not as a frontline fighter jet.
Anyways just wait and see what happens. It seems all but certain that the SU-35 deal has already been signed and if Iranian pilots are already training then its just a matter of time, but you never know. As far as I'm concerned, until the jets land in Iran, it's not a done deal.
Just to give you an example, the US has been building the C-130 Hercules for 50 years years. A C-130 Hercules built in 2022 is completely different from a C-130 Hercules built in the 1950s or 60s but it's still a C-130 Hercules. The new C-130's, their airframes are built from different materials, the technology, the components, sensors, everything is different, but it's still a C-130. They could call it anything they want but as long as its based on the same blueprint, it's basically the same thing.
Honestly I don't think the SU-35 is the best fighter jet out there, I don't even think it's the best 4th generation fighter on the market, but Iran's airforce cannot purchase western jets. so they have two choices, SU-35 or J-10 and it seems that they chose SU-35. Compared to the F-5 it's faster, more maneuverable, can carry a larger payload and has thrust vectoring. It's not a bad platform.
You keep mentioning that F-5 can be upgraded with newer and better components, which is true, but you disregard the fact that the same can be said about the SU-35. Iran's airforce can upgrade its components/sensors including radar, avionics, etc if they find them to be insufficient. I don't see them upgrading anything right away but in a few years they very well might.
If Iran could build a medium-heavy fighter jet that could live up to modern standards, then there would be no need to look elsewhere, but if they could then they would have already by now. I'm not talking about a display model or prototype that doesn't fly (Qaher), I'm talking about mass production of a modern platform. I think the F-5 is a decent platform for what it is, but it's not suitable as a frontline fighter. As a secondary platform in a support role, yes, but not as a frontline fighter jet.
Anyways just wait and see what happens. It seems all but certain that the SU-35 deal has already been signed and if Iranian pilots are already training then its just a matter of time, but you never know. As far as I'm concerned, until the jets land in Iran, it's not a done deal.
Tell me what su-35 bring us? How it add to our knowledge.?
And why you believe kowsar is equal to f5 and is reverse engineered f5 even the body is modified, RADAR is modified E-Warfare suit is modified it has different system to control the airplane it has data link capabilities. The design itself i despite being old is not that bad after all F-18 Also built on te same architecture.
Only copy is engine and that will change in time.
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