TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has displayed a new twin-seat fighter jet it says is all Iranian-made and which allegedly has advanced avionics and fire control systems.
Tuesday’s report by state television shows President Hassan Rouhani briefly sitting in the plane’s cockpit inside a hangar just before an inauguration ceremony.
It said Iran will also manufacture a single-seat version of the fighter jet. The report didn’t elaborate on the aircraft’s make or capabilities beyond saying it’s capable of flying at an altitude of 45,000 feet and with the speed of Mach 1.2. Mach 1 would be equal to the speed of sound.
Iran already has U.S.-made and Russian-made fighter jets in service.
The Islamic Republic often announces military achievements that cannot be independently verified.
