HESA
Kowsar
Notes: The
Kowsar (Thunderbolt) is basically an upgraded F-5B Freedom Fighter; despite
Iran’s claims that the Kowsar is “100 percent domestically manufactured,” the
airframe is a strengthened to give it a sort of Mid-Life Upgrade and keep them
relevant and fight-quality instead of being a thoroughly-obsolete aircraft
unable to hold its own with fighters and air-to-ground targets.
The production line (perhaps it should called an upgrade line) opened in
2018, and 25 Kowsars have been manufactured as of the end of 2019.
The Iranians plan to convert the remaining 48 F-5Bs into Kowsars in the
following years. Western experts say it is still deficient as a fighter-bomber,
and should perhaps be used as a trainer instead of a frontline fighter-bomber.
They say that the Kowsar is already obsolete, despite the upgrade
package. The upgrade makes use of stolen technology from the US and other NATO
countries, as well as bought technology from China.
The Iranians claim that the Kowsar is a Generation 4 fighter, but if it
is, it is just barely so. The Kowser upgrade package is being marketed to
countries which have F-5-series aircraft.
The Kowsar is a
two-pace aircraft, with a pilot and WSO. The WSO does not have much of a
function in air-to-air combat; his primary job is in air-to-ground operations.
The Kowsar’s airframe follows its F-5 roots.
The Kowsar has an enlarged canopy for better visibility.
Engines have
been upgraded with J90 turbofans, which are unlicensed copies of the GE
J85-GE-13 (but still considered by experts as deficient),and deliver a total of
10,000 pounds thrust. The fuel the
Kowsar is able to carry limits to short-duration attack missions and short
dogfights. Maneuvering slats have been added to the wings’ leading edges, and
control surfaces have been enlarged.
The wings themselves have more swept leading edges, and the air intakes
slope slightly back toward the rear, though the reason for this in unknown.
Avionics were
designed with Russian help; the cockpit display and combat avionics are
partially based on the MiG-29. The
whole avionics suite was not compatible with the Kowsar, and thus provided only
limited improvements. Most of these
improvements are in the cockpit, and the Kowsar essentially has a glass cockpit,
with most instruments being LCD panels.
The radar has increased range and is capable of using command-guidance
munitions and radar-homing AAMs.
The Kowsar uses fly-by-wire technology, which increases maneuverability and
keeps the plane from performing maneuvers which would “outmaneuver the aircrew.”
The WSO does not have flight controls; his cockpit is primarily concerned
with radar and ground targets, though he does fire any radar-homing AAMs the
Kowser may carry. The avionics
suite, unlike the rest of the Kowser, has near-state-of-the-art avionics..
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$36,381,067 |
JP4 equivalent |
3.8 tons |
6.18 tons |
2 |
22 |
Radar (200 km), IRST (50 km) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
3127 |
869 (125) |
NA 196 5/3
50/30 |
4068 |
1015 |
15932 |
FF4 CF4
RF3 W2
T2 |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
All-Weather Flight, Flare/Chaff Dispensers (40/40, RWR, ECM, HUD, IR
Uncage, Track While Scan, Target ID, Laser Designator |
700/500m Hardened Runway |
+3 |
2xM39 20mm Autocannons, 6 Hardpoints |
400x20mm |