Iran-Plane-Test
Iran has successfully tested a new fighter plane named Azarakhsh (Thunder), said Ministry of Defense Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar Monday morning.

'Thunder' has been manufactured in cooperation with experts from the Army, Defense Ministry and HESA aircarft manufacturing industries in the central province of Isfahan, the minister told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony held on the eve of 'Journalist Day' (August 8).

August 8 is the anniversary of martyrdom of IRNA reporter in Afghanistan, Mahmoud Saremi, who was shot dead along with a number of Iranian diplomats in Mazari Sharif in 1999 by Taliban militants.

The day is marked as the Journalist Day in Iran each year.

"The Azarakhsh fighter plan is now at the stage of industrial production and its mass production will start in the future," said the minister.

He added that the fighter's successful test would lead to plans for "manufacturing of the fifth generation of Iranian aircraft." Army and Defense Ministry experts are currently working on the second type of Azarakhsh fighters called Sa'qeh (Lightning) which would be also tested in the near future, Mohammad-Najjar added.

Referring to the manufacture of 'Sky-Guard' 35mm shells by the Defense Ministry experts, the minister said the experts have also succeeded in manufacturing 2000-km-range surface-to-surface rockets as well as various types of cruise sea rockets.

He added that the ministry's skillful experts have successfully managed to manufacture various types of air-defense missiles and anti-missile rockets too.