Iran is in the process of testing a "state-of-art stealth fighter jet" named Qaher (Conqueror), former Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan said on Saturday, January 27, to Tasnim News Agency. The Qaher F-313 was unveiled in February 2013.

Iran's F-313 Qaher "stealth" fighter jet

(Credit: FARS News Agency)

Dehqan pointed to the development process of Qaher by domestic experts, saying that the fighter jet has been designed to conduct close air support missions, according to Tasnim news agency.

Qaher is undergoing pre-flight tests, and among them is fast taxiing test, he told Tasnim.

The Qaher ("Conqueror") is a planned single-seat stealth fighter aircraft. According to official Iranian sources, the aircraft was designed and is indigenously produced in Iran by the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), a division of the Ministry of Defense, and IRIAF.

New version of the F-313 aircraft, unveiled in April 2017, appears to be larger and better built than the original one unveiled in 2013. The cockpit is now large enough—just to accommodate a human pilot. The updated F-313 showcased last year appears to be powered by two General Electrics J85 engines that Iran acquired when it purchased F-5 Freedom Fighters in the 1960s and 1970s.

Dehqan also mentioned the development of another homegrown training jet, dubbed Kowsar-88, saying that it is also performing fast taxi runs, preparing to take off.