IRAN: Tehran unveils new domestic fighter jet

Iran unveiled a new domestic fighter jet with President Hassan Rouhani saying Tehran’s military strength was only designed to deter enemies and aimed at creating “lasting peace”. Images broadcast on state television on Tuesday showed Rouhani sitting in the cockpit of the new Kowsar fourth-generation fighter at the National Defence Industry exhibition in Tehran. State […]

Iran unveiled a new domestic fighter jet with President Hassan Rouhani saying Tehran’s military strength was only designed to deter enemies and aimed at creating “lasting peace”.

Images broadcast on state television on Tuesday showed Rouhani sitting in the cockpit of the new Kowsar fourth-generation fighter at the National Defence Industry exhibition in Tehran.

State media said it had “advanced avionics” and multi-purpose radar, and it was “100-percent indigenously made” for the first time. 

Footage of the Kowsar’s test flights was circulated by various official media.

But live footage of the plane taxiing along a runway at the defence show was cut before it took off.

“When I speak of our readiness to defend, it means we seek lasting peace. If we lack readiness, we welcome war,” Rouhani said in a televised speech shortly after.

“Some think when we increase our military power, this means we seek war. [But] this is peace-seeking because we don’t war to happen,” he added.