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IAIO Kowsar-88

2022 MODERN AIRCRAFT FUTURE FLIGHT

History

Like countries like Brazil, India and Turkey, Iran aspires to become more independent militarily through local industries. This mentality has led the Iranian Aviation Industry Organization (IAIO) to develop a new indigenous jet trainer called the "Kowsar-88". The aircraft was unveiled in April 2017, with a maiden flight scheduled for late 2017 or early 2018 (the latter being more likely).

A planned five-year test program sets service entry for the early 2020s.

The Iranian Air Force has been using American-designed Northrop F-5 Tiger jet fighters for decades, which has certainly provided much-needed experience in the maintenance and repair of high-speed light aircraft.

From the looks of it, this aircraft is very suitable for a premium jet trainer. It sits under a long tubular, largely unobstructed canopy (hinged on the starboard side) behind a short nose cone (accommodating one of two embedded avionics kits), keeping the two crew members in tandem sit down. The main wing planes are set low along the sides of the fuselage and are mostly straight with truncated tips (a slight rearward arrow can be seen along the leading edge).

The rear wing arrangement is conventional and includes a vertical stabilizer and a pair of low-lying, fully moving horizontal planes. The landing gear adopts a tricycle arrangement, is retractable, and includes a single-wheel front leg and a pair of single-wheel main legs.

Flight controls are hydraulically operated. Another avionics adjustment is located aft of the second cockpit.

The engine, detailed as "J90" (Iranian-designed version of the famous General Electric J85 turbojet used in the F-5), is a locally built turbofan engine. They attach to the root of the wing, are sucked in through a crescent-shaped air intake on the side of the fuselage, and ejected through a smaller port not far away.

Published specs include a wingspan of 36 feet and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 13,620 pounds.

As it stands (July 2017), the Iranian Aviation Service has ordered 50 of these aircraft for modernization amid ongoing Western sanctions. Ground tests are said to have begun, and flight tests will take place by the end of 2017.

In addition to its intended role as an advanced jet trainer, the Kowsar-88 has also been studied for a light attack/close air support (CAS) role, although there is little evidence to date that much has been accomplished with the latter. [ /p]