Back in 2014, photos surfaced of a new subsonic combat trainer/light attack aircraft that, predictably, Iran claimed was domestically produced. A close look shows an airframe that is very much similar to Russia’s produced Yakovlev Yak-130, a light attack training jet developed in conjunction with an Italian firm.

According to The Aviationist, both the Yak-130 and the Shafaq have an “almost identical front section and large LERX (Leading Edge Root Extensions).” The missiles that were photographed on the mock-up jet’s hardpoints were “fake AGM-65 Maverick and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.”

Russian Trainer

Since there is limited information on the HESA Shafaq, its likely parent airframe—the Yak-130—can be used to estimate the Shafaq’s capabilities.

Though it is subsonic, the Yak-130 can perform in recon and light attack roles, Despite having had some success being exported abroad, several notable accidents have raised questions about the Yak-130’s reliability and airworthiness.

The Yak-130 has nine hardpoints with which ordinance or fuel tanks can be attached, two hardpoints are on the wingtips, one is the underbelly, and six are underwing hardpoints, for a total combat load of about three thousand kilos or around sixty-six hundred pounds.

Being a subsonic aircraft, the Yak-130’s capabilities are modest. Maximum airspeed is just below Mach 1, and the reported service ceiling is 12,500 meters or about 41,000 feet.

Although the Yak-130 is not in any way a stealth aircraft, the Shafaq is claimed to have stealth characteristics. Any degree of stealth would likely be achieved not by the airframe shape, but by radar-absorbent materials on the outside of the airframe.

Despite the obvious limitations inherent in the airframe, there has been speculation that the Yak-130 could give NATO a run for its money under certain circumstances.

Yet Another Imitation

Iran has a long history of claiming old (and foreign) platforms are totally new and 100 percent domestically manufactured. The Karrar Main Battle Tank may have some improvements but is essentially either a modified T-72 or T-90 tank with some modern components. The Azarakhsh, Saeqeh, and Kowsar jet fighters are only slightly modified American F-5 light attack jets from the mid- to late-1950s. It is even suspected that their premier fast-attack boat is a copy of an award-winning British speedboat.

Stealth is something that Iran just doesn’t do. In fact, capable and domestically-produced military planes are also something they don’t do.

Is the Shafaq a truly new creation? That’s extremely unlikely. Is it stealthy? Also unlikely. Chances are the Shafaq charade is a rebadged Russian Yak-130. Still, if it could ever enter serial production, it could be a decent trainer airframe.

Caleb Larson is a Defense Writer with The National Interest. He holds a Master of Public Policy and covers U.S. and Russian security, European defense issues, and German politics and culture. 

Image: Reuters