After successfully reverse engineering the U.S. built Northrop Grumman F-5 fighter, Iran has unveiled cloned turbojet engine of the fighter...
After successfully reverse engineering the U.S. built Northrop Grumman F-5 fighter, Iran has unveiled cloned turbojet engine of the fighter on Sunday.
Dubbed the "Owj" the engine closely resembles the General Electric J85 turbojet engine that powered the F-5 supplied to the Islamic Republic in the 1960s and 1970s.
Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan claimed the engine was indigenously manufactured in the country and can operate at an altitude of 50,000 feet.
The J85 was a small single-shaft turbojet engine developed in the 1950s with a dry thrust of up to 13.1 kN and produced 22 kN with an afterburner.
With over 12,000 produced when production ended in 1988, the engine was the most successful one developed by GE and is expected to serve with U.S. Air Force until 2040.
Two of these engines can power a 10 ton aircraft like the F-5 fighter and will enable Iran to maintain its F-5 derived HESA Azaraksh and Saeqeh fighter jets, even though with poor performance.
The engine is also suitable to power trainer jets and de-rated versions can be used to power cruise missiles.
Dubbed the "Owj" the engine closely resembles the General Electric J85 turbojet engine that powered the F-5 supplied to the Islamic Republic in the 1960s and 1970s.
Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan claimed the engine was indigenously manufactured in the country and can operate at an altitude of 50,000 feet.
The J85 was a small single-shaft turbojet engine developed in the 1950s with a dry thrust of up to 13.1 kN and produced 22 kN with an afterburner.
With over 12,000 produced when production ended in 1988, the engine was the most successful one developed by GE and is expected to serve with U.S. Air Force until 2040.
Two of these engines can power a 10 ton aircraft like the F-5 fighter and will enable Iran to maintain its F-5 derived HESA Azaraksh and Saeqeh fighter jets, even though with poor performance.
The engine is also suitable to power trainer jets and de-rated versions can be used to power cruise missiles.
