Iran HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program)
Kowsar
A single-seat light fighter unveiled by Iran in 2018 and presented as a domestically designed and manufactured aircraft. Independent aviation analysts widely assess it as based on the airframe of the U.S.-supplied Northrop F-5E Tiger II, with locally produced avionics and cockpit displays; production-scale figures are not independently confirmed.
In service since 2018
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,700
km/h
15,800
m ceiling
Pricing: Production scale and unit cost not independently confirmed; commonly cited as small-series
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Sanctioned origin
Under multilateral sanctions; acquisition carries severe legal/financial exposure for most buyers.
Channel: State channel
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2018. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 1,700 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 1.4 Mach |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 15,800 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 20 mm M39 cannon (F-5-derived) |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 7 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 14.4 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 8.13 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 4,300 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2× General Electric J85-derived turbojet (locally designated) |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbojet |
Specifications compiled from public HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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What is the top speed of the HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar? +
The HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar has a maximum speed of 1,700 km/h.
How many crew does the HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar require? +
The HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar? +
The HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar's primary weapon is the 20 mm M39 cannon (F-5-derived).
What engine does the HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar use? +
The HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar is powered by the 2× General Electric J85-derived turbojet (locally designated).
What is the HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar used for? +
The HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar is a fighter aircraft typically used for air superiority.
How much does the HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar cost? +
HESA Aviation Industry (Kowsar Program) Kowsar: Production scale and unit cost not independently confirmed; commonly cited as small-series. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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