The latest AFM issue said the Azarakhsh is a “10-15%” larger rework of the F-5 with shoulder intakes and two RD-33s!!!
Now, the MiG-29 has two RD-33s. It weighs in at 10900kg empty. Or about twice as much as a F-5 at 4900kg empty weight.
A 15% larger F-5 would be about 5700 kg.
So two RD-33s on that would give the Azarakhsh an astronomical TWR from two 8300 kg RD-33 engines. That’s a 5700kg plane with a thrust of 16600kg.
Realistically, there is simply no way for a F-5, even one that is 15% larger to take two RD-33s. It has to be the size of a MiG-29 and, even at its size, the MiG-29 has a problem with endurance and range.
But an interesting development if Iran is attempting to enlarge the F-5 and give it a set of more powerful engines.
This is really an interesting discussion ! …. Some time ago, when the first reports of the Azarakhsh came up, I always thought that the Azarakhsh will be an Iranian F-20-look alike with one RD-33 ….
The years went by ….. and all what became clear so far is that still some Western magazines – AirInternational, AFM and esp. FLIGHT International – still believe that the Azarakhsh is a “10-15%” larger rework of the F-5 with shoulder intakes and two RD-33s !!!”
Everything I know – or better I believe – so far is from the ACIG team and esp. TOM, that the original Azarakhsh is a copied F-5E and that the maybe Azarakhsh II-called inproved version features two tails instead of one !
There seems to exist no RD-33 powered Azarakhsh at all !!
Deino 😉
PS: anyway, this RD-33 powered Azarakhsh F-20-look alike would be something very nice for a “what-if” modeling project ! 😀
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