Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad walks to talk with the pilot of the domestically designed and built Qaher (Conqueror) F-313 fighter jet during a ceremony to unveil it in a warehouse in Tehran on February 2, 2013. Iran unveiled the fighter jet with Ahmadinejad touting it as 鈥渙ne of the most advanced鈥� aircraft in the world. AFP PHOTO/ISNA/AMIR POURMAND
TEHRAN 鈥� Iran on Saturday unveiled a fighter jet it said was designed and built domestically, with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad touting it as 鈥渙ne of the most advanced鈥� aircraft in the world.
State television footage showed the grey, futuristic-looking aircraft, code-named Qaher (Conqueror) F-313, displayed in a hangar.
The warplane 鈥渋s among the most advanced fighter jets in the world,鈥� Ahmadinejad told defense ministry top brass at the unveiling, media reports said.
Ahmadinejad said the aircraft was designed and built in Iran, and was test-flown for 鈥渢housands of hours鈥� by pilots who are 鈥渧ery satisfied with its performance.鈥�
The unveiling comes as Iran marks the 34th anniversary of the 1979 revolution, which replaced the US-backed shah with an Islamic regime.
Iran traditionally uses the anniversary period to showcase military, space and nuclear advances, against the backdrop of international sanctions.
Ahmadinejad called Qaher 鈥渁 deterrent鈥� meant to send a 鈥渕essage of peace,鈥� despite its aggressive name.
Media quoted Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi as saying the plane boasted a very low radar signature, and that 鈥渁dvanced materials鈥� were used to build it.
He said, without elaborating, that it is also equipped with 鈥渁dvanced electro-avionics systems.鈥�
Vahidi said the plane could land on short runways and will 鈥渕eet the needs of the Iranian air force.鈥�
The Islamic republic is subject to a US embargo which prohibits it from buying new fighter jets and spare parts for its aging air force, much of which is of American origin and was bought in a huge pre-revolution spending spree.
Iran also has Russian jets, but in past years has concentrated on developing entirely home-produced warplanes.
Tehran is also locked in a showdown with the UN Security Council over its controversial nuclear programme of uranium enrichment, and talks with world powers aimed at resolving international concerns have been stalled for months.