Iran's 'Radar Evading' Qaher 313 Fighter Jet Enters Final Production Stage

Iran has entered into the final stage of the production of a home-made fighter jet dubbed 'Qaher 313', which is capable to 'evade radar'.

“The plane is ready for different test”, Iran’s Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan said. The fighter will start flying next year from March 21.

Iran’s then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013 first unveiled the Qaher 313, saying it has capability to evade radar systems.

On the contrary, Israeli aeronautics expert Tal Inbar told Maariv at the time said, the plane displayed in the Iranian media at that time looked more like a fiberglass or cardboard model.

“It’s not a plane, because that’s not how a real plane looks,” he said. 

"While the plane displayed by the Iranian press was clearly not a working prototype, it integrated advanced stealth design with extreme maneuverability, an Israeli aerospace engineer said to the Times of Israel on condition of anonymity said.

While the Qaher’s design lacked bombing capability, it had the potential to be an effective interceptor capable of defending Iran’s skies from aerial threats, he added.

Dehqan’s announcement about the Qaher 313 came follows reporting of Iranian state television that the advanced S-300 air defense system, which the Islamic Republic bought from Russia, is now operational.

 Iran has developed a home-made version of the S-300, which it calls Bavar 373. "The final operational tests of Bavar 373 will be carried out late in May." Dehqan claimed on Sunday.

The full battlefield operation tests on Bavar 373 system have been planned for May 23," Dehqan added.