HESA Azarakhsh
| Azarakhsh | |
|---|---|
| HESA Azarakhsh on display at Vahdati Air Base | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light fighter |
| Manufacturer | Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) |
| Status | In service (production completed) |
| Primary user | Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force |
| Number built | 6 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1997 |
| Developed from | Northrop F-5 |
| Developed into | HESA Saeqeh HESA Kowsar |
The HESA Azarakhsh (Persian: آذرخش Âzaraxš, "Thunderbolt") is a jet fighter aircraft manufactured by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA). It is widely regarded as a rebuilt and renamed American Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II although Iranian authorities claim it is Iran's first domestically manufactured combat jet fighter.
The Azarakhsh was developed in Isfahan by the Iranian military, the Iranian Defense Ministry, and aircraft-manufacturing company HESA.