Does An "Arms Embargo" Help (in the long run)?

COL Ted Mc — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 15:00:24 -0500

From "Jane's 360"

Iran begins mass production of Saeghe fighter

http://www.janes.com/article/47766/iran-begins-mass-production-of-saeghe-fighter?utm_campaign=[PMP]_PC5308_J360%2014.1.15%20_KV_Deployment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

Iran has begun mass production of the Saeghe (Thunderbolt) indigenously developed combat aircraft, state media announced on 7 January.

Quoting an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) spokesperson, the Fars News Agency reported that the country now has 'several squadrons' of the Northrop F-5E Tiger II-derived aircraft in operational service. Prior to the report, the IRIAF was understood to have only about three Saeghe fighters flying with the 23rd Fighter Squadron, based at Tabriz in the far northwest of the country.

First revealed in 2007, the Saeghe is essentially an F-5E (141 of which were procured by the Shah of Iran prior to the revolution in 1979, with 31 still believed to be flying) that has been modified by Hevapeimasazi (Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Company: HESA).

The Saeghe's most obvious modification is the twin-fin configuration that is similar to that of the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet series of aircraft. Indeed, Iranian officials have previously said that the Saeghe's performance is comparable to the Hornet's, although such claims cannot be independently verified.

AND

Images suggest J-10Bs close to entering Chinese service

http://www.janes.com/article/47815/images-suggest-j-10bs-close-to-entering-chinese-service?utm_campaign=[PMP]_PC5308_J360%2014.1.15%20_KV_Deployment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

An early January sighting of 14 J-10B fighters at the airfield of Factory 132 of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) indicates this updated fighter may soon be deployed to its first operational regiment.

A People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter regiment usually has about 24 aircraft.

Chinese commentators suggested the fighters may have been assembled for a transfer ceremony or another publicity exercise. Images show the J-10B fighters in the usual grey colour scheme of the PLAAF, an indication they may soon be deployed.

Following a testing programme that started in late 2008, images of the aircraft from the first J-10B production batch emerged in December 2013. Throughout 2014 Chinese aircraft spotters posted images of this first production batch, first in yellow primer and then in service grey.

[EDITORIAL COMMENT:- When does an "Arms Embargo" switch from being an impediment to being an asset due to the development of a domestic capacity which frees the embargoed country from a reliance on foreign technology? Under the Shah of Iran, Iran didn't have the capacity to build its own fighter aircraft - and wasn't ever likely to develop one.]

Iran begins mass production of Saeghe fighter - IHS Jane's 360

Iran has begun mass production of the Saeghe (Thunderbolt) indigenously developed combat aircraft, state media announced on 7 January. Quoting an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) spokesperson, the Fars News Agency reported that the country now has 'several squadrons' of the Northrop F-5E