The point is that Iran knows F4 very well. Also Iran knows AL21F engines very well. Meanwhile Iran also has the ability to produce all the parts of F4 or AL21F engines (you can see it at Jahsh-700).
So the possibility is there. The question is: Does it make sense?
GREAT QUESTION ... Ich.
"Does it make sense".
I have toyed with the answer to this question for the past few years. I have run at least 50 design specs (mostly LIFT aircrafts as well as SU-54/55/56 and single engine F4E and single engine YF-23) through my AI Wind Tunnel (a software that emulates wind tunnels and analyzes specs and gives structural analysis charts). I got this running on a super fast computer. The software I got from work a while ago.
When you analyze 50 or so aircrafts and look at things from a dozen different perspectives, AND you change your mind on "making sense" from aircraft to aircraft, it makes you think differently.
Nothing I have analyzed or thought of makes sense long term for Iran, other than a genuinely 5th gen set (2) of aircraft that would be a single engine smaller YF23 and a twin engine larger YF23. Although not necessarily from the "stealth" capability. I don't think much of that for Iran's needs.
However, even if Iran wanted to build these two for the air force to complement its military for defence, even if Iran had the billions of Dollars to invest in this, even if Iran had the talent to build this (I wished everyone knew what happened with Nimrod in UK to understand my point), still with all that .... it would take at least 10-15 years, from building and refining the infrastructure and tooling, to parts manufacturing. It would easily cost Iran some $50b. And remember YF23 is a 1980s design for U.S. i.e. the technology level.
Myself?
I like a twin engines (using J97) Saab Gripen
I also like a single engine (R-35-300) X2 Shinshin
or a a single engine (R-35-300) Mig35 and a F-14 with 2 x R-35-300 engines
The RCS does not concern me much, as we are entering a new dawn by 2024, with SAT (Synchronized Asymmetrical Triangulation), or whatever name they will have for it then. The French are working on this like crazy. They are the best in electronics (in my opinion). U.S. defence industry has 1000s of French engineers working in these companies.
So, the answer to your question ????
NO - it does not make sense. That is an honest non-emotional answer.
But, I have to ask myself ... WHERE IS IRAN TODAY and what are its needs and for defence and deterence?
Then the idea becomes more appealing when I consider Iran's problems, challenges, its funds, and its current air force infrastructure, pilot training, etc. etc..
Then considering how it can protect its interest, and enforce deterence ... Then it becomes forcibly an appealing option.
I heard a U.S. top level general make a comment that was not publicly wise ... what I concluded from his comment was that .... If Iran builds a fighter jet of its own (even a modified F4E, but higher level than F5) then Russians and Chinese are more likely to sell Iran a TOT and assembly line for a SU35 or J31.
When Iran demonstrated its WILL and its ABILITY to shoot down a U.S. RQ-4A, Russia started to think of Iran as a potential partner (one that it can seriously rely on). Unfortunately, when Qassem Sullaimani was assassinated, and Iran's response was "disappointing" from Russia's point of view, the calculus changed again.
The Russians had suggested to Iran that it should wait for a meeting between Pompeo and MBS and then retaliate by taking them out. Zarif and Ruhani are connected in hips to Europe, they think is the saviour of Iran's circumstances. So they disagreed and never took that advice. They are not thinking about the ripple effect, although I admit Iran's security apparatus is a million times smarter than me. But Europe is not much different than U.S. in many ways. Look at how they are sanctioning Libya for no freaking reason. Just because they can.
Thanks for your comments.
The point is that Iran knows F4 very well. Also Iran knows AL21F engines very well. Meanwhile Iran also has the ability to produce all the parts of F4 or AL21F engines (you can see it at Jahsh-700).
So the possibility is there. The question is: Does it make sense?
But there are Vids one can see it with the production line of one of the F5 variants. Like here
