Well,when it comes to avio industry,even projects that never reached far than prototype actually can boost other projects,since many technologies will be used latter.As I can see F-313 was not intended to be short range interceptor,air superiority can't be any way since it lack range,payload..etc ..so it is probably intended to be cheap attack aircraft...lower RC and design for near super sonic speed at very low altitude could make it very good for anti ship role thus it can be used for CAS missions in some cases(it is not havy protected for frontline CAS missions but still).That aircraft will not be used for any a2a role if specifications that iran officialy published are real since it can only carry short range IR a2a missile..as we all know,like all attack aircrafts(su-25,a-10..etc)it is subsonic and doesn't have radar...so it lacks both speed and armament to be short range interceptor..and air superiority role..well it can't be tha in any case...that is reserved for big boys with big guns...like Su-30...Su-27, F-15,F-14(it was used as interceptor and air superiority) with huge range,payload and both short range and bvr capability....So,F-313 to be anything more than attack aircraft needs many changes and it wouldn't be that aircraft any more...We can expect something larger as soon some more powerfull engine is available.
The anti ship role was the dumbest thing I have ever heard. If your enemy knows your fighters only have a range of 250 miles then they will park their ships outside that range.
Furthermore, building a plane to attack ships would have made since if it was the year 1935, but it’s 2019. A supersonic CM, a Hypersonic Missile, a CM, an antiship BM, etc. all will do a much more efficient job then building a damn plane for the sole purpose of attacking naval ships.
People get too caught up on the down tip wings of F-313.
All Iran had to do was enlarge the intakes and untip the wings and enlarge the fighter by 100-200%. Then have two AL-31’s power it and you have both a interceptor fighter and multirole fighter platform. Again that is grossly oversimplifying things, but the basic premise holds true.
The plane with some design modifications and an significant increase in size could have looked very similar to other 5th gen fighters. Add in a powerful radar, SAR capability for recon, radar absorbing skin, composite material, and you have the beginnings of at least a 4th gen fighter with stealth elements.
The ability to change the F-313 into something viable has been there. The issue is Air Force hates anything domestic, the IRGC Who has the resources to fund such a project don’t give a rats *** about stealth and air power.
The IRGC rather build from within, the Armed forces rather buy from aboard. The T-90 was a classic instance. Army commander says Iran wants to buy T-90 then later IRGC official says no need for T-90 we can make our own. Thus Army commander is embarrassed and has to save face and agree. Few weeks/months later Karrar is unveiled.
If the it was up to Iran’s armed forces by now they would have bought anything that Russia offers that they like. Armed forces have been FORCED into self sufficiency of arms industry, it is not down by choice. While Navy and Air defense force have come around to the concept. Air Force and Army are still holding out on big ticket items.
Hence why we have had zero Iranian tanks made, Zero Iranian IFVs, Zero Iranian APCS, zero Iranian Jets, zero Iranian attack helicopters, etc. We have just had an Iranian MRAP unveiled but let’s see how much actually get PRODUCED.
Its not just due to lack of design or funds or ability. The designs and prototypes are brought forward, but the powers that be are hesitant to fund them.
