how much would a fighter program cost? 20 billion 30 billion that's nothing when you look at it in the long run. Iran can certainly afford a program like that.
1st If you think Iran has the money and is going to invest $30 Billion USD on a fighter program then they surely have the money to invest an additional $15 Billion USD on 120-150 Su-30's to ensure the country doesn't go without an Air Force
Problem is, Iranian leader are under the impression that they can start a real fighter program from the ground up with only $2-$3 billion
Iran still needs to build the infrastructure to produce the raw martials (high grade aluminum / titanium & other composite materials)
And Iran would need to construct the infrastructure to produce every part and component of that aircrafts from the engine, landing gear, tires, ejection seat, radar, MFD, weapons system, avionics, INS, fly by wire system, radar, airframe, fuel cells, etc, etc, just imagine every one of these components require their own facility, tools and personal that need to be built from the ground up and such an effort will take well beyond a decade mainly because the infrastructure to mass produce even the raw materials required to produce some of these components aren't there let alone the components themselves so everything needs to be built from the ground up! From the facilities, to the tools and personal need to be developed and Iran's Air Force just doesn't have the time to solely rely on a dream!
This is an effort Iran should have invested $10-$20 billion dollars in 10 years ago when it was drowning in cash but now it's too late to solely rely on such a program!
In my opinion this is what Iran should do:
1. Invest $15 Billion USD in the procurement of ~ 150 Su-30's 50 to be direct sales & 100 to be produced in Iran at a rate of +20 per year
2. Invest in high grade aluminum and titanium production and you'll need to build massive vacuum furnaces to build single peace parts
3. Start competition between IRIAF & AFAGIR for a working fighter prototype, requirements being:
- 2 engine multirole fighter ( The engines to be provided for by the government AL-31 if possible if not the RD-33 )
- Max speed of at least Mach 1.8 & Service Ceiling +50K ft
- Reduced RCS requirements to include no vertical surfaces & an internal weapons bay
-Fly-By-Wire system
-Air refueling capabilities
-IRST to be designed into airframe
-1 year to come up with design and scale down model testing
-2 years to build working prototype using currently available part ...
Each side will be assigned 1 university and 3 companies for assistance
Goal here is to come up with the best platform and the best platform wins the $10 Billion contract to go on and build a production model which for Iran will take 7-10 years giving you some time fix the engine problem, here you need to procure engines by any means necessary preferably develop or reverse engineer if not buy... Regardless you'll need to make multi billion dollar investment here as well
You also need help from the private sector so you can offer contracts to any company that takes up this endeavor to produce various parts or components
And if all goes to plan in about 10-12 years from now Iran would have to spend another $5 billion and put an order in for 50 fighter deliver to start 15 years from now at rate of just under 20 a year
