Qaher-313 / Dominant-313 "stealth" fighter jet.Real-life BackgroundIn early Jebruary 2013, Iran's state media announced the development of the Qaher F-313 "stealth" fighter, a new "super advanced" stealth fighter jet capable of "evading radars."
To that end, the jet, known as the "Qaher 313," was unveiled at a ceremony involving Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other high-level officials. Iran hailed it as one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, capable of evading radar, landing on short airstrips and controlling the skies with its deadly arsenal.
"Qaher is a fully indigenous aircraft designed and built by our aerospace experts. This is a radar-evading plane that can fly at low altitude, carry weapons, engage enemy aircrafts and land at short airstrips," Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on state TV.
Iranian State TV showed an unveiling ceremony for what the Iran Defense Ministry claims is a new Iranian designed and built combat aircraft. Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the single-seat Qaher F-313 (Dominant F-313) can operate at low altitudes and was constructed from “advanced materials” that contribute to the aircraft’s “very low radar cross section.”
Iran state media added the aircraft, now Iran's stealthiest, employs advanced materials. However, that those claims are unverified because Tehran does not release any technical details about its arsenals.
The rest of the world was skeptical.
Despite the country's elaborate press campaign, experts have more than a few doubts as to the jet's airworthiness. First and foremost, Foreign Policy notes, the cockpit seems to be lacking legitimate wiring or instrumentation.
"It looks like the Iranians dumped some rudimentary flight controls and an ejection seat into a shell molded in what they thought were stealthy angles," wrote national security reporter John Reed.
"Overall, the plane seems to lack the characteristic rivets, bolts all aircraft, including stealthy ones, feature. Images released so far show it as a plastic-made aircraft," David Cenciotti, a military aviation expert, wrote on The Aviationist.
He wrote that the wiring of the cockpit's front panel appears too simple and it seems too small for a pilot to fit inside.
"It looks like this pilot is in a miniature plane."
He also notes the plane's air intakes are also quite small and the back engine contains no nozzle for afterburners, which would probably cause the minor setback of melting the entire jet.
It is widely believed the jet is almost certainly a mock-up.
National security reporter John Reed of Foreign Policy said the cockpit seems to be lacking legitimate wiring or instrumentation.
He added: "It looks like the Iranians dumped some rudimentary flight controls and an ejection seat into a shell molded in what they thought were stealthy angles."
Bloggers, aviation experts, and internet media had a field day with the photos released. One noted the "canopy has ludicrously bad optical qualities—note the scratches and distortion.” one blogger wrote. “[…] there’s a difference between “small” and “comical,” and the -313 is definitely erring on the wrong side of that line.“ said Ars Technica,
"I would go so far as to say that it looks more like a new ride at Europa Park than the future of any country’s air force. I think Iran is taking the piss." said an earthli.com staff writer.
Other critics have questioned pointed to why the launch did not involve an actual flight. Iran released images of the plane in flight, but both Mr Cenciotti and experts on Flight International believe that the film was actually of a remote-controlled aircraft modelled to resemble the Qaher 313.
The extremely poor quality of the video and the fact it did not include footage of the Qaher 313 taking off or landing were behind their scepticism. Some pointed out the pilot did not fit properly in the ejection seat, and his legs were visible above the side borders of the canopy, and that his head went well above the ejection seat's head pad. Others pointed out the plane is lacking the rivets and bolts all real aircraft, including stealth aircraft, have. Most believed the plane was made of plastic.
"One reason I'm personally skeptical about the Qaher-313 is that it looks just a little bit too much like Iranian designers went back through the catalog of cool combat aircraft, picked out some of the coolest bits, and just stuck them all together to make a new airplane with a badass look about it. Like, "hey, downswept wings are pretty nifty! And canards! And an angular fuselage and outswept tail fins! Yeah, just stick it all on there, why not!" wrote Evan Ackerman of DVICE.com.
Some pointed out there doesn't seeem to be room for a radar system in the nose, much less anywhere to store the fuel or weapons that a combat aircraft would presumably require.
The engine is equally tiny. Coupled with the small exhaust and even smaller air inlets on the sides of the cockpit, an afterburner seems unlikely, and supersonic performance seems even less likely.
The cockpit lacks a heads-up display, and the instrumentation doesn't seem to be connected to anything. If one were to look very closely the airspeed indicator redlines at 250 knots, which is less than 300 mph.
Bloggers noted the interior resembled moulded fiberglass with no actual structural components.
Many pointed out the jet's resemblence to “GI Joe” fighter jets.
But what if the plane was real? I assume it is, and provides background and stats below
Fictional BackgroundThe Qaher-313 / Dominant-313 is a small single-seat, twin-engine supermaneuverable test fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. It is capable of evading radar, and landing on short airstrips
Developed by Iran's military, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hopes to put the Qaher-313 into production shortly to patrol Iran's airspace and make it a major player in the region.
The Qaher-313 promises to be a geopolitical game-changer. Thoughs small and cramped, this new fighter jet is Iran's first foray into devloping stealth fighter jet capabilities.
Iranian military are the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the Qaher-313.
The plane has not been licensed or sold to other countries, but this may change in the near future.
Vehicle StatisticsQaher-313Air Superiority Fighter
The Quaher-313 is 12 squares long and 8 squares wide (at its wingtips).
Crew: 1, Passenger(s): 0, Cargo Capacity: 40 lb., Initiative: -4, Maneuver: -1, Top Speed: 2349 (235), Defense: 6, Hardness:
5, Hit Points: 53, Size: Gargantuan, Purchase DC: 59, Restriction: Mil (+3)
Plot HooksTensions between Iran and the United States are strained at the best of times, and the development of this new stealth aircraft promises to be a game-changer for the region. The PCs are American or British adventurers, military specialists, or independant security contractors and must learn more about this new aircraft -
before it becomes airworthy and can threaten the region.
The PCs are test pilots, hired by Iran to test their new Qaher-313 stealth fighter.
A new type of stealth aircraft is making its presence known in a no-fly zone in the Middle East and the PCs are hired to investiate.
The PCs are military pilots and are engaged in combat by an as-yet unknown new type of stealthy aircraft. What is it, and who is developing it?
The PCs are spies (Spycraft?) posing as journalists and must snap photos of the new Qaher-313 aircraft. They might even be called upon to steal one, or steal blueprints relating to its construction.
The PCs are engineers or techies and are called upon to build or provide information crucial to the building of a new stealth aircraft. It's only later that they learn the information is being handed off to a country that is hostile to the US.
The PCs are adventurers, and have become stranded in an Iranian airport where the new Quaher-313 is being tested. Iran may or may not might be hostile to the PCs native country.
The PC are aircraft technicians and are must fix a damaged Qaher-313. Iran state TV is launching a press conference rgarding the new stealth aircraft and time is of the essence -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad does not like to be kept waiting. It's a race against time to make the Qaher-313 air-worthy again.
The PCs are diplomats, and the developemmt of the new Qaher-313 stealth aircraft will cause tensions in the Middle East. The PCs must smooth things over with the leader of foreign countries in the Middle East.
The Qaher-313 stealth fighter is the newest plane in the skies, and a foreign dictator wants one. What foreign dictator *wouldn't* want a new stealth aircraft? It would easily rule the skies and position him as a major power in the area. The dictator will stop at nothing to make one his. The PCs are either morally grey and must procure one, or, more likely, are trying to stop him from getting his hands on one.
The PCs are pilots/adventurers, or they are accompying business men or other important persons. Due to a scheduling error, a technical mishap, or refueling issue, they wind up grounded in a foreign country. The country might be a land ruled over by a tinpot dictator, and is just hostile to the PCs native country.
As above, but the coutry is *definitely* hostile and the PC are technicians and are must fix a damaged Qaher-313. It's a race against time to make the Gulfstream G650 air-worthy again.
Someone sabotages a Qaher-313, so that it malfunctions in mid-flight during a live state TV broadcast, possibly to embarrass Iran as they unveil their new fighter jet. The PCs must find out who is responsible.
The PCs live in the future (d20 Future) and the shiny new Qaher-313 is little more than a technological relic and an archaic curiosity, rather like how a Model T appears to us in the present day. It's only value is as a historical collectible, and someone has used a matter transporter to steal one right out of an aviation museum, or out of a wealthy private collector's hangar. The PCs must find out who is responsible for the theft, and it's a race against time to crack the case.
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