The HESA Shafaq or Shafagh (Shafagh = Twilight) is planned to be Iran's third locally produced aircraft.

Reports have indicated that Shafaq will be a sub-sonic aircraft but this might be improved, and it will have a skin of radar-absorbing material according to Iranian officials.
This two-seat Advanced training and Attack aircraft appears to be based on the Russian-Iranian "Project Integral" and are fitted with Russian ejection seats. Reportedly there are plans to produce three versions—one two-seat trainer/light strike version and two one-seat fighter-bomber versions.

The Shafaq is designed by the Aviation University Complex (AUC), part of the Malek-Ashtar University of Technology (MUT). At the start of the program Iran received help from Russia and the aircraft was known as Integral. Russia later backed away from this project due to several reasons and Iran carried on the project by itself and the aircraft became known as Shafaq. The Shafaq is a sub-sonic aircraft[citation needed], made of radar-absorbing material. It has a large leading edge root extension (LERX) and a root aft of the wing which gives it an unusual circular sub-section.

A 1/7 scale model of the Shafaq has already completed testing in the AUC's wind tunnel and pictures have already been revealed which show that a full-scale model has already been built. The Shafaq will be built in different configurations including a two-seater trainer, a two-seater Light Attack and a one-seater Light Attack variants. Roll-out of the first prototype was scheduled for 2008.
The Shafaq's advanced cockpit features color MFDs and a Russian-made K-36D ejection seat.






source:
wikipedia.org
www.defencetalk.com
www.Iranmilitaryforum.com

Strange shape... they appear to be trying to maximise the lift from the body shape.


The short straight wings actually remind me of the F-104 Starfighter.

The Hangar shots it reminds me of the A-4 Skyhawk.

Interesting concept... I wish them luck.

From my look it is more like a F-22 , there are no much thing about this airplane ,

even in Irans Army site that i can put here ,

just it uses Mig-29 Engine and made to Fire some Russian Laser guided Missiles !

Maybe hazarding a guess, but that circular "platform" in the center of the plane could be Iran's attempt to also maximize the plane's internal storage.

Look at the profile drawings the circular section is the same thickness as the wing... I doubt it adds much volume at all.

But I think this circular Part is used to reduce the returning radar Waves

If anything, a giant circular platform in the middle of the plane would increase it's RCS.

Think of it in terms of the cockpit canopy on a helicopter.

A big smooth round bubble canopy is the least stealthy if you consider the effect of direct sunlight on it.

With a big smooth round canopy from a wide range of angles you will see the sun reflected in the canopy.

Change that to flat surfaces and it would only be at certain angles that you will see the sunlight reflected.

Good stealth is flat surfaces to reduce the number of angles energy directed at the surface will reflect directly back to the emitter.

I had learned somewhere that when canards & wings are coincide in level they are lift optimised or otherwise manoeuvrability purpose enhancement; in this case it seems to be the former one.

Good stealth is flat surfaces to reduce the number of angles energy directed at the surface will reflect directly back to the emitter.

not necessarily tangent surfaces; as they are bad at LIFT. spherical shapes too are good to SLIP the oncoming waves downstream away from the radar to increase LO

That fighter really reminds me of Russian MiG "Istrebitel-2000" project .

well I really want to see that thing flying and produced en masse soon .

There are some design similarities.

Still interesting.

The Mig design was a paper design... the Iranians are clearly at full sized mockup, if not initial flying prototype stage.

Picture of Iranian Shafagh has being here with us well over 5 years now. Still no confirmation of the first flight. Regarding similarities between Shafagh and I-2000 there has being some speculation about Russian designers helping Iranians about Shafagh.