02 February 2013

The mysterious Iranian jet and two mysterious monkeys

Jerusalem Post have decided to go into thrillers business, showering its readers with two exciting items in the same day.

First, of course, a piece about the new fighter jet, with a usual picture of Mahmoud the Mad on a colorful background, pointing somewhere far and up.

"This advanced fighter jet with unique physical characteristics has a very low radar cross section and therefore is capable of operating at low altitudes," Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said of the Qaher 313, according to Mehr news agency.
Yeah, well, but where is the picture of that wonder? JP didn't provide, so the Elders had to flex some muscle, and here it is, the new Persian flying menace:

As you can see, everything the Minister promised is there: unique physical characteristics, zero radar reflection and already in operation at very low altitudes.

Update: Iran’s cutting-edge fighter a hoax, critics claim. Well. Whatever.

As for that other mystery: Monkeying around: Iran's space launch a hoax?, where the people wonder about the discrepancy between the before and after images of that purported Farsonaut:

Iran’s announcement on Monday that it had successfully launched a monkey into space and returned the primate safely to Earth was hailed by the country's media as a victory of the Iranian spirit over Western sanctions. But close examination of before and after photos released by Iran show what appears to be two different monkeys, indicating that Iran's space program may not be as advanced as the country would like to portray.
I would say that the pictures don't disprove anything. Imagine you were told that you will be sent into space in a few days, one way only. I guess you would grow (or lose, whatever) a few warts too, not to speak about a pale face and other cosmetic changes. So there.

But the real reason that article sucks is that the issue of the monkey was exhausted quite a long time ago. No need to wonder and break the pencils anymore. Here:


7 comments:

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Ah, yes, very low altitudes, indeed. Inches from the carpet. What would dictatorships do without photoshop? Before they could only airbrush.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

I wouldn't lose sleep about the fighter. iran has managed previously upgrade the F5 and produce a handful of plances.I doubt that this new stealth fighter is anything more than a mock up that will not see the light of day or will be outclassed by something of the Hawker Hunter vintage!

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Actually I did find a picture of the new Iranian fighter plane.


It has a low radar signature and cannot fly above a few hundred feet.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Heh. Low radar sig because it's made of wood and varnished cotton.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Yes. Photoshop is an equal opportunity liar.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Exactly. Why I sleep very well. Not enough, though.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Good enough.