Unknown

The “Unknown” is a low‑profile, single‑engine jet developed clandestinely by Iran’s aerospace industry during the early 2020s. Conceived in response to international sanctions that limited access to commercial aircraft, the program began in 2018 under the auspices of the Iranian Air Force’s research office and the state‑run aircraft manufacturer HESA. The prototype first flew in November 2022, demonstrating a compact airframe constructed largely from indigenous composite materials and a domestically produced turbofan engine derived from reverse‑engineered civilian models.

Key features include a sleek, wedge‑shaped fuselage optimized for high‑speed flight, a digital fly‑by‑wire control system, and a multifunction cockpit that integrates synthetic vision and encrypted communications. The aircraft’s payload capacity is modest—capable of carrying up to 1,200 kg of ordnance or reconnaissance equipment—while its operational ceiling exceeds 15,000 m, granting it both strike and surveillance capabilities.

Although never officially disclosed, the “Unknown” has become a symbol of Iran’s drive for self‑sufficiency in aerospace technology. Its emergence signals a modest yet notable shift toward indigenous jet development, encouraging further investment in domestic design, production, and testing infrastructure and positioning Iran as a potential contributor to regional aerospace innovation.