Karshki said Iran has gathered good experience through designing and building its first home-made Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jets, and added, "Another project is underway to do some basic changes in an aircraft other than Saeqeh to change it into a highly advanced fighter jet."
The commander said once the abovementioned changes take place, the plane would be turned into a fighter jet with state-of-the-art technology, adding that the project is presently in the research and development (R&D) phase.
Karshki stated that the project is now in initial phases, but we should wait to hear some good news about the project in a not distant future.
Iran displayed the first squadron of Saeqeh fighter jets produced by its defense industries in an air show in September 2010.