Although the F-5 design is obsolete, it has some advantages, including rather more forgiving characteristics regarding pilot ineptitude.  It's tended to be easier to maintain by less technically educated ground crews and support infrastructure, and it's rather less expensive to operate than a great many more sophisticated, more capable, more recent designs. 

 

Reliably rehabilitating F-5 aircraft really isn't such a bad idea for the Iranians. 

 

Any photographs of what they've produced in this particular propaganda puffery?  I recall when StrategyPage showed publicity photographs of this recycled Freedom Fighter six years ago, but if they've got a squadron operational there ought to be more images to display.

Far as I remember, nations which wanted to build their own military aircraft industry often started with less ambitious trainer aircraft, perhaps turboprops first, jets after some experience is gathered. Then they gradually advance towards higher performance aircraft. Perhaps some ground attack jet with air-to-air as secondary role as a next step.

 

Jet fighter interceptor to start with, well, that is probably not a good approach. 

 

DG