Iran’s civil aviation chief has announced that the country has developed its first passenger aircraft manufacturing factory.
Mohammad Mohammadi-Bakhsh, head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, made the remarks at a press conference held in Tehran on Tuesday on the sidelines of the seventh edition of the International Exhibition of Transportation, Logistics, and Related Industries.
“Today, we can say that the Islamic Republic is in possession of a [passenger] plane manufacturing factory,” he said.
Mohammadi-Bakhsh said the factory was hosting the manufacturing process of the country’s first passenger aircraft, which he named Simorgh.
Iran’s Roads and Urban Development Ministry, Defense Ministry, and Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade were involved in the aircraft’s manufacturing process, the official said.
Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) has been engaged in developing fighter planes since the late 1990s, including Azarakhsh (Lightning) and Saeqeh (Thunderbolt).
In 2015, Iran introduced a two-seat variant of the latter aircraft, dubbed Saeqeh-2.
In 2020, Iran’s Air Force received three advanced fighter jets designed and manufactured by the country’s experts, which had been named as Kowsar.
The Islamic Republic also prides itself on its capability to manufacture unmanned aircraft.
In August, the Defense Ministry said the country planned to unveil the unmanned version of the domestically-developed Qaher-313 (Conqueror-313) stealth fighter aircraft within the next few months.
