Iran tests home-made Simorgh aircraft VIDEO

Iran's Defence Minister Mohammadreza Ashtiani has announced the country has successfully conducted a flight test for a domestically-developed transit aircraft.

“The Simorgh aircraft is a re-designed and developed version of planes of its generation, adding that it is fully suited to the needs of the civil and military organizations in Iran,” Brig-Gen Ashtiani said on May 30 while addressing a gathering of the defence ministry officials which was also attended by Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri, according to IRNA.

He also added that the experts in the Iranian defence ministry and knowledge-based companies in the country have developed the aircraft in a way to adapt to the weather conditions of the country in accordance with international standards.  

The minister elaborated on the characteristics of Simorgh aircraft, including its lightness, high carriage capacity, proper radius of flight operations, compatibility with the climatic conditions of the country, ability to land and take off in short runways, as well as agility and speed in providing emergency services, including as air ambulance.

Iran’s air force has an assortment of U.S.-made military aircraft purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It also has Russian-made MiG and Sukhoi planes, as the Western sanctions have made it hard to renovate the country’s ageing fleet. The Iranian aviation industry was virtually cut off from purchasing spare parts needed to repair and upgrade aircraft.