Iran showcases new home-made escort plane
By Sara Rajabova
Iran has put on display a new domestically-made plane named 'PK2' on February 22.
The plane considered as an escort aircraft was designed by Iran's Dorna aerospace company. It was unveiled in the 'Fifth National Exhibition of Science to Action' in Tehran, Fars news agency reported.
Iran had earlier built the PK1 model of the plane with the US ASTM standards. The plane is due to be sold to entertainment companies and space academies.
In November, Iran announced plans to manufacture light 8-seater passenger planes.
"We will build planes with a capacity of eight passengers in the near future in addition to the present two-, four- and six-seated planes," Manouchehr Manteqi, Managing-Director of the Iranian Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) announced.
He noted that a sum of 530 knowledge-based aviation companies was active in this field, adding that: "We have foreseen $100 billion in revenues from exports in this sector."
Pointing to Iran's advancement in helicopter manufacturing, Manteqi said Iranians have manufactured four different types of choppers with various capabilities which make them appropriate tools for different missions.
Iran is also optimizing F14 fighter jets for new missions.
A senior Air Force commander praised Iran's capability as the only country, besides the U.S., that can overhaul F14 fighter jets, adding that Iranian experts have mounted new radar and weapons systems on the aircraft to optimize it for new missions.
Colonel Asqar Shafiyee, Deputy Commander of Air Force 8th Air Base also said Iran has mounted its hi-tech home-made radar system on its F14 fighters, adding that the new radars are under durability tests.
"Also to prepare the fighter for air-to-ground assault missions, we have equipped the F14 fighters with air-to-ground missiles and bombing capability," Shafiyee added.
In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems.
The country has repeatedly made it clear that its military might is merely based on the state's defense doctrine of deterrence and that it poses no threat to other countries.
Meanwhile, Karim Bani Tarafi, Deputy Director of Iran’s Aviation Industry Organization said the country is working to increase the flight range of its domestically-made drones.
He said the organization is manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a longer flight range than previous models.
Bani Tarafi noted that the new drones will also be able to fly at higher speed and altitudes and capture more accurate images.
He went on to add that all UAVs currently used by Iran’s Armed Forces have been completely designed and manufactured by local experts.
In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems, including a variety of domestically-manufactured drones.
Since 1992, Iran has manufactured its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, radars, boats, submarines and fighter planes.
The country has so far unveiled various domestically produced drones, including Ababil, Fotros, Hazem, Karrar (long range attack drone), Mohajer, Sarir, Shahed 129, Yasir and Zohal.
Iran, however, has repeatedly stated that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.
--
Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @SaraRajabova
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz