Iran’s Domestically Developed Simorgh Light Transport Aircraft Successfully Completes Its First Flight Test
Iran’s IAMI / HESA (Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries) “Simorgh” light transport aircraft successfully completed its first flight test at a ceremony attended by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani at HESA airbase in Shahin Shahr city, Isfahan province. Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Iran’s Defense Minister, posted footage of the first flight of “Simorgh” on his social media account. In his post, Ashtiani said, “This morning, according to the promise we made, the flight test of Simorgh, which is the result of the efforts and endeavors of my colleagues in the defense ministry, was completed successfully. The flight took place according to international aviation standards for 20 minutes at an altitude of 8,000 feet….”
The Simorgh, named after a mythical bird in Persian mythology, is the country’s first domestically developed light military transport aircraft, designed by Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (IAMI/HESA), which is affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense. The first Simorgh prototype, which is based on the IrAn-140 (a licensed modification of the Ukrainian Antonov Company’s An-140 aircraft), was unveiled in May of last year at a ceremony attended by Iranian officials. The aircraft then completed its taxi tests in April 2023 before making its first flight.
Simorgh has a length of 23 meters, a width of 25 meters (including wingspan), and a height of 8 meters, according to Iranian media. The aircraft, which is powered by two TV3-117 Turboprop engines, has a range of 3900km and a top speed of 500km/h. The aircraft requires a minimum runway length of 1450 m for takeoff and 900 m for landing, with a maximum cargo weight of 6 tons. The aircraft will be utilized by the Iranian Air Force for tactical transport operations after completing testing and certification, taking the place of the current Fokker F27s.
The Iranian Air Force operates a variety of tactical transport aircraft from the US, Europe, and Russia, including the Boeing 707, Ilyushin Il-76, C-130 Hercules, IrAn-140, and Fokker F27. However, with the exception of a few Fokker F27s and Antonov An-140s, most of these aircraft have become obsolete over the years due to a lack of necessary upgrades and technical maintenance as a result of the breakdown of all relations with the United States and the West following the Iranian Islamic Revolution. Furthermore, the country is facing considerable difficulties acquiring the tools and parts needed to adequately service its aging fleet. Hundreds of people have died in recent years in incidents involving these aircraft, which have been in service for a long time but can no longer fully meet the demands of the air force due to technological limitations. The most well-known of these incidents occurred on January 15, 2019, when an Iranian Air Force Boeing 707 type aircraft attempted to land at Fath airport and skidded off the runway, crashing into a residential area. The accident claimed the lives of 15 people, according to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.