“Iran has attained the technology of designing and producing amphibious aircraft after the US, Russia, Germany and other similar products developed in China,” said Vice-President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari during the unveiling ceremony of the six-seat amphibious plane in Bandar Abbas on Tuesday.
Sattari highlighted the need for amphibious aircraft in Iran, saying “the Islamic Republic with 2000 km water border in the south, 600 km border in southern islands and 700 km border in the north of the country and the Caspian Sea requires various equipment for carrying out operations such as border patrol, offshore patrol, and taking images of borders.”
The initial idea of the plan to build the aircraft was put forward in 2008, but the first budget was allocated in 2011. After a hiatus due to the imposition of sanctions and a number of financial problems, the production phase began in October 2013 with the support of Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology and the aircraft completed its first flying test successfully in 2015.
The amphibious aircraft has applications in carrying equipment and tools required for various missions such as detection, imaging, etc. in land and water, sea patrols for combating smuggling goods and detaining trespassing boats, monitoring, inspection and accessing platforms and oil pipelines in seas and lakes, as well as transferring divers to their mission locations.
The domestically-developed aircraft is also able to carry out relief and rescue operations on land and sea, as well as conducting environmental research by taking samples from the waters, monitoring the movements of organisms, carrying cargoes, extinguishing fire, as well as for personal and entertainment purposes and as air taxis.
MS/3023144
Your Comment