WANA (Jun 06) – According to the latest report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Iran ranks fourth globally in the field of advanced aircraft engines, including hypersonic propulsion technologies. The ranking places Iran ahead of countries such as Japan, Italy, and United Kingdom.

 

The assessment is based on the volume and impact of highly cited scientific publications in leading international journals, measuring research excellence rather than industrial production capacity. The findings indicate that despite years of sanctions and technological restrictions, Iran has developed a significant theoretical and scientific foundation in the design of advanced aircraft propulsion systems.

 

Part of this scientific capability has been reflected in Iran’s defense industry. Examples include the domestically developed “Owj” engine used in the Kowsar fighter jet, the “Jahesh-700” turbofan engine featuring single-crystal blade technology for strategic drones, and ramjet propulsion systems designed for supersonic cruise missiles.

 

Several Iranian research institutions and universities were also recognized among the world’s leading contributors in this field. University of Tehran ranked 10th globally, while the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute placed 17th. Other prominent institutions include Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, and Iran University of Science and Technology.

 

The ASPI report also highlights Iran’s broader technological standing. Across 64 critical and emerging technologies, Iran ranks between ninth and eleventh globally, outperforming France in several categories. The country is among the world’s top ten performers in 21 technologies and ranks among the top five in six key fields.

 

Experts attribute much of this progress to Iran’s long-term implementation of the Comprehensive Scientific Roadmap and sustained investment in strategic sectors such as aerospace, energy, and nanotechnology. These policies have helped strengthen the country’s position in a number of advanced scientific and technological domains.