WANA (Dec 13) – At the 12th Kish Air and Space Exhibition, the head of the Iranian Ministry of Defense’s Aerospace Industries Organization, Amir Khajefard, highlighted significant advancements in the country’s turbofan engine technology and national helicopter development projects, providing details on ongoing initiatives.

 

Khajefard announced notable progress in the development of the “Jahesh 700” turbofan engine, explaining, “When this engine was first unveiled, we had reached the stage of technology validation and had developed a prototype. Today, we have successfully adapted the engine to the necessary flight platforms for both defense and commercial sectors, entering the phase of production for specialized applications. This represents a major step in meeting the country’s needs.”

 

One of the key advantages of this technology, according to Khajefard, is the reduced fuel consumption of the turbofan engines, which leads to increased flight range and improved aircraft performance.

 

Turning to the national helicopter project, Khajefard emphasized that one of the main objectives is to ensure that the new helicopter will offer significant advantages over the existing fleet. “Our design offices have proposed several ideas, and Pahna, in collaboration with a consortium of aerospace industries and knowledge-based companies, will oversee the design and production of this helicopter. The role of the private sector in this project will be crucial.”

 

He also highlighted the ongoing development of the necessary technical and infrastructure capabilities to support the project, ensuring readiness for the integration of new systems at the final production stage.

 

Khajefard further discussed other key projects, including the Qaher fighter jet, which is currently undergoing flight testing in its drone version, with promising results. He also noted that the development of training jets for the Air Force, aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in training capabilities, remains a top priority.

 

Concluding his remarks, Khajefard mentioned the development of new helicopters for the naval forces, with a new combat helicopter design set to be unveiled in the near future. “Our mission is not only to maintain and upgrade the existing fleet but also to continuously develop it.”