Iran Aviation Industries Organization
Encyclopedia
The Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) was established in 1966 for the purpose of planning, controlling, and managing the military aviation industry of Iran.
Currently, the IAIO is responsible for directing five aviation organizations: SAHA
, HESA
, PANHA
, GHODS
, Shahid Basir Industry
. These five organizations have different and complementary roles in the Iranian defense industry and Iranian civil aviation, and have progressed from repair and maintenance facilities to larger defence enterprises with several thousands employees, except for Ghods which has remained relatively small.
The Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC), or PANHA
, was formed in 1969, the Iranian Aircraft Industries (IACI) in 1970, and Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (IAMI), also known under its Persian acronym HESA
, in 1974. Two other important companies, Iran Aviation Industries Organization of the Armed Forces, also known as the Iranian Armed Forces Aviation Industries Organization (IAFAIO), and GHODS
Research Center were formed in the early 1980s.
By September 2004, Iran Aviation Industry had produced more than 1,600 aircraft, 2,182 aero-engines, 1,751 helicopter engines, 149 industrial jet engines, in addition to repairing more than 11 models of aircraft and 18 models of military, commercial and industrial aircraft engines.
Iran's aviation industry is making rapid strides. As evidenced by the inaugural flight of Iran's indigenously designed and manufactured Azarakhsh
and Saeqeh fighter jet to the mass production and launch of helicopters, turboprops, and passenger planes. Iran has also produced a Boeing 737-800 simulator, a first in Mideast. With a population of 70 million, Iran needs to have 6,300 airplanes while it does not possess more than nine aircraft for every one million individuals.
, where the German Junkers
& Co Aviation provided the foreign expertise and assistance. The industry was later expanded in the 1970s in the reign of Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, benefiting from the boosted oil revenues. Not only did the Shah order vast quantities of America’s most advanced weapons, he was also acquiring the capability to produce them in Iran. Under a multibillion-dollar industrialisation programme, the Shah commissioned US arms firms to build entire weapons factories from scratch in Iran. Thus Bell Helicopter (a division of Textron, Inc.) was building a factory to produce Model-214 helicopters in Isfahan. Northrop was also a joint partner in Iran Aircraft Industries, inc., which maintained many of the US military aircraft sold to Iran and was expected to produce aircraft components and eventually complete planes. These efforts represented a large share of US industrial involvement in Iran, and were a centrepiece of the Shah’s efforts to develop modern, high-technology industries.
After western sanctions following the Iranian Revolution
, the general official policy of Iranian government changed from having the best available in the world to being able to manufacture independently in order to meet domestic needs, specially of technological products and therefore becoming "sanction-proof". In no other field this urgency was higher than aeronautics. Therefore Iran has avoided the need to purchase better western aircraft available to it from time to time in favor of inferior ones that could be manufactured in Iran through arrangements of purchasing licenses and technologies as well as reverse-engineering parts, mostly to avoid situations that Iran has gone through during 1980s till now by not being able to maintain what it had due to domestic technological starvation.
Iran’s Aviation Industries Organization plans to manufacture 100 advanced Tupolev
Tu-214 and Tu-204 airplanes with a capacity of 210 persons each in cooperation with Russia
within the next 10 years. Iran also intends to manufacture at least 50 Ka-32 helicopters in Iran under license of Kamov
and negotiations are underway to manufacture 50 An-148 under licence, probably with similar arrangements as Iran-140 to be named Iran-148. Agreements were signed with Russia for co-development and co-manufacture of an uncertain amount of Tu-334 airliners in Iran with production to commence simultaneously both in Iran and Russia. Another agreement with Poltava Helicopter Company of Ukraine
allows Iran to manufacture the Aerokopter AK1-3 ultra-light multi-purpose helicopters in Iran. Yet, Iran says it is prepared to order passenger planes from Boeing
and Airbus
if the United States lifts sanctions against Iran
. In 2010, Iran's Defense Ministry said it will begin the production phase of a domestically-manufactured medium-size passenger plane designed to carry up to 150 passengers.
sued IAIO, for producing counterfeits of six types of its Bell unit helicopters without licenses thereby using trade secrets and patented designs without permission and demanded compensation for damages. In another lawsuit (Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, Case No. 06cv1694, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) brought by Iran against Textron
earlier, Iran had sought damages against unfulfilled contracts dating back before revolution. Textron
ultimately sent five commercial helicopters to Iran in addition to providing spare parts and training in 1994 to settle the dispute.
Currently, the IAIO is responsible for directing five aviation organizations: SAHA
SAHA (Iran aviation)
SAHA Iran Aircraft Industries or IACI was established in 1961 mainly for major repair of fighter, passenger, and air support plans. After many years of hard work, dedication and experience, SAHA became an important part of Iran’s aviation industry...
, HESA
Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company
Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company was established in 1976 and belongs to the Iran Aviation Industries Organization . The company is located at Shahinshahr, Isfahan...
, PANHA
Panha
-History:Following the purchase by Iran of some Italian helicopters from Agusta Company, it became important to establish a plant for support and repair these helicopters. This plant was named Iran Joint Helicopter Industry. Later on, after purchase of some large number of helicopters from Bell,...
, GHODS
Ghods Industry
Ghods Aviation Industry is an Iranian aviation manufacturing company established in 1985.Products and services include:* Manufacturing pilotless planes ;...
, Shahid Basir Industry
Shahid Basir
Shahid Basir is an Iranian aviation manufacturing company.Shahid Basir Industry was established in 1987. Presently, this organization is main center for production of over 5000 military and non military parts and accessories...
. These five organizations have different and complementary roles in the Iranian defense industry and Iranian civil aviation, and have progressed from repair and maintenance facilities to larger defence enterprises with several thousands employees, except for Ghods which has remained relatively small.
The Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC), or PANHA
Panha
-History:Following the purchase by Iran of some Italian helicopters from Agusta Company, it became important to establish a plant for support and repair these helicopters. This plant was named Iran Joint Helicopter Industry. Later on, after purchase of some large number of helicopters from Bell,...
, was formed in 1969, the Iranian Aircraft Industries (IACI) in 1970, and Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (IAMI), also known under its Persian acronym HESA
Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company
Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company was established in 1976 and belongs to the Iran Aviation Industries Organization . The company is located at Shahinshahr, Isfahan...
, in 1974. Two other important companies, Iran Aviation Industries Organization of the Armed Forces, also known as the Iranian Armed Forces Aviation Industries Organization (IAFAIO), and GHODS
Ghods Industry
Ghods Aviation Industry is an Iranian aviation manufacturing company established in 1985.Products and services include:* Manufacturing pilotless planes ;...
Research Center were formed in the early 1980s.
Overview
IAIO acts as a policy maker and coordinator to promote an indigenous Iranian aeronautical industry by providing and assisting the Iranian aircraft industries with needed technologies, knowledge and parts.By September 2004, Iran Aviation Industry had produced more than 1,600 aircraft, 2,182 aero-engines, 1,751 helicopter engines, 149 industrial jet engines, in addition to repairing more than 11 models of aircraft and 18 models of military, commercial and industrial aircraft engines.
Iran's aviation industry is making rapid strides. As evidenced by the inaugural flight of Iran's indigenously designed and manufactured Azarakhsh
Azarakhsh
-References:...
and Saeqeh fighter jet to the mass production and launch of helicopters, turboprops, and passenger planes. Iran has also produced a Boeing 737-800 simulator, a first in Mideast. With a population of 70 million, Iran needs to have 6,300 airplanes while it does not possess more than nine aircraft for every one million individuals.
History
Iran's aviation industry infrastructure was by and large established in the 1930s, at the time of the Shah Reza PahlaviReza Pahlavi
Reza Pahlavi may refer to:*Reza Shah , aka Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Persia from 1925 until 1935 and Shah of Iran from 1935 until 1941* Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , Shah of Iran from 1941 to 1979, son of Reza Shah...
, where the German Junkers
Junkers
Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG , more commonly Junkers, was a major German aircraft manufacturer. It produced some of the world's most innovative and best-known airplanes over the course of its fifty-plus year history in Dessau, Germany. It was founded there in 1895 by Hugo Junkers,...
& Co Aviation provided the foreign expertise and assistance. The industry was later expanded in the 1970s in the reign of Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, benefiting from the boosted oil revenues. Not only did the Shah order vast quantities of America’s most advanced weapons, he was also acquiring the capability to produce them in Iran. Under a multibillion-dollar industrialisation programme, the Shah commissioned US arms firms to build entire weapons factories from scratch in Iran. Thus Bell Helicopter (a division of Textron, Inc.) was building a factory to produce Model-214 helicopters in Isfahan. Northrop was also a joint partner in Iran Aircraft Industries, inc., which maintained many of the US military aircraft sold to Iran and was expected to produce aircraft components and eventually complete planes. These efforts represented a large share of US industrial involvement in Iran, and were a centrepiece of the Shah’s efforts to develop modern, high-technology industries.
After western sanctions following the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, the general official policy of Iranian government changed from having the best available in the world to being able to manufacture independently in order to meet domestic needs, specially of technological products and therefore becoming "sanction-proof". In no other field this urgency was higher than aeronautics. Therefore Iran has avoided the need to purchase better western aircraft available to it from time to time in favor of inferior ones that could be manufactured in Iran through arrangements of purchasing licenses and technologies as well as reverse-engineering parts, mostly to avoid situations that Iran has gone through during 1980s till now by not being able to maintain what it had due to domestic technological starvation.
Major Projects
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has favored the purchase of aircraft such as Iran-140 which are manufactured in Iran.Iran’s Aviation Industries Organization plans to manufacture 100 advanced Tupolev
Tupolev
Tupolev is a Russian aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Basmanny District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow. Known officially as Public Stock Company Tupolev, it is the successor of the Tupolev OKB or Tupolev Design Bureau headed by the Soviet aerospace engineer A.N. Tupolev...
Tu-214 and Tu-204 airplanes with a capacity of 210 persons each in cooperation with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
within the next 10 years. Iran also intends to manufacture at least 50 Ka-32 helicopters in Iran under license of Kamov
Kamov
Kamov is a Russian rotor-winged aircraft manufacturing company that was founded by Nikolai Il'yich Kamov, who started building his first rotor-winged aircraft in 1929, together with N. K. Skrzhinskii...
and negotiations are underway to manufacture 50 An-148 under licence, probably with similar arrangements as Iran-140 to be named Iran-148. Agreements were signed with Russia for co-development and co-manufacture of an uncertain amount of Tu-334 airliners in Iran with production to commence simultaneously both in Iran and Russia. Another agreement with Poltava Helicopter Company of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
allows Iran to manufacture the Aerokopter AK1-3 ultra-light multi-purpose helicopters in Iran. Yet, Iran says it is prepared to order passenger planes from Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
if the United States lifts sanctions against Iran
Sanctions against Iran
This article outlines economic, trade, scientific and military sanctions against Iran, which have been imposed by the U.S. government, or under U.S. pressure by the international community through the United Nations Security Council...
. In 2010, Iran's Defense Ministry said it will begin the production phase of a domestically-manufactured medium-size passenger plane designed to carry up to 150 passengers.
Legal issues
In 2006 TextronTextron
Textron is a conglomerate that includes Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Greenlee, among others. It was founded by Royal Little in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company, and is headquartered at the Textron Tower in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.With total revenues of...
sued IAIO, for producing counterfeits of six types of its Bell unit helicopters without licenses thereby using trade secrets and patented designs without permission and demanded compensation for damages. In another lawsuit (Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. v. Islamic Republic of Iran, Case No. 06cv1694, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) brought by Iran against Textron
Textron
Textron is a conglomerate that includes Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Greenlee, among others. It was founded by Royal Little in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company, and is headquartered at the Textron Tower in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.With total revenues of...
earlier, Iran had sought damages against unfulfilled contracts dating back before revolution. Textron
Textron
Textron is a conglomerate that includes Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Greenlee, among others. It was founded by Royal Little in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company, and is headquartered at the Textron Tower in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.With total revenues of...
ultimately sent five commercial helicopters to Iran in addition to providing spare parts and training in 1994 to settle the dispute.
See also
- Airlines of IranAirlines of IranIran has several private and public airline companies in operation. The oldest is Iran Air.As of June 2009, Iranian planes fly 45 international flight routes....
- Iran airshowIran airshowThe Iran Airshow is an aviation airshow held in Kish, Iran. Its first airshow was in 2002 on Kish island, where 11 foreign companies participated from France, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Britain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Italy, Pakistan, Slovakia and Switzerland. Its second airshow was...
- Iranian Space AgencyIranian Space AgencyThe Iranian Space Agency is Iran's governmental space agency. Iran is an active participant in the Asian space race and became an orbital-launch-capable nation in 2009...
- Economy of IranEconomy of IranThe economy of Iran is the eighteenth largest in the world by purchasing power parity and according to Iranian officials' claims is going to become the 12th largest by 2015. The economy of Iran is a mixed and transition economy with a large public sector and some 50% of the economy centrally planned...
- Fajr Aviation & Composites IndustryFajr-3 (aircraft)-See also:-References:*Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.* - IRAN AIR SHOW 2008* , Manufacturer exporting direct from IRAN...
(civilian Co.) - List of military equipment manufactured in Iran