Iran Saving Millions of Dollars by Overhauling Choppers: Defense Minister


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami praised the country’s experts for overhauling military helicopters, which he said has helped the Islamic Republic to save millions of dollars and reduce costs by more than 50%.

Brigadier General Hatami addressed a ceremony held in the central province of Isfahan on Sunday to deliver dozens of overhauled choppers to the Army Ground Force attended by its commander, Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari and some other military officials.

The defense minister said preparing and delivering tens of helicopters to the Army Ground Force, overhauled by domestic military experts, is a major achievement of the Islamic Revolution. 

These overhauled helicopters have boosted the combat and offensive power of the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Hatami said.

The move to overhaul the choppers has also saved the country millions of dollars and reduced the costs by more than 50%, the minister stated.

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.

Back in February 2018, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities, hitting back at the enemies for disputing the country’s missile program.

“Without a moment of hesitation, the country must move to acquire whatever is necessary for defense, even if the whole world is opposed to it,” Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time.