Iran to Mass Produce Homegrown Copter

The managing director of the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), a subsidiary of the Defense Ministry, announced on Sunday that Iran is going to mass produce the domestically-manufactured helicopter Saba in the current Iranian year.

General Afshin Khajefard also noted that local experts at the Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Company (IHSRC) have gained the technical know-how to design, manufacture, and update various helicopter systems, including the navigation and night-vision systems, meteorological radars, and systems upgrading the combat capabilities of the military choppers.

Iran’s Defense Ministry unveiled Saba-248 in March 2017.

The light- and medium-weight helicopter is multifunctional with two engines and has eight seats. It can be deployed to a wide variety of missions, including freight and passenger transport missions, rescue operations, aerial photography and reconnaissance missions and can be used as air ambulance and air taxi.

Using updated technologies in the field of navigation and mechanical systems, acceptable performance in an engine off mode, high reliability, low noise and vibration and high speed, are among the capabilities of the Saba-248 helicopter.

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.