Commander: Iran Preparing New Home-Made Helicopter for Combat Missions

“The helicopter will soon become ready for combat missions by Airborne experts and it will be used for training and operation,” General Qorbani told FNA on Wednesday.

He also underlined Iran’s capability to manufacture helicopters for different missions, and said Iran neither needs nor wants to purchase helicopters from other countries.

Iran in a ceremony in March unveiled its Saba 248 helicopter.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and Vice-President for Scientific and Technological Affairs Sorena Sattari participated in the ceremony.

“The national helicopter Saba 248 is a multi-purpose chopper designed in the light and mid-weight classes and it has two engines and four rotors and has the capacity to carry 8 crews,” General Dehqan said, addressing the ceremony.

He added that Saba 248 can be used for carrying cargos and passengers, relief and rescue, reconnaissance and offshore missions, taking images and working as an air ambulance and air taxi.

According to the defense minister, Saba 248 enjoys state-of-the-art technology in navigation systems and has an acceptable performance in case one of its engines malfunction.

He added that the helicopter is also ready to be exported to the international markets, specially the Muslim states, for military and civilian purposes.