Iran builds turbofan engines for UAVs

A senior Iranian official has announced that the country is in possession of the technological know-how to design and build small turbofan engines used in various types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

“Today, we are building turbofan engines for a variety of UAVs,” Brigadier General Abdolkarim Banitarafi, Armed Forces deputy of Iran’s Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), said on Friday.

Banitarafi said the construction of turbofan engines is a significant step in the direction of building indigenous drones, adding that Iran has also taken “major strides” towards designing large turbofan engines.

The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion.

Iran unveiled its first fully indigenous turbofan engine in an exhibition showcasing the Islamic Republic’s defensive capabilities.

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced on Monday that the Islamic Republic has set up several projects with the aim of designing and building new advanced stealth and fighter planes.

He noted that Iran has made great strides in the aviation industry through the design and mass production of its first indigenous Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jet, which has joined Iran’s air force fleet.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems.

Iran has repeatedly assured other nations, especially regional neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.