Iran Starts Using New Home-Made Combat Choppers

Iran on Wednesday put into operation a new domestically-made advanced combat chopper.

Two Toufan II (Hurricane 2) combat choppers, produced by the Aviation Industries Organization of the Iranian Defense Ministry, were delivered to the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) today in a ceremony attended by the Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.

Addressing the ceremony, Vahidi said that Toufan II which has been designed and manufactured by Iranian experts is “a new generation of combat choppers and enjoys advanced and updated technology”.

The minister further stated that Toufan II also enjoys a series of home-made technologies, including electronic, optic, laser and weapons.

Vahidi said high-precision targeting capability has gifted the chopper a high offensive power.

In May 2010, the Iranian defense ministry announced that it has produced a number of domestically-designed Toufan choppers which are equipped with hi-tech weapons and anti-tank missiles, the defense ministry announced on Saturday.

The combat chopper is equipped with advanced weapons systems, including anti-tank missiles, rocket-launcher and 20-mm artillery and enjoys high mobility.

Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran, to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country’s military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.