Iran said it is advancing in producing an aircraft named ‘Simorgh’, according to the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO), Mohammad Mohammadi-Bakhsh, ILNA reported on August 11.

The "new turboprop" was initially showcased to the Iranian press in the summer of 2023, with the government claiming that all parts are now indigenously produced and would be on commercial sale soon. However, internet sleuths quickly noted that Simorgh was, in fact, an Antonov AN-140T, which had previously been in joint development with Ukraine. Iran had previously had an agreement with Ukraine dating back to 2016 to produce the jet, but since the Russian invasion of the country in 2022 and Iran's support for Moscow all deals between Tehran and Kyiv have been cancelled. 

“The Simorgh is a new aircraft, and the Ministry of Defence, the CAO, and the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-based Economy are working together on its design and construction,” Mohammadi-Bakhsh said.

He added that the aircraft’s design has seen several modifications, particularly in length and navigation systems, tailored to enhance its performance as a cargo plane.

When asked about Simorgh’s resemblance to existing aircraft, he acknowledged similarities to the Antonov An-140 but stressed that it features distinct differences, especially in the engine and body design.

“Although the plane is assembled, it’s considered a new aircraft with a unique design,” he added.

Two Simorgh aircraft have been produced so far. The first has successfully completed all test flights, while the second is nearing completion, with the wings, landing gear, and engines being installed during the tenure of now-dead president Ebrahim Raisi.

The latest curious aviation development follows the country’s previous efforts with the HESA Iran-140, a short-range aircraft designed for 52 passengers. Iran started the official production of Iran-140 aeroplanes in 1996.

The Iran-140 and its Ukrainian counterpart, Antonov An-140, have been involved in six accidents globally, three of which occurred in Iran and others in Ukraine and Azerbaijan, leading to multiple fatalities.

One recorded incident involving the Antonov An-140 occurred when Iran was planning to Inaugurate the Iran-140 production line.

The Antonov An-140, carrying Ukrainian passengers for the ceremony, crashed into a mountain, resulting in the loss of all passengers and crew.

According to local reports, most of these jets are currently grounded in Iran, with only a few still operating in the country’s aviation network.

Headquartered in Kyiv and employing 13,500 people, Antonov specialises in designing and manufacturing  passenger, transport and special purpose aircraft.

The company runs the complete development cycle, including testing, certification, production and integrated logistic support.

In May 2015, Antonov was transferred from the control of the Ukrainian Economy Ministry to Ukroboronprom, the country's state conglomerate of multi-product enterprises in various sectors of the defence industry.