Iran claims design start on two light passenger aircraft models
November 10, 2025
The Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency has reported that Iran is planning to produce its own light commercial transportation aircraft. The country claims Iranian technical teams have begun designing two types of light aircraft for passenger use.
Iran claims to begin design work on light passenger aircraft
Little to no solid details of the plan were given. important details like how the aircraft would be powered, when the first flight is planned for, or how many seats they would have were not disclosed. Instead, the report mentioned they would “enhance the country’s passenger fleet.”
The announcement was made on Saturday by the President of the Civil Aviation Organisation (CAA) and Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Hossein Pourfarzaneh.
The Islamic Republic News Agency added, “Iran is now prepared to enter the phase of manufacturing passenger aircraft to connect the nation’s smaller airports.”
The news agency stated the Iranian aviation industry is a key focus under Iran’s Seventh Development Plan, which prioritises industrial advancement.
Iran has made numerous grand claims in the aerospace sector over the years. It frequently announces milestones have been reached, only to reach them again sometime later. One example is Iran’s Qaher-313 “stealth fighter,” which has received multiple announcements of readiness and first flights.
So isn't this an RC toy?
— Turan Oguz (@TyrannosurusRex) February 6, 2025
You failed to develop "Qaher-313", which you claimed to be the best (manned) stealth fighter in the world, so you made a toy of it and flew? Well done :))) pic.twitter.com/K1bUzydelW
Iran continues to make grand claims about the Qahar-313, even though it has been dismissed as a hoax by many outside observers. In 2013, The Times of Israel quoted Israeli experts who mocked, “Iran doesn’t have the ability to build planes. Plain and simple.”
It’s unclear how much Iran’s industry has progressed since then, but the country can produce ballistic missiles, and it can launch satellites. Iran now seems to produce a type of UAV based on the Qahar-313.
Iran’s claimed domestically produced military transport
Iran’s Pourfazaneh emphasised Iran’s claimed success in its “domestically produced” Simorgh cargo aeroplane. Building on that aircraft, he said Iran is now prepared to enter the phase of manufacturing passenger aircraft.
He said that the aircraft is still undergoing upgrades to get its Iranian “Type Certificate,” paving the way for commercial production. Iran has claimed to have achieved first flights with the domestic version of the Simorgh every year for the last three years (2023, 2024, and 2025).
The Simorgh is an Iranian cargo aeroplane modification of the IrAn-140 passenger aircraft. The IrAn-140 is a Ukrainian Antonov An-140 assembled in Iran from knock-down kits supplied by Ukraine until 2022, when Ukraine stopped shipping supplies to the Russian invasion and Iran’s support for Russia.
Iran announces the start of Simorgh’s test flights at least once a year. https://t.co/MWh7UmmNNw pic.twitter.com/vAthZ1WK8k
— Kian Sharifi (@KianSharifi) October 29, 2025
While many news outlets were quick to repeat the Iranian line that its production of the Simorgh “now relies primarily on domestic expertise”, the claim was met with scepticism in Ukraine.
It’s possible the Simorgh prototype seen flying could be substantially built with Ukrainian components shipped before Ukraine cut off supply. While Iran has converted the passenger aircraft to a military transport, it’s unclear how many components they have produced domestically.
Iran’s dire commercial fleet
Iran is in a very bad situation. The Israeli raids killed much of its military leadership and devastated parts of its military industry, including missile production. The US’s Operation Midnight Hammer destroyed its deep nuclear facilities it had thought to be safe.
Perhaps worse is a severe water crisis in Tehran, where the Iranian President is saying the government may have little choice but to start evacuating people if it gets worse. Propaganda or greatly exaggerated announcements are common to distract the population from the country’s many problems.
At the same time, Iran’s commercial airline fleet is in a sorry state. They are made up of old aircraft Iran purchased decades ago and retired aircraft purchased on the black market, held together with duct tape. Iran recently retired the world’s oldest Airbus passenger aircraft, an A300B4.
BREAKING 🔴
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 7, 2025
Iran’s President Pezeshkian warns Tehran may face evacuation as water reserves fall to just 5% after months without a single drop of rain. pic.twitter.com/rjYgIkSNzP
After sanctions were relieved, Iran rushed to order around 120 Airbus aircraft, 100 Boeing aircraft, and 40 ATR aircraft. Only a few were delivered before the US slammed sanctions back on.
In October 2025, Iran International reported that Iran had added 11 “new” aircraft to its civil fleet; it didn’t say where these aircraft came from, but they were likely purchased used on the black market through shelf companies. It added that over half of its estimated 330 commercial aircraft are grounded.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
