Iran to test home-built helicopter

The first Iranian helicopter produced on home ground will be tested during the country's air force exercises to be held in the near future, Fars news agency quoted deputy commander of the Iranian ground force Kioumars Heidari as saying on Wednesday.

The military helicopter, built under domestic production for the first time, will participate in the exercises, Heidari said. This model is similar to an American Bell 209 Sea Cobra helicopter which has variety of missiles built locally.

Heidari said the design and manufacture of helicopters were carried out by Iranian experts. In terms of some characteristics, an Iranian helicopter excels U.S. helicopters of the Apache type, he said

He also said anti-tank rockets and missiles, designed to combat helicopters will be tested during the Air Force exercises. Today, the Iranian field of helicopter manufacture does not depend on any country, he said.

An AH-1 Cobra is a U.S. attack helicopter, the world's first specially designed and the U.S. is gradually replacing this type of aircraft with an AH-64 Apache.


/Trend/