Iran to build upgraded IRAN-140 aircraft

Source: Presstv.ir, 10-11-2008
Iran has reportedly made plans to design and construct new IRAN-140 aircraft capable of marine patrol and cargo transportation.
Majid Hedayat, the General Manager of Iran's Aerospatiale Industries Organization (AIO), told Fars news agency that the planes would be equipped with technology enabling the airplanes to undertake marine patrol missions.
In October, five domestically manufactured Iran-140 passenger planes were completed as part of a wider strategy to upgrade the Iranian air fleet and boost the country's transportation capacity.
The manufacturer of the Iranian aircraft, HESSA, delivered the planes to the Islamic Republic's Law Enforcement Agency (NAJA) and Iran Air Tour Airlines.
Iran officially introduced the first Iran-140 passenger airplane, built in partnership with Ukraine, into its aviation fleet in 2003.
IRAN-140 is a double-engine turboprop aircraft able to seat 52 people and land on a dirt airstrip, which can fly almost 3,000 km (1,865 miles) before re-fuelling.