Iran developing chopper, replacing assault rifle in Army: Minister
Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani said on Wednesday Iran “was taking measures” to develop a new homegrown military chopper.
“We are making an indigenous helicopter at the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Co.,” Ashtiani told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting in Tehran.
In 2009, Iran unveiled its first copter Shahed 285, a light attack and reconnaissance aircraft.
Ashtiani also said the Defense Ministry would gradually equip various military units with a new indigenous assault rifle called Masaf to replace the German HK G3 battle gun.
“Masaf is an advanced weapon developed by the Defense Ministry,” he said.
HK G3 has been used as the official rifle in the Iranian Army for more than four decades.
Ashtiani further spoke of the Iranian-made training jet Yasin.
The aircraft “is one of the most advanced training jets” that would satisfy Iran’s needs for such planes to train pilots, he said.