The Industrial Development and Renovation Organization plans to launch the production of civil helicopters to meet domestic demand for emergency operations during natural disasters.
Recently, an agreement was signed between IDRO and an unnamed European helicopter manufacturer, "which defines the financial mechanism for the establishment of a joint Iranian-European company to produce civil choppers", IDRO's Vice President Behzad Etemadi was quoted as saying by IRIB.
"As defined in our annual plans, the production of civil helicopters is a priority … We have been holding talks with a European company to start the joint production of choppers."
Technology transfer is also a priority of IDRO, he added.
"We have plans to localize 15% of the process by the end of the first year of the company's operation … The share is expected to increase to 40% by the end of the fourth year."
Etemadi was optimistic that the plan would meet Iran's demand for 210 civil helicopters.
In May 2018, six newly-purchased Airbus air ambulances (BK 117-C2), purchased after the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions, officially joined Iran’s Emergency Medical Services’ fleet, marking the beginning of a new era for air medical services in the country.
EMS has been operating 34 helicopters, all of which are leased from law-enforcement forces and army.
In July 2017, IDRO signed a contract with the Russian Helicopters company to produce civil helicopters.
