Iranian knowledge-based companies made a strong presence at the 15th International Aviation and Space Show (aka MASK-2021), which was held in Zhukovsky, Russia, from July 20-25.
Representatives from Iran’s Vice Presidential Office for Science and Technology, Defense Ministry and 30 local tech companies showcased their latest aviation achievements at the Iranian pavilion, ISNA reported.
Amir Khajeh-Fard, a deputy defense minister, said at the event that this was Iran’s third consecutive presence in the show.
“This shows that local tech units and companies are super enthusiastic in the aviation industries and eagerly developing high-tech products,” he said.
"The products we presented at MAKS included helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and training aircraft. We were pleased to present the capabilities of our aviation industry and discuss prospects of cooperation with other nations.”
Iranian organizations specialized in the maintenance and repair of civil aircraft, their units and systems also showcased their services.
"We meet the needs of our civil aviation industry in all types of work, including maintenance and repair. For this purpose, we have mastered modern technologies for the production of aviation components and spare parts," Khajeh-Fard said.
According to the event organizers, MAKS fully upheld its high international status despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Over 250 foreign companies from more than 50 countries participated directly or via videoconference in the event.
The exhibition’s website, Aviasalon.com, said the partner country of MAKS-2021 was Kazakhstan, which is implementing mutually beneficial projects with Russia in the fields of aviation and astronautics.
The website reported that Russia is open to cooperation in those fields with all countries.
Improving flight safety, reducing the negative impact of aviation on the environment and exploring extraterrestrial space topped the event’s agenda.
MAKS is an important event for the Russian aviation industry and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Although it started mainly as an entertainment event, the show soon became a marketplace where Russian aerospace companies could negotiate export contracts and Russian air carriers could foster foreign collaboration.
Iranian Investments
Iran's private and public aviation firms and agencies set up an initiative a couple of years ago to support the tech ecosystem and inject technology into the aviation industries.
They signed 163 agreements worth 6 trillion rials ($24 million) with local knowledge-based companies and startups.
In September 2019, a domestic knowledge-based company signed deals worth 600 billion rials ($2.4 million) with several Iranian companies active in the field of aviation industry.
During a tech event held by Iran National Innovation Fund in Tehran in 2019, Servo Hydraulic Pooya Company (aka ServoHyd), affiliated with Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, signed numerous deals with local aviation firms.
According to ServoHyd Managing Director Mohammad Mehdi Izadpanah, the deals pertain to the sale, repair, design and production of parts and equipment related to aircraft, including fuel nozzles, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, as well as piston engines.
"As per the deals, we are set to train employees of Iranian companies in the fields of standardization and reverse engineering," he said, adding that the agreements are expected to create some 60 job opportunities for aviation experts.
Karaj SEZ Extends Support
In July 2020, Payam Special Economic Zone and Payam International Airport in Karaj, the central city of Alborz Province, started to incorporate modern technology in their operations.
Nader Sanagou, the head of Payam SEZ, said efforts have been made to host and support startups and knowledge-based companies active in aviation industries as well as information and communications technologies in the zone.
“The SEZ has attracted over 10 trillion rials [$40 million] of domestic and foreign investments in 2020, which lent a driving force for realizing the goal,” he said.
The head of Payam SEZ said short-term plans envisage the launch of 12 tech firms in the zone.
“We expect the zone’s development to create over 2,000 jobs in the near future,” he said, adding that the figure is expected to reach 10,000 within five years.
Aero-Tech Indigenization
In line with efforts to support domestic aviation industries amid US sanctions, an Iranian knowledge-based company has indigenized technologies for conducting repairs and supplying devices.
Called Simorgh Aviation Maintenance of Iran (Samir), the company started developing components for the maintenance and overhaul of aircrafts in 2016 in Garmdarreh district, southwest of Tehran.
By gaining expertise over the past few years, Samir has steadily expanded its activities from the general maintenance of planes and helicopters to repairing a variety of hydraulic, pneumatic, avionic and electric components, plus safety equipment, batteries and wheel brake system.
Samir is the first Iranian aviation unit to have established separate overhaul labs for pneumatic and hydraulic components, the company said. In these laboratories, technicians test Skydrol 500B-4 fire-resistant aviation hydraulic fluid and repair evacuation slides, life vests, capsule-type fire extinguishers, emergency oxygen system and brake system components.
