Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation - HESA

About Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation - HESA

Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Corporation (HESA) is a state-owned aerospace company established in 1976 and located in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan province. It operates under the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO), which is part of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. The company was originally founded as a helicopter manufacturer with technology transfer from the American company Textron, a project that ended after the Iranian Revolution.

HESA's business encompasses the design, development, manufacturing, and assembly of a wide range of aerospace products. Its portfolio includes military aircraft, civilian airliners, helicopters, and a significant focus on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company serves Iran's domestic military and civilian aviation sectors, contributing to the nation's goal of self-sufficiency in the aerospace industry. HESA has been instrumental in providing aircraft and support to the Iranian armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The company's product line features both original designs and aircraft based on reverse-engineered foreign models. Key military jet aircraft include the Kowsar, Azarakhsh, and Saeqeh, which are based on the American Northrop F-5. In the civilian sector, HESA has produced the IrAn-140, a passenger plane based on the Ukrainian Antonov An-140, and a transport variant called the Simourgh. HESA is also a major producer of UAVs, including the Ababil, Karrar, and various models from the Shahed series, such as the Shahed 136, which have been used by the IRGC and supplied to international partners. The company's helicopter production includes the Shahed 278 and Zafar 300, which utilize components from Bell helicopters.

Due to its affiliation with Iran's military and its role in producing UAVs, HESA has been subject to international sanctions by the United States since 2008 and the European Union since 2010. These sanctions target the company for its support of the IRGC and its involvement in the development of military hardware.