Iran Aircraft Ir.An-140T

[Triton]

"Iran Announced Plans to Begin Development of Ir.An-140T Light Cargo Planes"
Dec 12, 2014

Source:
http://defence-blog.com/?p=2259

Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company HESA in Shahin Shahr aircraft plant on announced plans to begin development of An-140 light cargo planes. The Antonov Ir.An-140T is a light military transport aircraft developed on the basis of the An-140-100 turboprop airliner. The Ir.An-140T features a rear ramp for loading/unloading of cargo and personnel.

Earlier Russia has abandoned plans to build a large fleet of Antonov An-140T tactical airlifters as replacements for aging An-26s and An-72s, thanks to deteriorating relations with the new regime in Ukraine, where Antonov is based. Instead, the Russian defense ministry has revived the Ilyushin Il-112 project, a development of the Il-114 airliner, even though it was shelved in 2010 in favor of the less expensive An-140T.

In Iran, the project received a new impetus. The IrAn-140 is a license-built version of the An-140, assembled by HESA in Shahin Shahr, Iran, from complete knock-down kits supplied by Antonov. As of 2008, 13 aircraft per year were planned to be constructed. There were plans to produce maritime patrol (IrAn-140MP) and freighter (IrAn-140T) versions. 100 aircraft in total were planned to be build; 20 of them were to be acquired by the Iranian government for border patrol and surveillance.

 

[Archibald]

It took them seven years to build a partially finished single airframe ?

 

[windcalm]

View: https://youtu.be/lt2qwjmFXA4

 

[alberchico]

I'm surprised that Antonov themselves never developed a military transport version of the AN-140 with a rear ramp as a way of breathing new life into this program. It would have been a cheap way for Ukraine to have a domestic replacement for the AN-26. An upgraded version with a stretched fueselage, modern avionics, and more powerful engines could have been a competitor for the CN-295.

 

[Arjen]

@amoeimilad English, please?

 

[Arjen]

@amoeimilad If you use default machine translation on this site, your own replies will appear on this site in your native language - Persian in your case.
When I found your reply to be in Persian, which is written right-to-left instead of left-to-right as in English, I was able to offer your text to a machine translator:

Hello . After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Iran 140 was a joint project with Ukraine's Antonov, and halfway through, Antonov suddenly pulled out and unilaterally canceled the contracts. After that, one of these planes crashed in Iran and the government ordered to stop all development and production plans. But now, after 7 years of research and development, its cargo prototype with a new design is undergoing flight tests to obtain an international flight license, and two planes are being built.

Interesting information, for which I thank you, but unreadable to me in its original form.
I look forward to more of your contributions, but please check your replies are presented in English, as this is an English-language forum.

 

[TMA1]

Russia is in need of a light cargo craft with the faults of the il-112 and the engine for it as well. Wonder if they could license produce it to speed up pace in replacing older light cargo craft.

 

[Anduriel]

Russia is in need of a light cargo craft with the faults of the il-112 and the engine for it as well. Wonder if they could license produce it to speed up pace in replacing older light cargo craft.

Unlikely. Their current modus operandi is to indigenously produce as much as possible.
And it's engines is another unknown. Looks like current prototype uses TV3-117VMA-SBM1, which are Ukrainian produced turboprop variant of TV3-117, with all it entails (liekly left from older IrAn-140 program). I doubt that Iran can produce engine of this level with satisfactory reliability characteristics.
Plus, Il-112/114's TV7-117ST engine got it's certification this year, with plans to produce Il-114 from 2024 onwards , so 112 likely to resume testing, after they assemble second prototype.

 

[Eagle2009]

Images from the past year or so showing the official roll-out of the IrAn-140T, called "Simorgh", including its first flight last month!

 

[alberchico]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1868636280818430453

View: https://x.com/fl360aero/status/1868636280818430453

https://twitter.com/x/status/1663582934316482564

View: https://x.com/fl360aero/status/1663582934316482564

 

[Geo]

It looks like at least one Iranian project is actually being taken seriously.
Simorgh has begun certification tests.
https://www.presstv.co.uk/Detail/2025/10/28/757761/Iran-Simorgh-plane-test-flights-start

 

[Anduriel]

Wonder what engines it will use.
I doubt that Motor-Sich is any shape to mass produce anything, PW127s are a no go due to sanctions. So it only leaves TV7-117 from Il-114, but it would include redesign of engine bays and new certification.

 

[kaiserbill]

Wonder what engines it will use.
I doubt that Motor-Sich is any shape to mass produce anything, PW127s are a no go due to sanctions. So it only leaves TV7-117 from Il-114, but it would include redesign of engine bays and new certification.

The Motor Sich engines as used in the An-140 are simply licence produced Russian Klimov TV3-117 motors.
The Motor Sich al30 is the TV3-117vma-sbm1 made under licence. This is a turboprop version of the TV3-117 turboshaft used in thousands upon thousands of helicopters, from the Mi-8, Mi-24, Ka-27, through to the Mi-28.
It could also use a turboprop version of the Russian Vk2500, which is a follow on high power derivative of the TV3-117 which is used in later model Mi-28, as well as Ka-50/52, and Mi-17.

But perhaps the TV7-117 will be used.
The Il-114 uses a larger combined engine nacelle/landing gear, whilst the An-140, being a high mounted wing type, houses its undercarriage in fuselage undercarriage nacelles.
Perhaps here the Il-112, another high wing TV-7-117 design with fuselage mounted undercarriage and slimmer engine nacelles will come into play.

It will be interesting to see in the end


The report above says the Simorgh engines are 2500hp, so I think it will remain a TV3-117 engine derivative.
To quote from the article above:

"Experts say Simorgh is a modified version of IrAn-140, an Iranian-Ukrainian joint project which is itself based Antonov An-140. However, former CAA officials have disputed that view, saying it is quite a different plane as it enjoys a modified engine and fuselage."

 

[Anduriel]

The Motor Sich al30 is the TV3-117vma-sbm1 made under licence. This is a turboprop version of the TV3-117 turboshaft used in thousands upon thousands of helicopters, from the Mi-8, Mi-24, Ka-27, through to the Mi-28.
It could also use a turboprop version of the Russian Vk2500, which is a follow on high power derivative of the TV3-117 which is used in later model Mi-28, as well as Ka-50/52, and Mi-17.

The thing is, while Klimov DB is designer, main producer was Motor-Sich for all variants. Later, they (M-S) did make their own derivative with SBM suffix. Then, after 2014, Russia began to transfer production of TV3-117 under the name of VK-2500 back into Russia, and only a turboshaft version for helicopters, as the only siginifcant user of TV3-117 turboprop was An-140, which was not numerous an popular in Russia, unlike mass-produced Mil and Kamov helos. I can't find mentions of production of TV3-117 turboprop version in Russia, unlike turboshaft one.
There is actually a downrated version of Il-114's TV7-117ST-01 - a TV7-117ST-02 developed for TVRS-44 passenger plane (a L-610 analog), so perhaps it can be used on Simorgh. But then again, it would require a recertification progress.

 

[kaiserbill]

There is actually a downrated version of Il-114's TV7-117ST-01 - a TV7-117ST-02 developed for TVRS-44 passenger plane (a L-610 analog), so perhaps it can be used on Simorgh. But then again, it would require a recertification progress.

I had a look after you mentioned this.
The TVRS-44 engine is indeed a derated TV7-117, and at around 2400hp is right there at the required thrust level.

But what's more, in the description of the TVRS-44, it states that it utilises the AV44 composite 3.6m Aerosila propeller which is based on the 3.6m Aerosila SV34 propellor used on the Antonov An-140.
So it might be that.

 

[Mr.T]

Iran's Simorgh aircraft enters certification phase, eyes commercial service in 2027​

https://defensemirror.com/news/4175...ort_Aircraft_to_be_Cleared_for_Flight_in_2027