AEI analyzes Iran’s newly unveiled jet engine manufacturing capability

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) recently analyzed reports suggesting the Iranian government is working to expand its military aircraft industry, based on a recently unveiled jet engine manufacturing capability.
 
Reported by Fars News and seemingly confirmed by another Iranian defense outlet, the country plans to develop a turbojet aircraft that will serve as a spring board for further development of heavy turbojet and turbofan engines.

According to AEI, the turbofan enables greater thrust but can aerodynamically prevent supersonic flight required by military jet fighters. The institute drew a comparison to Concorde jets in describing the capabilities of turbojet engines, maintaining that the technology that allowed the Concorde to reach speeds of Mach 2.0 could allow Iran to develop a military jet capable of exceeding the speed of sound.
 
In its analysis, the AEI also found that the Iranian military aircraft industry seems to be developing its jet airplane parts through reverse engineering, citing photos of the newly unveiled jet engine and its similarities to the General Electric J85.

The institute found these development efforts interesting in light of the country’s ability to immediately import defensive weaponry and seven-year waiting period on importing offensive weaponry, as determined by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The AEI also pointed out that the reverse engineering of jet parts may complicate Iran’s potential purchase of 100 Boeing aircraft.