According to Tasnim News Agency, the Defense Ministry launched the assembly line for the
Owj jet engine on Thursday during a virtual ceremony attended by Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani and military officials.
The domestically-manufactured jet engine is used in country’s first domestically-made
fighter jet, Kowsar.
Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing
a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms
sphere.
Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen
its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense,
and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.
Back in February 2018, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called
for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities, hitting back at the
enemies for disputing the country’s missile program.
“Without a moment of hesitation, the country must move to acquire whatever is necessary
for defense, even if the whole world is opposed to it,” Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time.
On the country’s Defence Industry Day in 2016, Iran's former President Hassan Rouhani,
had unveiled the first domestically produced Turbojet engine, “Owj” (Zenith), in a
prestigious ceremony attended by press officials, industry experts, and scientists of the nation.
Rouhani has described this achievement as a bridge between industrialized nations and
developing countries.
The “Owj” turbojet engine is one of the most complicated components produced for the
aviation industry in Iran.
It was built without any foreign technical assistance in regards to its hardware and
software.
This puts Iran on the elite list of 8 countries that are capable of producing such high-end
aircraft engines through indigenous technology and makes a breakthrough in the county’s
defense and aviation industry.The engine, which was designed and manufactured by the
country’s leading scientists at the Defence Industry’s organization, is now slated to
be pressed into mass production.
The “Owj” is one of the most sophisticated products to be produced in Iran and will go
a long way in decreasing the country’s dependence on foreign technology and aircraft engines.
The engine comprises 14,000 individual components and can operate at an altitude of 50,000 feet
in various climatic conditions.
Its approximate takeoff weight is around 10 tons, which is more than sufficient to power
the multirole fighter jets of the Iranian Air force.
This engine serves as a benchmark for the manufacture of subsequent jet engines that
Iran hopes to continue designing and building.
Iran is now poised to look forward to a new generation of light aircraft and heavy-duty
planes based on the “Owj” turbojet.
Turbo Jet engines are air-breathing engines used in aircraft and ballistic missiles.
It is constructed with a gas turbine and propelling nozzle, with the gas turbine consisting of
an air inlet, compressor, combustion chamber, and an exhaust chamber.
The turbine powers the compressor, which compresses air and heats it with burning fuel in the
combustion chamber.
The hot gases are allowed to expand in the turbine.
The turbine exhaust gases then extend through the propelling nozzle where it accelerates
to high speeds providing the necessary thrust.
Variations of the Turbojet exist, such as the Turboprop, which has a propeller attached
to the compressor assembly, and Turbofan, where a ducted fan accelerates air using energy
from the turbine.
Although Turboprops and Turbofans are quieter and more fuel-efficient, turbojets are used
in aircraft and supersonic medium-range cruise missiles, because of their high speed of exhaust
gases, the simplicity of construction, and reduced cross-sectional area.
The penultimate stage consists of a Turbine where hot gases expand through the chamber.
Air from the compressor is used in this stage to cool the turbine blades and vanes.
Enormous horsepower is defeated in the turbine, which drives the compressor and auxiliary
accessories such as the fuel, oil, and aulic pumps driven via a gearbox.
The final stage consists of the nozzle, where gases expand through the exhaust and produce
a jet of air at high velocity.
The convergent ducting narrows down to a throat to provide the necessary thrust for the engine.
A combustion chamber can be added in this stage to further reheat the turbine exhaust
gases, and this is known as an after-burner.
Afterburners are used to produce supersonic flight speed in aircraft.
The typical thrust produced by this type of engine is 115,000 lbs (510,000 Newton).
Iran’s Ministry of Defence officials have stated that this achievement has elevated
the country’s status and placed them in higher ranks in the Middle-East region and
worldwide.