Iran, mulling over purchase of aircraft manufacturer Fokker
TEHRAN, May 14 (MNA) – Iranian Minister of Roads and Transportations Mohammad Rahmati said here Saturday that Iran is negotiating with the Netherlands over the purchase of the Rekkof Aircraft Manufacturing Company, successor of the former Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. The aircraft will be produced in Iran by the Iranian experts and marketed under an Iranian name, the minister told Mehr News Agency.
He said, “We have introduced the company officials to those in charge of Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries Company (HESA) for further talks in this regard and if they reach an agreement we would be able to build the aircraft in Isfahan, like the way we are producing the Iranian aircraft, Iran 140.”
The minister also referred to the good navigation system of the aircraft and commented that, in his visit with the Rekkof officials late last week, they said that some Dutch airline companies were willing to buy the aircrafts already sold to Iran.
When asked if the Dutch officials were ready to transfer the technical know-how of the airplane to Iran, the roads and transportation minister said they regarded the issue open to further negotiations and did not reject the idea.”
He also stated that the company manufacturing Fokker planes was bankrupted in 1996 and is currently operating under the name of Rekkof adding that, it is looking for an Iranian partner to produce Fokker in Iran.