Iran's Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi (center) during the launch of the production line of carbon fiber. 27 August 2011. IRNA
Carbon fiber production line. 27 August 2011. IRNA
Iran has launched production of carbon fiber, a strategic material used in defense systems as well as civil engineering. The material is under UN embargo because of its potential use in the country’s nuclear program [IRNA, 27 August].
Iran's Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi told reporters during the inauguration ceremony of the country’s carbon fiber production line that all stages of the production and launch of the material were domestically run in spite of UN sanctions on the transfer of technology to Iran.
Vahidi said that carbon fiber is used in production of nozzle heat shields, lightweight composite bodies of motors in solid-fuel missiles, wings and body of various types of fighter jets and civilian planes, as well as the body of light weapons.
“UN sanctions had caused a bottleneck in Iran's production of advanced and smart defense systems," Gen. Vahidi said. He added that Iran “has mastered the entire process of carbon fiber production.”
Carbon fiber has high flexibility, high strength, low weight and high tolerance for heat. Its production is extremely complex. Iran uses carbon fiber for more advanced centrifuges, which spin uranium gas to produce enriched uranium.
