Representatives of Iran's aviation industry are planning to buy Ukrainian An-148 planes and arrange their batch licensed production in that country.

Representatives of Iran Air and Iran Air Tour disclosed these plans following presentation of An-148 at Iran Air Show' 2008.

In the course of the meeting, Mohammad Alizadeh, managing director of Iran's HESA production company, noted if Iranian air industry makes a final choice in favor of An-148, there will be no problems over its production, the Antonov aircraft engineering complex press service reported.

"We have the experience of cooperation with the Antonov on An-140, and we are sure our new joint program will also be a success," he emphasized.

According to Dmytro Kiva, general designer of the Antonov complex, Iran distinctly expressed the intention to buy An-148 and launch its production in a broad cooperation with Ukraine and Russia.

The An-148 series of regional jets with two engines is being created at the Antonov complex in cooperation with companies from Ukraine, Russia and other countries.

An-148 is designed for transportations on regional and main lines. The new planes are called to replace in the air An-24, Tu-134, Yak-40 and Yak-42.

As a base model, the plane can carry 80 passengers over maximum 5,000 kilometers at a cruiser speed of 820 - 870 kmph.

In 2008 - 2009 Ukraine is planning to produce six An-148 planes.