This is not the first time Rotax has been in the spotlight. The company statement did not mention whether it had sold engines to Iran for “civilian” use, but the fact that a repair center was set up in Iran suggests that a large number of Rotax engines have been sold there. I n a statement about the Rotax engine found in the Mohajer-6, the company said that it “has not authorized and has not given any authorization to its distributors to supply military UAV manufacturers in Iran or Russia.” One of Bain Capital’s co-founders is Senator Mitt Romney.īRP’s line of Rotax engines is the most popular engine of its type in the world and is used in aviation, motorcycles and recreational vehicles. BRP has distributors around the world and a service center in Iran. Rotax, acquired by Bombardier in 1970, manufactures its engines, parts and related technology in Austria by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP). In 2003, BRP was sold to Bain Capital (50%), the Bombardier Family (35%) and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (15%). Bain Capital is based in Boston. (The 914 is an updated version of the 912.)
Mohajer-6 is similar to Turkey’s now-famous Bayraktar TB-2 drone, which has a Rotax 912-IS engine generating around 100 horsepower.
Mohajer-6 drones are being used to devastating effect in the Ukraine war. The Mohajer-6 is an ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) platform that also can carry four precision strike missiles. One Mohajer shot down in Ukraine features a Rotax 914 engine that generates 115 horsepower. It’s powered by an Austrian company, Rotax, owned by US and Canadian firms. But such claims simply are not true. Iran’s access to outside technology for its drones can be stopped but it will take smarts and leadership.Ĭonsider the engine in the Iranian Quds Mohajer-6 drone now being used by the Russians in Ukraine. US officials whisper to Congress that because the Iranian drones are made from easily available commercial parts there is nothing that can be done.
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