The ceremony was attended by Iran's Minister of Defense, General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and Vice President for Science & Technology Sourena Sattari and President of the Civil Aviation Organization Ali Abidzadeh.
During the launch ceremony, Ashtiani said this tactical transport aircraft could be used for civilian and military purposes.
According to information broadcast by Presstv, Simorgh is equipped with two TV3-117 turboprop engines, each with a six-blade propeller.
The aircraft can fly and land on a short runway (STOL), with a ferry flight range of 3,700 km or 900 km and carrying a maximum cargo load of 6 tons.
In appearance, Simorgh resembles the IrAn-140 aircraft, a 40-50 passenger plane made under license by HESA based on the Antonov An-140 made in Ukraine.
On 9 November 2010, in the opening speech of the Kish aerospace exhibition, Iran's Minister of Transport announced that the production of 14 units of the IrAn-140 had been completed. The first six aircraft entered commercial service on 19 February 2011.
The main difference between Simorgh and the IrAn-140 is that this new aircraft is equipped with a rear ramp door like the CN235.
