Looking for information on Iranian Armor

[brian1225]

I know the Iranian Army has a mixed bag of armor, ranging from M-48/60's, Chieftans, T-72's, type 59's, and even their own home made stuff including the Tosan and Zolfaqar.
I'm looking for information and photos of the armor they have in service, not stock pictures of M-48's etc, but actual vehicles in Iranian Service, especially any of the Tosan or Zolfaqar (Zufliqar). Thanks

 

[Waylander]

Yeah, getting pics of and infos about the Zulfiqar is not very easy.
I only got this for you.

[img=http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/1518/iranzulfiqar1fp.th.png]

And here you also find some pics:

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_249.shtml

 

[brian00]

Interesting pics, especially the one that looks like an abrams

 

[SABRE]

I know the Iranian Army has a mixed bag of armor, ranging from M-48/60's, Chieftans, T-72's, type 59's, and even their own home made stuff including the Tosan and Zolfaqar.
I'm looking for information and photos of the armor they have in service, not stock pictures of M-48's etc, but actual vehicles in Iranian Service, especially any of the Tosan or Zolfaqar (Zufliqar). Thanks

Here are few Zulfiqar MBT pics:

Zulfiqar Prototype-1

Zulfiqar Prototype-2

Zulfiqar Prototype-3

 

[SABRE]

Some information (Thanks to IMF):

Defence Industries organization
Zulfiqar MBT
​

Early in 1994, Iran unveiled a new MBT called the Zulfigar which has been developed by 'Construction Crusade', an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Russia is known to have provided Iran with a quantity of T-72 MBTs and recent reports have indicated that the Zulfigar uses some components of the Russian T-72 including the 125 mm smoothbore gun and automatic loader. The T-72S, which Is an export version of the T-72 and is fitted with ERA, is now being manufactured in Iran under license.

A detailed analysis of available information and photographs of the Zulfiqar reveal that the hull and turret are of welded steel construction and bear little resemblance to the T-72 at all.

The Russian T-72 MBT, like the earlier T-54/T-55/ T-62, is powered by a diesel engine with the air Intakes/ outlets in the hull roof and the single exhaust outlet on the left side of the hull towards the rear.

The new Iranian MBT is powered by a diesel engine with two exhaust outlets in the rear of the hull; this could indicate the engine is a V-type. The layout of the Zulfigar MBT is conventional with the driver front left, turret in the centre and the power pack at the rear. The driver has a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the right and three day periscopes for driving when closed up. Suspension appears to be of the torsion bar type with six dual rubber-tired roadwheels, idler at the front and large drive sprocket at the rear; there are five return rollers.

The roadwheels and other parts of the suspension appear to be very similar to those of the US M60 series MBT which has been in service with Iran for many years. The hull of the Iranian MBT is of the box shape rather than the boat shape of the M48/M60 series.
The front of the turret is well sloped and is angled to the rear to provide the maximum possible level of protection. There is a domed ventilator in the turret roof on the right side and this is similar to that fitted to the US M48/M60 series MBTs, as are the day/night driving lights mounted on the glacis plate.

The commander is seated on the right with the gunner on the left. The two examples of the Zulfiqar do have a number of minor differences in the commander's cupola. The first one is similar to that used in the T-72 while the second one has a cupola that is similar to that developed in Israel and has an externally mounted 12.7 mm MG.

Main armament comprises a 125 mm smoothbore gun which is fitted with a fume extractor and may well be fed by an automatic loader. The 125 mm gun is positioned in a very narrow mantlet and there does not appear to be a coaxial machine gun fitted.

Iran may well have the capability to assemble an MBT, but it must be considered very doubtful if every single component used in the Zulfigar is produced in Iran. Some key subsystems must still be imported. No detailed specifications of the Zulfigar have been released but Iran sources have stated that it has a combat weight of 40 tonnes, is powered by a 1,000 hp diesel and has a maximum road speed of 70 km/h.
Iranian sources also claim that the Zulfigar is fitted with a weapon stabilization system and a computerized fire-control system which includes a laser range-finder. Night vision equipment is also fitted.

Late in 1999, it was stated that development of the third-generation Zulfiqar MBT had been completed and volume production for the Iranian ground forces had commenced.

Since the existence of the Zulfiqar MBT was first revealed in 1994, further development has taken place with the latest version claimed to have fundamental differences, especially in the turret.

According to Iran, the Zulfigar MBT features an NBC system, good cross-country mobility, advanced fire control system (possibly of European origin) and laser range-finder for improved first round hit capability and reinforced passive armor.

It is believed that the 125 mm smooth bore gun and its associated automatic loading system is the same as that installed in the T-72S MBT which is now being manufactured in Iran under a deal signed with Russia several years ago. This feeds the 125 mm projectile and then the charge into the 125 mm gun. A 7.62 mm machine gun is mounted coaxial with the main armament.

Russia and Poland have also supplied Iran with about 200 T-72 series MBTs which were delivered between 1993 and 1995. In many respects the Zulfigar MBT is very similar in appearance to the now defunct Brazilian ENGESA Osorio MBT but with suspension similar to that of the 105 mm armed M60 MBT already in service with Iran.

Prototypes of the Osorio were armed with a 105 mm rifled tank gun or a 120 mm smoothbore gun, both of which were manually loaded.

It is believed that the power pack of the Zulfiqar MBT may also be used in the upgraded Iranian T-54/T-55/ Type 59 MBT which is also called the Type 72Z and covered in a separate entry. This consists of a Russian V-46-6 V-12 diesel developing 780 hp coupled to a SPAT 1200 transmission. This gives Zulfiqar a maximum road speed of 65 km/h.

Status
In production. In service with the Iranian Army. There are no known exports of the Zulfiqar.

Manufacturers
Defence Industries Organisation. Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex.

Courtesy: Janes Armor & Artillery

Iran shows off tank made at home
​

Tehran, Sept 22 - Commander of Army's Ground Forces Brigadier General Naser Mohammadifar here Wednesday said that Zolfaqar tank currently being produced by the ground forces is one of the best worldwide.

Speaking to reporters during the inaugural of an exhibition on the achievements made during eight years of Sacred Defense, he announced the ground forces success in optimizing the military hardware left behind after the Iraqi Imposed War, including tanks.

Mohammadifar said that cooperation between Basij (volunteer forces) and army's ground forces as well as national plants and universities in repairing the wornout armaments and BTR personnel carriers was a success, given their high efficiency during the war.

"The new tanks are equipped with a laser fire control system to hit the enemy before giving them a chance to proceed.

"The army's ground forces are equipped with the latest military facilities and are fully prepared to defend our homeland," he added.

General Mohammadifar said that all the experts and officials in charge attempt towards getting prepared to fight the enemy if necessary.

"I have the pleasure to declare that our troops have been through proper training and are equipped with the latest telecommunication devices to defend the country," he added.

He said that the seventh exhibition on the achievements of the Sacred Defense aims to introduce the relevant success of the period as well as that of the post-war era to the people, in particular the young generation.

The exhibition has been arranged jointly by Basij, air and ground forces.


http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=211122&n=32

(NOTE: This news is copy-pasted & all the Capital letters come from the original post - Hence I am not being rude or loud, just in case some one miss understands me)

DATE: 09/24/95

ARMY-TANK PRODUCTION: IRANIAN ARMED FORCES GEARING TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY


​

TEHRAN, SEPT. 24, IRNA -- FOLLOWING A POLICY OF 'SELF-RELIANCE',
​

THE ARMED FORCES OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN HAS SUCEEDED IN BUILDING A MODERN TANK, AN OFFICIAL OF THE GROUND FORCES ANNOUNCED. SPEAKING TO THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE DAILY IRAN NEWS, PUBLISHED SUNDAY, BRIGADIER GENERAL MIRYUNOS MASOOMZADEH SAID THAT ON THE ORDER OF THE LEADER, AYATOLLAH SEYED ALI KHAMENEI, THE ARMED FORCES IS HEADING TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN FULFILLING THE COUNTRY'S DEFENSE NEEDS.

''RECENTLY,'' HE STRESSED, ''WE HAVE COMPLETED AN IMPORTANT
PROJECT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN ADVANCED TANK, WHICH HAS BEEN GIVENTHE NAME ZULFAQAR.''

''THE DESIGNING, PLANNING AND PRODUCTION OF THIS SOPHISTICATED TANK WERE ALL DONE BY OUR OWN EXPERTS IN IRAN,'' HE UNDERLINED.

HE ADDED THAT THE 8-YEAR IMPOSED WAR GAVE THE IRANIAN NATION
VALUABLE TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE. IN THE KHUZESTAN WARFRONT, BOTH SIDES HAD TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED TANKS AND WEAPONS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, HE REMARKED, AND CONTINUED BY SAYING, ''IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THE ISLAMIC COMBATANTS WHO REALIZED THEIR STRONG AND WEAK POINTS.''

REFERRING TO THE NEWLY BUILT ZULFAQAR, MASOOMZADEH STATED, ''WE HAVE PRODUCED THIS TANK ACCORDING TO OUR COUNTRY'S GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS AND IT CAN BE USED IN BOTH DRY AND WET REGIONS.''

"THE TANK, WHICH WEIGHS 40 TONS, HAS A 1,000-HP ENGINE AND A 125-MM CANNON. IT HAS A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 70 KPH AND CAN FIRE WHILE ON THE MOVE."

''ZULFAQAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A LASER TRACKING SYSTEM FOR TARGET LOCATION AS WELL AS AN INFRA-RED DEVICE FOR NIGHT BATTLES'', HE SAID, AND ADDED THAT THE TANK IS ALSO BUILT TO RESIST ARMOR-PIERCING WEAPONS.

THE COUNTRY IS MANUFACTURING THE ZULFAQAR TANK IN LARGE NUMBERS AND CAN EXPORT THEM, IF THE GOVERNMENT REQUESTS SO, HE STATED.

''WE ARE ALSO MAKING ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND THE PRODUCTION PROCESS HAS REACHED ITS FINAL PHASE,'' THE OFFICIAL SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT EXPERTS AT THE ARMED FORCES ARE ALSO BUSY
MODERNIZING AND UPGRADING THE EXISTING STOCKS OF OLD WEAPONS.
''WE ARE USING MODERN COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN MOST OF OUR WEAPONS AND HAVE REPLACED OUR OPTIC DEVICES WITH LASER FOR DETERMINING
DISTANCES,'' HE REPORTED AND CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE IRANIAN ARMED FORCES HAS ALSO SUCCEEDED IN DESIGNING AND PRODUCING A SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY AND REPEL CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND ATOMIC ATTACKS.