Iran Army set to unveil new defense achievements

Iran’s Army is set to unveil new domestically-built military hardware, including an armed robot and a wheeled battle tank, to mark National Army Day, which falls on April 18 this year.

Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan told reports on Sunday that an ultra-light combat vehicle and anti-aircraft gun will also be among the new military achievements that are planned to be unveiled ahead of National Army Day on April 15.

Pourdastan said the wheeled battle tank, which will be put display for the first time, is equipped with a 90 mm-caliber cannon and can carry four military personnel.

The armed 4×4 robot is also capable of carrying two missiles and a load of up to 600 kilograms, according to the Iranian commander.

A 23 mm-caliber anti-aircraft gun capable of penetrating bulletproof vests as well as an ultra-light tracked combat vehicle will also be among the achievements to be unveiled by the country’s Ground Forces.

Iran’s Arash shoulder-fired weapon was put to the test during major maneuvers code-named The Great Prophet 9 in February 2015.

The Iranian commander said that the new achievements will be made available to Iran’s Defense Industry Organization for mass production.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and reached self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Iran has repeatedly assured other countries that its military might poses no threat to other states, insisting that the country’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.