Iran Unveils Optimized Chieftain Tanks, 7.62-mm Sniper Rifle, Different Military Vehicles

The new achievements which were unveiled on the occasion of the Army Day (April 17) included optimized Chieftain tanks, communication node vehicles and TOW missile test stations.

Also, the 57-mm self-propelled wheeled air defense system, ‘Bahman’, the 5-ton 6*6 ‘Kian’ military vehicle, ‘Shahram’ mobile nuclear detection lab, Pouria tactical vehicle that carries super heavy tanks and ‘Tiam’ battle tank were unveiled during the ceremony.

In addition to unveiling the weapons and equipment, the Iranian Ground Force delivered a large number of home-made ambulances, cranes, water tankers, armored vehicles, 7.62-mm sniper guns and vehicles which carry super heavy tanks to different units.

General Pourdastan had earlier this week stated that a large number of optimized Chieftain tanks, sniper guns and different light and heavy vehicles would be delivered to the Ground Force units.

Asked about the time for unveiling the new Iranian battle tank, ‘Karrar’ on Monday, he said, “The tank will be unveiled this or next month and will be used by the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces.”

Speaking to FNA last month, the Iranian commander had said that the battle tank is as capable as Russia’s T-90 tank and perhaps even better, adding that Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan and several other high-ranking officials will attend the inauguration ceremony of Karrar.

Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari announced earlier that his forces have been equipped with the home-made state-of-the-art tanks named ‘Karrar’ with features similar to the Russian T-90 tanks.

“Karrar tanks have been delivered to the combat units of the Ground Force,” General Heidari told reporters in March.

He also underlined plans to mount new, advanced and state-of-the-art systems on Karrar and Zolfaqar tanks.

Asked about the Ground Force’s achievements in building anti-armored systems, General Heidari said, “We have modern and state-of-the-art equipment which can be used in proxy wars.”

“The defense industry designed and built the battle tank from scratch. If not better, it’s still as deadly as the Russian T-90,” Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said in an interview with the state-run TV last month.

He said “Karrar” stands among the most modern battle tanks in the world.