Iran to overhaul, manufacture up to 800 tanks: Defense Ministry

[SubWater]

This file photo shows Karrar, Iran's most advanced domestically-built tank.


Iran’s Defense Ministry says it plans to overhaul and manufacture up to 800 tanks as part of the country’s plans to boost its defense power.

The Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) will receive between 700 to 800 domestically-built tanks, including Karrar (Striker), Deputy Defense Minister Reza Mozaffari-Nia said, Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday.

He said that Iran manufactures 50 to 60 tanks every year as demanded by the army and the IRGC.

Iran unveiled Karrar, its most advanced domestically-manufactured tank of amphibious mobility, in March 2017.

The then defense minister, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, said Karrar was among the most advanced tanks in the world because of its remarkable features.

Its firepower, precision and mobility, Dehqan said, were comparable to the most state-of-the-art of its kind in the world.

Among the tank’s features, Dehqan enumerated its electro-optical fire control system, laser-aided distance measurement capability, and the capability to strike either mobile or fixed targets in both nighttime and daytime.

Iran has over the past years made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and hardware.

The Islamic Republic says its military power poses no threat to other countries and is merely based on the doctrine of deterrence.

'Iran vows crushing response to aggressors'

Meanwhile, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said the Islamic Republic would give "a crushing response" to any act of aggression against the country.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami
“The Armed Forces, which enjoy modern and advanced equipment, are fully prepared to give a crushing response to any ill-wishing aggressor,” the Iranian minister said on Wednesday as he visited an exhibition of defense industries.

“We advise the Islamic establishment’s enemies to respect national sovereignty and the dignity and will of the Iranians, because our proud nation has proved throughout history that it is not an aggressor but will severely punish aggressors,” Hatami said.

He also praised Iran’s defense industry as one of the best in the world and said the weapons and defense equipment manufactured in the country have indigenous capabilities commensurate with the geographical condition of the country and based on the requirements of the Armed Forces.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/07/18/568493/Iran-military-equipment-tanks-Karrar

 

[Hack-Hook]

Its firepower, precision and mobility, Dehqan said, were comparable to the most state-of-the-art of its kind in the world.

Among the tank’s features, Dehqan enumerated its electro-optical fire control system, laser-aided distance measurement capability, and the capability to strike either mobile or fixed targets in both nighttime and daytime.

one thing I liked to be there but wasn't, the ability to acquire out of sight targets from drones and having live fed about battlefield situation from drones .
also the ability to fire precision guided ammo like AT-11 Sniper.

 

[Signalian]

Zulfiqar series looks like M1 Abrams.

 

[TheImmortal]

What does INCLUDING Karrar mean?

That makes it sound like all 700-800 tanks won’t be Karrar? Does that mean some will be another new tank project? Or some older tanks upgraded to T-72?

 

[SubWater]

What does INCLUDING Karrar mean?

That makes it sound like all 700-800 tanks won’t be Karrar? Does that mean some will be another new tank project? Or some older tanks upgraded to T-72?

both, building new tanks and upgrading old ones.
In general that mean they convince top officials to get funds for this project.
read this one
https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/875384/جزییات-بزرگترین-پروژه-زرهی-کشور-برای-تولید-و-ارتقاء-۷۰۰-تانک

 

[Sineva]

Zulfiqar series looks like M1 Abrams.

Thats the final Z3 version,and even thats not as much a resemblance as you`d think when you compare them side by side.

 

[Imran Khan]

something better then nothing

 

[Signalian]

Thats the final Z3 version,and even thats not as much a resemblance as you`d think when you compare them side by side.

Comparison isn't there but resemblance surely exists. A different design could have been chosen.

 

[AmirPatriot]

both, building new tanks and upgrading old ones.
In general that mean they convince top officials to get funds for this project.
read this one
https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/875384/جزییات-بزرگترین-پروژه-زرهی-کشور-برای-تولید-و-ارتقاء-۷۰۰-تانک

Well there are contradictory statements. Deputy DM said "upgrade and manufacture", but DM Hatami himself said only "upgrade".

 

[OldTwilight]

so , we have 800 T72 and we want to upgrade them in next 20 years .... ( 40-50 Tank per year ) ...
this mean in 2038 we will finish upgrading our T72 and we we have to use them for next 2-3 decade ... that mean we will have T72 in service till at least 2058 ..... bravo Islamic Republic ...

side note : they won't upgrade more than 100 T72 because in middle of program they will find out that some of IR top figures kid want to have much more happier life in UK/Canada ....

 

[AmirPatriot]

so , we have 800 T72 and we want to upgrade them in next 20 years .... ( 40-50 Tank per year ) ...
this mean in 2038 we will finish upgrading our T72 and we we have to use them for next 2-3 decade ... that mean we will have T72 in service till at least 2058 ..... bravo Islamic Republic ...

side note : they won't upgrade more than 100 T72 because in middle of program they will find out that some of IR top figures kid want to have much more happier life in UK/Canada ....

The mental gymnastics you performed for this post are worthy of an Olympic medal.

 

[VEVAK]

What does INCLUDING Karrar mean?

That makes it sound like all 700-800 tanks won’t be Karrar? Does that mean some will be another new tank project? Or some older tanks upgraded to T-72?

50-60 Tanks a year that includes both New and Overruled Tanks and it includes various Iranian MBT including T-72 & Karrar

At 60 Tanks a year it would take 12 Years to come up with 720 Tanks!!!!!!!!!!!

But producing Tanks Chasses at such low rates just doesn't make much sense!!!!!! At such a low production rate I would say Karrar Chasses would have to be imported T-72 Chasses

Clearly Iran doesn't plan on increasing the number MBT's it has by any significant number anytime soon!!! And honestly I don't blame them!!!!!!!!

With Iran's current military capabilities I would put far more funding towards building various types of Anti Tank weapons systems rather than the Tank it's self.
From Swarm anti Tank UAV's to UAV's armed with Anti Tank weapons from RPG to ATGM's from smart mines to stationary remotely operated systems from low cost Unmanned ground Vehicles equipped with Anti Tank weapons to IFV equipped with ATGM's...….

For a country whos ability to maintain Air Superiority over a modern battlefield is doubtful manned over priced over weight Tanks in a country the size of Iran with Iran's terrain & security concerns aren't really the best of investments!!!!!!!!!!!

Saddam throughout 8 years of war with Iran maintained a Tank Force 2-5 Times larger than Iran's Tank force and it still got him nothing! And as technology advanced the situation for Tanks got worse so much so that by 2006 Israeli Tanks with Air Superiority couldn't advance against Hezbullah who had no Tanks No Helicopter no Air Force and no Armored Units just a bunch of ATGM's!!!!!!

 

[VEVAK]

so , we have 800 T72 and we want to upgrade them in next 20 years .... ( 40-50 Tank per year ) ...
this mean in 2038 we will finish upgrading our T72 and we we have to use them for next 2-3 decade ... that mean we will have T72 in service till at least 2058 ..... bravo Islamic Republic ...

side note : they won't upgrade more than 100 T72 because in middle of program they will find out that some of IR top figures kid want to have much more happier life in UK/Canada ....

50 tanks a year is NOT a significant number & even at an average of $3m per Tank that's only $150 Million USD a year nothing to loss sleep over one way or the other!!!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't loose much sleep over Tanks because they are not as significant as they used to be!!!!!!!!

 

[Hack-Hook]

50-60 Tanks a year that includes both New and Overruled Tanks and it includes various Iranian MBT including T-72 & Karrar

At 60 Tanks a year it would take 12 Years to come up with 720 Tanks!!!!!!!!!!!

But producing Tanks Chasses at such low rates just doesn't make much sense!!!!!! At such a low production rate I would say Karrar Chasses would have to be imported T-72 Chasses

Clearly Iran doesn't plan on increasing the number MBT's it has by any significant number anytime soon!!! And honestly I don't blame them!!!!!!!!

With Iran's current military capabilities I would put far more funding towards building various types of Anti Tank weapons systems rather than the Tank it's self.
From Swarm anti Tank UAV's to UAV's armed with Anti Tank weapons from RPG to ATGM's from smart mines to stationary remotely operated systems from low cost Unmanned ground Vehicles equipped with Anti Tank weapons to IFV equipped with ATGM's...….

For a country whos ability to maintain Air Superiority over a modern battlefield is doubtful manned over priced over weight Tanks in a country the size of Iran with Iran's terrain & security concerns aren't really the best of investments!!!!!!!!!!!

Saddam throughout 8 years of war with Iran maintained a Tank Force 2-5 Times larger than Iran's Tank force and it still got him nothing! And as technology advanced the situation for Tanks got worse so much so that by 2006 Israeli Tanks with Air Superiority couldn't advance against Hezbullah who had no Tanks No Helicopter no Air Force and no Armored Units just a bunch of ATGM's!!!!!!

Saddam advantage in armored force cost us dearly when it come to life of our soldiers.

 

[925boy]

so , we have 800 T72 and we want to upgrade them in next 20 years .... ( 40-50 Tank per year ) ...
this mean in 2038 we will finish upgrading our T72 and we we have to use them for next 2-3 decade ... that mean we will have T72 in service till at least 2058 ..... bravo Islamic Republic ...

side note : they won't upgrade more than 100 T72 because in middle of program they will find out that some of IR top figures kid want to have much more happier life in UK/Canada ....

your doom and gloom perspective only works if we assume NOTHING changes. Iran might be able to buy new/high tech tanks in a few years, and that would turn your theory of "....20-30yrs of using older upgraded tanks"on its head. Your theory is possible,but thats not guaranteed.