Equipment of the Iranian army - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

From 1925 to the Iranian Revolution

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...

in 1979, Iran

Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...

was equipped with the very latest Western hardware. Cases exist where Iran was supplied with equipment even before it was made standard in the countries that developed it (for example the US F-14 Tomcat

F-14 Tomcat

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...

, or the British Chieftain Tank

Chieftain tank

The FV 4201 Chieftain was the main battle tank of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. It was one of the most advanced tanks of its era, and at the time of its introduction in 1966 had the most powerful main gun and heaviest armour of any tank in the world...

). Primary suppliers included the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, Britain

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, the Federal Republic of Germany

West Germany

West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....

(West Germany), Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

, and the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

.

The Iran–Iraq War, and post revolutionary sanctions at the time had a dramatic effect on Iran's inventory of western equipment. Under the pressures of war all supplies were quickly exhausted and replacements became increasingly difficult to come by. The war eventually forced Iran to turn towards the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

, North Korea

North Korea

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...

, Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

, Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, and China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

to meet its short term military requirements.
Initial developments in every field of military technology were carried out with the technical support of Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, Pakistan

Pakistan

, China

China

, and North Korea

North Korea

to lay the foundations for future industries.

Iranian reliance on these countries has rapidly decreased over the last decade in most sectors where Iran sought to gain total independence; however, in some sectors such as the Aerospace sector and missile technology Iran is still greatly reliant on external help. Iran has developed the capacity to reverse engineer existing foreign hardware, adapt it to its own requirements and then manufacture the finished product. Examples of this are the Boragh

Boragh

The Boragh is an Iranian-made armoured personnel carrier. Boragh is believed to be a reverse engineered and upgraded model of the Chinese Type 86 . The upgrades include a reduction in weight, a higher road speed, and stronger armor...

and the IAMI Azarakhsh. In an attempt to make its military industries

Iranian military industry

Iran's military industry has taken great strides in the past 25 years, and now manufactures many types of arms and equipments. According to Iranian officials, the country sold $100 million worth of military equipment in 2003. and as of 2006 had exported weapons to 57 countries...

more sustainable Iran has also sought to export its military products.

Small arms

Model	Type	Origin	Notes
PC-9 ZOAF	Semi-automatic pistol	/	9 mm pistol, unlicenced local production variant of the Swiss SIG P-226
M1911A1	Semi-automatic pistol		.45 ACP .45 ACP The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S... pistol.
MPT-9 Heckler & Koch MP5 The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....	Submachine gun Submachine gun A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...	/	Heckler & Koch Heckler & Koch Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision... MP5 manufactured under licence
Uzi	Submachine gun Submachine gun A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
Nakhjir	Sniper rifle Sniper rifle In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...	/	SVD manufactured under license
Steyr HS .50 Steyr HS .50 The Steyr HS .50 is a .50 BMG single-shot anti-materiel sniper rifle manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher.- Design and features :The Steyr HS .50 is a single-shot bolt action rifle. It does not have a magazine so each round has to be loaded directly into the ejection port and is pushed into the chamber...	Anti-material rifle
S.5'56 Norinco CQ The CQ is a copy of the Colt M16 rifle. It is currently being manufactured by Norinco. According to the Norinco website, the rifle is officially known as CQ 5.56.-History:...	Assault rifle Assault rifle An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...		Copy of the Norinco CQ Norinco CQ The CQ is a copy of the Colt M16 rifle. It is currently being manufactured by Norinco. According to the Norinco website, the rifle is officially known as CQ 5.56.-History:...
Khaybar KH2002 Khaybar KH2002 Khaybar/KH-2002 is an Iranian designed assault rifle, derived from the DIO S 5.56 assault rifle and further developed by Iran's Defense Industries Organization...	Assault rifle		Iranian designed 5.56x45 mm bullpup Bullpup Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and... rifle
AKM AKM The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....	Assault rifle
Type 56 Type 56 Assault Rifle The Type 56 assault rifle is a Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, which has been manufactured since 1956. It was produced by State Factory 66 from 1956-73, then by Norinco from 1973 onwards.-Service history:...	Assault rifle		Chinese AKM clone
KL-7.62	Assault rifle		Iranian copy of the Chinese Type 56. Possibly produced under license
H&K G3A6 Heckler & Koch G3 The G3 is a 7.62mm battle rifle developed in the 1950s by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME ....	Battle rifle Battle rifle A battle rifle is a military service rifle that fires a full power rifle cartridge, such as 7.62x51mm NATO. While the designation of battle rifle is usually given to post-World War II select fire infantry rifles such as the H&K G3, the FN FAL or the M14, this term can also apply to older military...	/	Licenced production, main service rifle
MGA3	General purpose machine gun General purpose machine gun A general-purpose machine gun is a multi-purpose weapon: it is a machine gun firing a full-power rifle cartridge and which can be used in a variety of roles, from a bipod- or tripod-mounted infantry support weapon to a helicopter door gun or a vehicle-mounted support weapon...	/	Licenced production
PKM-T80 PK machine gun The PK is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service...	General purpose machine gun	/	Local production
MGD	Heavy machine gun	/	Local production

Infantry anti-tank weapons/unguided

Model	Type	Notes
SPG-9 SPG-9 The SPG-9 Kopye is a Russian tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 millimetre calibre recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilised, rocket-assisted HE and HEAT projectiles similar to those fired by the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 vehicle...	Recoilless rifle Recoilless rifle A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
RPG-7 RPG-7 The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...	Rocket propelled grenade Rocket propelled grenade A rocket-propelled grenade is a shoulder-fired, anti-tank weapon system which fires rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. These warheads are affixed to a rocket motor and stabilized in flight with fins. Some types of RPG are reloadable while others are single-use. RPGs, with the exception of...
Type 69 RPG Type 69 RPG The Type 69 85mm rocket propelled grenade , made by Norinco, is a Chinese copy of the famous RPG-7 developed by the Soviet Union. First introduced in the early 1970s, the Type 69 RPG is a common individual anti-tank weapon in service with the PLA...	Rocket propelled grenade Rocket propelled grenade A rocket-propelled grenade is a shoulder-fired, anti-tank weapon system which fires rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. These warheads are affixed to a rocket motor and stabilized in flight with fins. Some types of RPG are reloadable while others are single-use. RPGs, with the exception of...	Chinese copy of Russian RPG-7.
Saegheh Saegheh (Anti Tank Rocket) The Saegheh 40 mm anti-personnel rocket was developed to extend the utility of the RPG-7 portable RPG in service with the Iranian forces. It replaces the standard 30 mm warhead with a high-explosive 80 mm tandem HEAT warhead.-Specifications:*Calibre: 40 mm...	Rocket propelled grenade	Improved version of the RPG-7.
RPG-29 RPG-29 The RPG-29 is a Russian rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Adopted by the Soviet Army in 1989, it was the most recent weapon of its type to be adopted by the Russian military before the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The RPG-29 has since been supplemented by other rocket-propelled systems, such...	Rocket propelled grenade

Anti-tank guided missile

Model	Type	Origin	Notes
Toophan Toophan Toophan is an Iranian anti-tank missile that is a reverse-engineered copy of the US military TOW missile. The Toophan's payload is a 3.6 kg high-explosive anti-tank warhead that can penetrate up to 550mm of steel armor. The range is 3,850m, the top speed 310m/s...	Anti-tank guided missile Anti-tank guided missile An anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....		Reverse engineered of early BGM-71A TOW missile BGM-71 TOW The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
Toophan 2 Toophan 2 Toophan 2 is an upgraded version of Iran's Toophan missile, which itself is a copy of the American BGM-71 TOW armor piercing, anti-tank missile.-See also:ToophanMilitary of IranIranian military industryCurrent Equipment of the Iranian Army...	Anti-tank guided missile		Reverse engineered US BGM-71C TOW
Toophan 5	Anti-tank/Anti-helicopter guided missile		Upgraded BGM-71C TOW with laser beam riding guidance system.
Saeghe 1/2 M47 Dragon The M47 Dragon is an American shoulder-fired, man-portable anti-tank missile system. It has since been phased out in US service, in favor of the newer FGM-148 Javelin system.-Description:...	Anti-tank guided missile		reverse engineered M47 Dragon
9K11 Malyutka	Anti-tank guided missile
9K111 Fagot	Anti-tank guided missile
9M113 Konkurs	Anti-tank guided missile	/	built as Towsan-1 or M-113 in Iran
9K115-2 Metis-M 9K115-2 Metis-M The 9K115-2 Metis-M is a Russian anti-tank missile system. "9K115-2" is the GRAU designation of the missile. Its NATO reporting name is AT-13 Saxhorn-2.The system is designed to augment the combat power of company-levelmotorized units....	Anti-tank guided missile	/	produced under license from Russia
MILAN MILAN MILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...	Anti-tank guided missile		captured during Iran-Iraq War, probably no longer in service

Armored fighting vehicles

**Armored fighting vehicles**
Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired	Origin	Notes
Cobra BMT-2 Cobra BMT-2 APC The BMT-2 or Cobra is an Iranian armored personnel carrier armed with a 30 mm autocannon or a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun..-History:The Cobra began field testing with the Iranian Military in May 1996...	Armored personnel carrier	590	1997
Boragh Boragh The Boragh is an Iranian-made armoured personnel carrier. Boragh is believed to be a reverse engineered and upgraded model of the Chinese Type 86 . The upgrades include a reduction in weight, a higher road speed, and stronger armor...	Armored personnel carrier	140
M113 M113 armored personnel carrier The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...	Armored personnel carrier	200
BTR-50 BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50... /BTR-60 BTR-60 The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen first time in public in 1961...	Armored personnel carrier	300	1966
MT-LB MT-LB The MT-LB is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious auxiliary armoured vehicle which was first introduced in the late 1960s...	Armored personnel carrier	N/A	N/A
Type 86/BMP-1 BMP-1 The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 1 , meaning "infantry fighting vehicle". The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle...	Infantry fighting vehicle Infantry fighting vehicle An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...	210
BMP-2 BMP-2 The BMP-2 is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following the BMP-1 of the 1960s....	Infantry fighting vehicle	400	1991–2001		1,500 ordered in 1991 from Russia and 413 were delivered between 1993 and 2001 of which 82 were delivered directly by Russia and 331 were assembled in Iran. 100 were in service in 1995, 140 in 2000 and 400 in 2002, 2005 and 2008. 400 are currently in service.
Tosan/FV101 Scorpion FV101 Scorpion The FV101 Scorpion is a British armoured reconnaissance vehicle. It was the lead vehicle and the fire support type in the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance , CVR, family of seven armoured vehicles...	Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance —or CVR—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world...	80	1997	/	Tosan is a domestically produced light Tank, based on the FV101 Scorpion FV101 Scorpion The FV101 Scorpion is a British armoured reconnaissance vehicle. It was the lead vehicle and the fire support type in the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance , CVR, family of seven armoured vehicles...
EE-9 Cascavel EE-9 Cascavel The EE-9 Cascavel is a 6 x 6 armoured car developed in the 1970s by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible. It also shares many components with the EE-11 Urutu APC...	Armored car	35
Zulfiqar MBT 1-3	Main Battle Tank Main battle tank A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...	~100	1996–present
Chieftain Chieftain tank The FV 4201 Chieftain was the main battle tank of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. It was one of the most advanced tanks of its era, and at the time of its introduction in 1966 had the most powerful main gun and heaviest armour of any tank in the world...	Main battle tank	~100			707 Mk-3P and Mk-5P, 125–189 FV-4030-1, 41 ARV Armoured recovery vehicle An armoured recovery vehicle is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to repair battle- or mine-damaged as well as broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them out of the danger zone for more extensive repairs... and 14 AVLB Armoured vehicle-launched bridge An armoured vehicle-launched bridge is a combat support vehicle, sometimes regarded as a subtype of combat engineering vehicle, designed to assist militaries in rapidly deploying tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles across rivers. The AVLB is usually a tracked vehicle converted from a tank... obtained before the 1979 revolution. Further planned deliveries of the more capable 4030 series were cancelled at that point. 100 in service as of 2005. Upgraded to Mobarez
M47 Patton M47 Patton The M47 Patton is an American medium tank, the second tank to be named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates of tanks in battle. It was a further development of the M46 Patton tank.-History:The M47 was the U.S...	Main Battle Tank	168
M60A1	Main Battle Tank	150
T-62 T-62 The T-62 is a Soviet main battle tank, a further development of the T-55. Its 115 mm gun was the first smoothbore tank gun in use.The T-62 was produced between 1961 and 1975. It became a standard tank in the Soviet arsenal, partly replacing the T-55, although that tank continued to be...	Main Battle Tank	75	1981–1985		65 ordered in 1981, currently 75 are in service. Source Global Security
T-72S T-72 operators and variants The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1971. It replaced the T-54/55 series as the workhorse of Soviet tank forces . In front-line Russian service T-72 are being replaced by T-90, a modernized version of the T-72...	Main Battle Tank	480	1994–1999		Iran is believed to operate 480 T-72M1 and T-72S since 2002
Type-72Z Safir-74	Main Battle Tank	N/A	N/A		Highly modernized version of the T-55 T-55 The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
Type 59 Type 59 The Type 59 main battle tank is a Chinese produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, an improvement over the ubiquitous T-54/55. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963...	Main Battle Tank	220
Type 69	Main Battle Tank	200
Ch'ŏnma-ho Ch'onma-ho The Ch'ŏnma-ho or spelled as Chonma-ho , which means "Sky Horse" or Pegasus, is one of North Korea's secretive indigenous main battle tank designs. The tank is also known by the name of 천리마 전차 （千里馬 or the "Chollima Tank". The original Ch'ŏnma-ho is based on the Soviet T-62. There are at least five...	Main Battle Tank	150	1982–1985		150 ordered in 1981 from North Korea and delivered between 1982 and 1985.

Towed artillery

Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired
M101A1 M101 howitzer The 105 mm M2A1 howitzer was the standard light field howitzer for the United States in World War II, seeing action in both European and Pacific theaters. Entering production in 1941, it quickly entered the war against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Pacific, where it gained a reputation...	105mm Howitzer Howitzer A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...	130
2A18M	Howitzer	540
Type-54	Howitzer	100
M1955 152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20) The 152 mm gun-howitzer M1955, also known as the D-20, is a manually loaded, towed 152 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union during the 1950s. It was first observed by the west in 1955, where it was designated the M1955. Its GRAU index is 52-P-546...	Howitzer	30
WAC-21	Howitzer	15
GHN-45 GC-45 howitzer The GC-45 is a 155 mm howitzer designed by Gerald Bull's Space Research Corporation in the 1970s. Versions were produced by a number of companies during the 1980s, notably in Austria and South Africa...	Howitzer	120
M-114 M114 155 mm howitzer The M114 155 mm howitzer was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. It was first produced in 1942 as a medium artillery piece under the designation of 155 mm Howitzer M1. It saw service with the US Army during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, before being...	Howitzer	70
122mm HM 40	Howitzer
155mm HM 41 HM 41 HM 41 is an Iranian howitzer which claimed to be based on American M114. In appearance, it is very similar to South Korean KH179.It has a 155 mm/39 calibre barrel with a muzzle brake to lessen the recoil...	Howitzer
FH-77B Haubits FH77/A Haubits 77 is a Swedish 155 mm howitzer. It was developed and manufactured by Bofors. It was available in two versions, the original with a sliding block mechanism, and the later FH77 B export version with an interrupted screw breech.-Overview:In the 1960s Sweden started to look for a...	Howitzer
G-5 G5 howitzer The G5 is a South African towed howitzer of 155 mm calibre designed with the help of the Canadian scientist Gerald Bull and his company, Space Research Corporation and manufactured by Denel Land Systems.-Production history:...	Howitzer	30
M-115 M115 203 mm howitzer The M115 203 mm howitzer, also known as the M115 8 inch howitzer, was a towed howitzer used by the United States Army. Originally designated the 8 inch Howitzer M1, it was designed during the buildup to World War II as a counterpart to the German 17 cm K 18 gun...	Howitzer	20
Type 63 MRL Type 63 multiple rocket launcher The Type 63 multiple rocket launcher is a towed, 12-tube, 107mm rocket launcher produced by the People's Republic of China in the early 1960s, based on the Soviet BM-12 MRS and using similar rockets...	MRL	700	1986

Artillery Reference 1:

Self-propelled artillery

Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired	Notes
2S1 Gvozdika	Self-propelled howitzer	60
Raad 1 Raad 1 -History:In May 1996, Iran claimed to have successfully tested its first locally made self-propelled howitzer, the 122 mm Raad-1 .-Description:...	Self-propelled howitzer		1996	Based on 2S1 Gvozdika
Raad 2 Raad 2 -History:In early September 1997 it was reported that Iran had successfully tested a locally built rapid fire mobile field gun known as Raad-2 .-Description:It uses a turret that has a similar layout to the M109A1 155mm/39-cal self-propelled howitzer...	Self-propelled howitzer		1997	Based on M109 M109 M109 may be:* M109 howitzer, a self-propelled 155 mm howitzer* M-109 highway , a state highway in Michigan* Messier 109 , a spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major* Barrett XM-109, an anti-material weapon...
M-109 M109 howitzer The M109 is an American-made self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. It was upgraded a number of times to today's M109A6 Paladin...	Self-propelled howitzer	180
M-1978 Koksan The M-1978 is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of North Korean design and manufacture. Very little information is available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean Government. What is known is that it is a 170 mm self-propelled gun of the open turret type...	Self-propelled howitzer	10
M-107 M107 Self-Propelled Gun The M107 175 mm self-propelled gun was used by the U.S. Army from the early 1960s through to the late 1970s. It was part of a family of self-propelled artillery that also included the M110 and was intended to provide long-range fire support in an air-transportable system...	Self-propelled howitzer	30
M-110 M110 howitzer The 8 inch Self-Propelled Howitzer M110 was the largest available self-propelled howitzer in the United States Army's inventory. It was deployed in division artillery in general support battalions and in separate corps- and Army-level battalions. Missions include general support, counter-battery...	Self-propelled howitzer	30
Fajr-3 Fajr-3 The Fajr-3 Artillery Rocket is an Iranian multiple-launch artillery rocket, a third-generation Katyusha rocket. Fajr means 'dawn' in Arabic....	MRLS	10	1994
BM-21 Grad	MRLS	100	1978
122mm Hadid/Azrash/Nur	MRLS	50	1994	Domestic BM-21 developments?

Surface-to-surface missiles

This refers to ballistic missiles and not battlefield systems.
Iran's missile forces are under the command of the Revolutionary Guards, under the Army's authority.
Additional information is available at Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution who operate Iran's long-range missiles. Iran was reported to have purchased 18 mobile 3,200-4,000 km Musudan

Musudan (missile)

The Taepodong X, also known under the names Nodong / Rodong-B, Mirim and BM25 Musudan is a mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile developed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, based on Soviet Union's R-27 Zyb. The missile probably makes up the 2nd stage of Taepodong-2, a...

missiles (the extended range version of Soviet R-27 Zyb) in 2005.

Anti ship missiles

Model	Type	Notes
Kowsar Kowsar Kowsar is a medium-range, land-based anti-ship missile made by Iran. It can defeat electronic jamming systems and "cannot be thrown off course", according to Iranian officials.... 1/2/3	Anti ship missile	Light ASCM based on Chinese C-701 C-701 The C-701 is a Chinese missile that is roughly comparable to the American AGM-65 A/B/D/H Maverick air-to-surface missile. However, the C-701 is smaller and has less than half the weight of the AGM-65 A/B/D/H Maverick.-Design:... and TL-10 TL-10 The TL-10 or Sky Dragon - 10 is a light anti-ship missile unveiled in the Zhuhai Airshow in 2004 in China, and it is the Chinese equivalent of the French MM-15TT / AS-15TT light anti-ship missile developed by Aérospatiale.-History:The development of the TL program appeared to have started in the...
Nasr-1 Nasr-1 Nasr-1 Is a domestically-manufactured highly accurate Iranian short range cruise missile capable of evading radar. It has the capability of destroying 3,000-tonne targets such as warships. Nasr-1 missile can be launched from both inland bases and offshore military vessels and being modified to be...	Anti ship missile	Light ASCM based on Chinese C-705 and TL-6 TL-6 -History:The development of the TL program appeared to have started in the mid-1990s and were originally identified as the FL-8 and FL-9 under China National Aero Technology Import & Export Company...
Noor Noor -In fiction:Noor , the play by Akbar AhmedNoor, an album by the metal band Adorned BroodNoor , Arabic title for the Turkish soap opera Gümüş-Places:Noor, Iran, a city in northern Iran and capital of the Noor county...	Anti ship missile	ASCM based on Chinese C-801 and C-802 C-802 The Yingji-82 or YJ-82 is a Chinese anti-ship missile first unveiled in 1989 by the China Haiying Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy , also known as the Third Academy...
Ra'ad	Anti ship missile	Iranian origin Heavy ASCM similar to Chinese C-401
Khalij Fars Khalij Fars The Khalij Fars , is a single-stage solid-propellant, supersonic Anti-ship ballistic missile with a range of 300 km based on the Fateh-110 missile...	Anti-ship ballistic missile Anti-ship ballistic missile An anti-ship ballistic missile is a military quasiballistic missile system currently in developement, of medium or intermediate range, designed to hit a warship at sea...	Based on Fateh-110 Fateh-110 The Fateh-110 , is a single-stage solid-propellant, surface-to-surface missile with at least a 200 km range, and it is produced domestically within Iran, including the solid fuel propellant. The Aerospace Industries Organization is capable of producing many types of liquid and solid propellants...

Battlefield missile systems

Model	Type	Acquired
Samid	Rocket artillery Rocket artillery Rocket artillery is a type of artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortars.Types of rocket artillery pieces include multiple rocket launchers.-History:...
Fajr-2	Rocket artillery
Fajr-3 Fajr-3 The Fajr-3 Artillery Rocket is an Iranian multiple-launch artillery rocket, a third-generation Katyusha rocket. Fajr means 'dawn' in Arabic....	Rocket artillery
Fajr-5 Fajr-5 The Fajr-5 is an artillery rocket developed by Iran in the 1990s. The system is part of the Fajr family of rockets.-Overview:The latest production of the Fajr-5 is installed on a new Mercedes-Benz 6 x 6 forward control chassis and the platform is now integrated into a complete weapon system rather...	Rocket artillery
Tondar-69	Rocket artillery
Oghab Oghab The Iranian Oghab missile is an unguided 230 mm artillery rocket with a range of 34-45 km . It is spin-stabilized in flight but has a proven circular error probable in excess of 500 m , making it a highly inaccurate weapon. It carries a 70 kg high explosive fragmentation warhead, though it may...	Rocket artillery	1985–present
Naze'at Naze'at Naze'at are a series of Iranian-made artillery rocket with an estimated range of 100 km. There are two known variants, named Naze'at 6-H and Naze'at 10-H, each with different specifications. Like Zelzals, Naze'at rockets don't have a guidance system....	Rocket artillery
Zelzal	Tactical ballistic missile Tactical ballistic missile A tactical ballistic missile is a ballistic missile designed for short-range battlefield use. Typically, range is less than . Tactical ballistic missiles are usually mobile to ensure survivability and quick deployment, as well as carrying a variety of warheads to target enemy facilities, assembly...
Fateh-110 Fateh-110 The Fateh-110 , is a single-stage solid-propellant, surface-to-surface missile with at least a 200 km range, and it is produced domestically within Iran, including the solid fuel propellant. The Aerospace Industries Organization is capable of producing many types of liquid and solid propellants...	Tactical ballistic missile	2002–present

Air defence Missile Systems

Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired	Origin	Notes
MIM-23 Hawk MIM-23 Hawk The Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk is a U.S. medium range surface-to-air missile. The Hawk was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile entered service in 1960, and a program of extensive upgrades has kept it from becoming obsolete. It was...	Surface-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...	150	1970s-present	/	Locally manufactured improved version of the original 1960s US Hawk system. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force ' is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. The present Air Force came into being in the early 1980s when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed.... had recently revealed its own version of the MIM-23 Hawk the Shahin which is under production. In 2010 Iran announced that it will be mass producing its next generation of air defense system called Mersad which would integrate with the Shahin missile.
SM-1 RIM-66 Standard The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships...	Surface-to-air missile				Locally manufactured copy of a c.1970s variant
Shahab Saqeb HQ-7 The HongQi 7 or HQ-7 is a short-range air defense missile. The missile is deployed on both ships and land-based vehicles. China revealed the export version, FM-80, in the 1989 Dubai Aerospace Show...	Surface-to-air missile		2002–present		copy of the Chinese HQ-7 HQ-7 The HongQi 7 or HQ-7 is a short-range air defense missile. The missile is deployed on both ships and land-based vehicles. China revealed the export version, FM-80, in the 1989 Dubai Aerospace Show... (FM-90) system. This Project was First Joint Winner-Applied Research in 14th Khwarizmi International Award Khwarizmi International Award The Khwarizmi International Award is given annually by the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in research, innovation and invention, in fields related to science and technology.... - 2001;Tehran-Iran -The Project Title:Production of Low Range Ground to Air Missile;Shahab Saqeb - Initiator:Iran Aerospace Ind. Org.& Contributor:D.I.O Defense Industries Organization The Defense Industries Organization The Defense Industries Organization The Defense Industries Organization (DIO; Persian: Sasadjah (Sazemane Sanaye Defa) is a conglomerate of companies run by the Islamic Republic of Iran whose function is to provide the military of Iran with the necessary... )
Sayyad-1	Surface-to-air missile	45			Up to 45 Launchers, HQ-2J and indigenous-produced Sayyad-1. Upgraded copy of HQ-2, Sayyad-1A has IR tracking. This Project was First Joint Winner-Applied Research in 14th Khwarizmi International Award Khwarizmi International Award The Khwarizmi International Award is given annually by the Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology to individuals who have made outstanding achievements in research, innovation and invention, in fields related to science and technology.... - 2001;Tehran-Iran -The Project Title:Manufacture of Sayyad-1 Missile -Initiator: Iran Aerospace Ind. Org. Contributor:HESA HESA HESA may refer to:* Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, an Iranian aircraft manufacturer* Higher Education South Africa, an association of universities in South Africa... & Arak Machine Ind.
Ghareh	Surface-to-air missile	10			upgraded copy of SA-5 Gammon with 250 km range
SA-6 Gainful SA-6 Gainful The 2K12 "Kub" mobile surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground forces from air attack. "2К12" is the GRAU designation of the system...	Surface-to-air missile	8	1995–present		Reports of eight SA-6 systems transferred to Iran from Russia in 1995/1996.
S-200	Surface-to-air missile	200		/	Locally upgraded and improved
Rapier missile Rapier missile Rapier is a British surface-to-air missile developed for the British Army and Royal Air Force. Entering service in 1971, it eventually replaced all other anti-aircraft weapons in Army service; guns for low-altitude targets, and the English Electric Thunderbird, used against longer-range and...	Surface-to-air missile	30	1971–present		45 towed systems with Blindfire radar delivered before 1979. 72 self-propelled systems and local production of 1,000 missiles cancelled 1979
Tigercat Sea Cat missile Sea Cat was a British short-range surface to air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum...	Surface-to-air missile	15
SA-22 Greyhound (Pantsyr S1)	Surface-to-air missile	10	2008–present
Tor missile system	Surface-to-air missile	29	2005–present
S-300	Surface-to-air missile	4		/	Iran claim to possess two S-300PT from Belarus and two others from another unspecified source despite Russian refusal to deliver them. Iran announced that it had a "domestically made" system with the same capabilities as the S-300, but this is unverified.
Mersad Mersad Mersad is an Iranian advanced low to mid range Air defense system developed in 2010. It fires Shahin missiles which are reverse engineered, domestically upgraded versions of the American MIM-23 Hawk Surface-to-air missiles...	Air Defense System	N/A	2010		Iranian designed Air Defense system using Shahin missiles.

Man-portable air-defense systems

Model	Type	Quantity
Misagh-1 Misagh-1 The Misagh 1 is an Iranian man-portable infrared guided surface to air missile. It was developed by the Shahid Kazemi Industrial Complex in Tehran and is an all-aspect passive infrared homing system...	Man-portable air-defense systems
Misagh-2 Misagh-2 The Misagh 2 is an Iranian man-portable infrared guided surface to air missile. The Misagh 2 is the next version of the Misagh-1. Similar to its predecessor, the Misagh 2 is supposedly also based on Chinese technology...	Man-portable air-defense systems
RBS-70	Man-portable air-defense systems	50
SA-7 Grail	Man-portable air-defense systems
SA-16 Gimlet	Man-portable air-defense systems	700
SA-18 Grouse SA-18 Grouse The 9K38 Igla is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile . "9K38" is the Russian GRAU designation of the system...	Man-portable air-defense systems

Radar systems

Gamma
Kasta
Kolchuga
Kolchuga passive sensor
The Kolchuga passive sensor is an ESM system developed in Ukraine. Its detection range is limited by line-of-sight but may be up to for very high altitude, very powerful emitters...
JY-14 Radar
JY-14 Radar
The JY-14 Radar System is a medium to long range air defense radar produced and used by the Chinese. It is capable of detecting multiple targets within its range and determine their parameters, tracking them even through surface clutter and ECM jamming...

(Chinese origin)
Matla'ol Fajr radar (Iranian origin)
Kashef 1&2 radars (Iranian origin)

Army aviation

The Army operates 188 airplanes, and 527 helicopters although it is not known how much of this inventory is actually operational.
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Versions
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|In service
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
| Aero Commander

Aero Commander (aircraft)

The Aero Commander 500 is the first in a series of light-twin piston-engined aircraft originally built by the Aero Design and Engineering Company in the late 1940s. In 1950 it became the Aero Commander company, and a division of Rockwell International from 1965. The initial production version was...

|| || utility transport || 690 || 50 ||
|-
| Bell 205 || || light-lift utility helicopter || AB 205

Shabaviz 2-75 || 250 || built by Agusta

Agusta

Agusta is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It is based in Samarate, Northern Italy. It is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first airplane in 1907...

and Panha

Panha

-History:Following the purchase by Iran of some Italian helicopters from Agusta Company, it became important to establish a plant for support and repair these helicopters. This plant was named Iran Joint Helicopter Industry. Later on, after purchase of some large number of helicopters from Bell,...

|-
| Bell 206 JetRanger

Bell 206

The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...

|| utility helicopter || AB 206A

Shabaviz 2061 || 65 || built by Agusta and Panha
|-
| Bell 214

Bell 214

|-See also:-External links:...

|| || medium-lift transport helicopter || 214A || 85 ||
|-
| Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra

AH-1 SuperCobra

The Bell AH-1 SuperCobra is a twin-engine attack helicopter based on the US Army's AH-1 Cobra. The twin Cobra family includes the AH-1J SeaCobra, the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the AH-1W SuperCobra...

|| || attack helicopter || AH-1J

Panha 2091

-See also:...

|| 75

+45 || Model 2091 upgrade by Panha
|-
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook || || Heavy-lift transport helicopter || CH-47C || 45 || built by Agusta
|-
| Cessna 185

Cessna 185

-Specification for differing configurations:-References:* Jan Churchill, Hit My Smoke: Forward Air Controllers in Southeast Asia, Sunflower University Press, Manhattan KS, ISBN 0-89745-215-1...

|| || utility || || 55 ||
|-
| Dassault Falcon 20

Dassault Falcon 20

The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet and was the first of a family of business jets built by Dassault Aviation.-Design and development:...

|| || VIP transport || Falcon 20E || 25 ||
|-
| Fokker F27 Friendship || || tactical transport || F27-400M

F27-600 || 15

25 ||
Aircraft which have served recently and of which numbers may remain in reserve storage or second-line use include:

Bell 204 UH-1
UH-1 Iroquois
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
Hughes 300C
Mil Mi-24
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Model	Type	Acquired	Notes
Sofreh Mahi	Stealth Stealth Stealth may refer to:Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missilesStealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology*Stealth ground vehicle, ground vehicles which use stealth technology... UCAV		Under development
Karrar (UCAV) Karrar (UCAV) -External links:* *...	UCAV	2010
Ababil Ababil The Ababil is an Iranian made UAV. Iran has developed a number of variants, including the tactical Ababil-5 for medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance, the Ababil-T for short/medium-range attack, and also the Ababil-B and -S.- Performance :...	UAV
Mohajer I/II/III/IV Mohajer The Mohajer/Mirsad series of unmanned aerial vehicles is built by Iran and operated by Iran and Hezbollah. The Mohajer is primarily used to spy on military installations, enemy positions, etc. It may also be capable of guiding laser-guided munitions to their targets. The Mohajer 4 test-flew on 16...	UAV
Sabokbal	UAV
Ra'ad	UAV		With offensive capabilities
Nazir	UAV
Hod Hod	UAV
Saeghe Saeghe (UAV) - Performance :Saeghe is a delta wing narrow pointed fuselage target drone. Control surfaces are located on the horizontal stabilizers. It's power plant is a pusher engine which generates a power of 25hp which makes it able to endure for 45 minutes. Some say it is WAE-342 engine.It comes in two...	Target Drone Target drone A target drone is an unmanned, remote controlled aerial vehicle, usually used in the training of anti-aircraft crews.In their simplest form, target drones often resemble radio controlled model aircraft...
MQM-107	Target Drone Target drone A target drone is an unmanned, remote controlled aerial vehicle, usually used in the training of anti-aircraft crews.In their simplest form, target drones often resemble radio controlled model aircraft...

Other equipment

Gas masks
Bullet Proof Vests
Bulletproof vest
A ballistic vest, bulletproof vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso...

(used by specialized units and some army divisions, not yet standard issue)

External links

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