Historical Equipment of the Iranian Army
Encyclopedia
This article will only consider military equipment that has been used since 1925, and is no longer considered 'standard issue' within the regular armed forces.
From 1925 to the Iranian Revolution
in 1979, Iran
used to be 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
, or the British Chieftain Tank
). 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. Despite severe concerns regarding quality and effective design, the war eventually forced Iran to turn towards the Soviet Union
and China
amongst others to meet its short term military requirements. Nevertheless, the experience of using advanced and high quality Western equipment was not lost on any of the branches of the Iranian armed forces. Severely disappointed with the inferior Russian and Eastern equipment, Iran sought to develop its own indigenous ability to mirror the high technology of the west and to provide a totally reliable source of equipment for the future.
tanks) came from between 1941-1979, when the U.S. and its bloc supported the government of the Shah
. During the Iran–Iraq War of 1980-1988, much of the replenishing of the Iranian materials came through Communist China. After the Iran–Iraq War and a relatively moderate stance by Iran during the 1990s, Russia began to sell the Iranian regime military goods (SCUD
launchers, T-55
, T-62
& T-72
tanks.)
G3
standard army Assault Rifle
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...
used to be 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...
). 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. Despite severe concerns regarding quality and effective design, 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....
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...
amongst others to meet its short term military requirements. Nevertheless, the experience of using advanced and high quality Western equipment was not lost on any of the branches of the Iranian armed forces. Severely disappointed with the inferior Russian and Eastern equipment, Iran sought to develop its own indigenous ability to mirror the high technology of the west and to provide a totally reliable source of equipment for the future.
Tanks
Most of the Iranian combat vehicles are a motley mix of U.S., Chinese, and Soviet-era Russian materials. The American vehicles (M-60 PattonPatton tank
Patton tank may refer to:*M46 Patton, a tank model operational during the Korean War*M47 Patton, a tank model in service from 1952 through 1959 with the U.S. Army, and through the mid 1990s in foreign service...
tanks) came from between 1941-1979, when the U.S. and its bloc supported the government of the Shah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
. During the Iran–Iraq War of 1980-1988, much of the replenishing of the Iranian materials came through Communist China. After the Iran–Iraq War and a relatively moderate stance by Iran during the 1990s, Russia began to sell the Iranian regime military goods (SCUD
Scud
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
launchers, 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...
, 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...
& T-72
T-72
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
tanks.)
Small arms
- AK-47AK-47The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
, known in Iran as the Kalash.
G3
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 ....
standard army Assault Rifle