The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a plan to procure almost 800 modern main Karrar battle tanks, according to an article published by the state-owned Tasnim News Agency on 18 July.

Karrar main battle tank (Picture source: Iranian MoD)

The IRGC has announced it intends to move forward with the procurement of 800 modern Karrar main battle tanks as part of the modernization plan of Iran’s armed forces. Last February, Brigadier General Kioomars Heidari, commander of the Iranian ground force, said indigenous Karrar tanks were ready to be delivered to the armed forces. He also noted that the Karrar is one of the unique products that have been contracted by the Army to be delivered to the factories for mass production.

Despite its visual similarity to the Russian T-90MS tank, the Iranian Karrar advanced battle tank is a new local development. It possesses a modern electro-optical fire control system, a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer. The Karrar is fitted with a new welded turret armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun enabling to fire laser-guided missiles, and has a remotely operated 12.7mm machine gun. As for the armor protection of the tank, it has reactive armor tiles to protect against anti-tank shells, rockets, and missiles. The Karrar is fitted with latest generation of armour, with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) at the front of the hull and turret.

According to military experts, the Karrar MBT uses some features of the American M1 Abrams and British Challenger 2. Russian military expert suggested that, in terms of certain military capabilities, the Karrar is unlikely to match the Russian T-90.