Breaking news
Iran is considering to manufacture locally Russian-made T-90S main battle tank under license TASS 11802163.
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Defence & Security News - Iran
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| Iran is considering to manufacture locally Russian-made T-90S main battle tank under license. | |||
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Iran is still considering the licensed manufacturing of T-90S main battle tanks (MBT), according to a Russian defense source. Despite the intentions to produce only locally developed MBTs, Iran is still considering the option of full or partial licensed production of Russian T-90 MBTs.
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 Russian-made T-90S main battle tank at defense Exhibition in Nizhny Tagil, Russia |
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Iranian modern tanks are supposed to be a stopgap measure, no more. Zulfiqar family of MBTs is a derivative of the world-known T-72 tank, retaining even 125mm 2A46 main gun.
Moreover, as of 2012 Iran had less than 100 Zulfiqar-1/2/3 MBTs. Tosan is light tank being supplied mainly to the Ground Forces of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. It has a weak armament, which comprises 90mm gun, 12,7mm machinegun and Toophan anti-tank guided missile (an unlicensed copy of the US TOW anti-tank missile, having been obtained through reverse-engineering). Sabalan is an absolutely outdated modification of the US M47 Patton tank. |
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 Iranian-made Safir-74 main battle tank |
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The Iranian land forces retain Soviet/Russian T-72S/T-72M1 tanks, which are supposed to be the most reliable heavy armoured vehicles in the inventory of the Iranian armed forces. Iran deploys upgraded T-55/Type-59 tanks (designated in the Iranian service as Safir-74 or T-72Z) and modernised Centurion tanks (designated as Mobarez).
So, Iran lacks reliable main battle tanks, which meet the modern requirements set to the heavy armoured vehicles. Taking into account the current political situation and the development of the Iranian armed forces, T-90S would be the best option. At the same time, Iran has revealed its intention to produce armoured vehicles locally. Russia has a huge experience in organizing of licensed weapons production, so the aforementioned problems can be solved easily. Iran was unblocking its financial assets, having been frozen several years ago. "Iran has a lot of both civilan and military issues to be adressed primarily. Nevertheless, the re-equipment of the Iranian land forces may become a top priority with a glance to the current geopolitical situation in the Near Eastern region. |
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 Iranian-made Sabalan main battle tank |
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 Iranian-made Tosan light tank |
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