Makran IFV

Last updated
Makran IFV
khwdrwy zrhy aby khkhy mkhrn.jpg
Type Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of originIran
Service history
In service2020–present
Used byIran
Production history
Manufacturer Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization
Produced2020–present
Specifications
Length7.12 meters
Width3.17 meters
Height2.39 meters
Crew3
Passengers9–12
Main
armament
 30mm Shipunov 2A42 auto-cannon
Secondary
armament
 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun
Enginediesel
Suspensiontorsion bar
Maximum speed Estimated between 44 and 80 km/h (Land)
11km/h (Water)

The Makran IFV, an Iranian armoured personnel carrier (APC), is the highly modernized and upsized copy of the BTR-50 APC. The vehicle is produced and designed by the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization. It was unveiled in June 2020 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. [1] The vehicle is named after the Makran coastal region, a region that stretches between Iran and Pakistan. While the Makran is technically an infantry fighting vehicle, it has a large troop compartment as it is based on the BTR-50, allowing it to dual function as an armoured personnel carrier.

Contents

History

Origins

During the period of the Shah, Iran purchased and received around 300 BTR-50's, and during the Iran–Iraq War hundreds were captured. While only 150-270 are estimated to be in service, hundreds are currently in storage, and a couple were given to the Popular Mobilization Forces. [2] The IRGC realized after the Iran–Iraq War, that the BTR-50s and BTR-60s it had needed more armour and firepower, leading to the development of the Makran, Heidar-6, and Heidar-7.[ citation needed ] The Sedad, a BTR-60PB with an unmanned ZU-23-2 was developed as a temporary solution. [3]

Development

A tour of an IRGC run upgrade facility by Tasnim News Agency appears to show some of the captured BTR-50s and MT-LBs currently in storage, with Raad unmanned turrets being produced in the factory. [4] Videos posted on YouTube in 2021 appear to show an unpainted prototype moving through water. [5] [6] Another prototype or in-completed Makran was seen in the same Tasnim News Agency video tour, which only had the unmanned turret and side armor upgrades; it was painted in grey and tan, with some unpainted parts. [4]

In June 2020, the vehicle was displayed for the first time, alongside an upgraded T-72M dubbed "Rakhsh" and a heavily upgraded BTR-60 dubbed "Heidar-7". [7] [8] [9]

Design

another picture Makran IFV.PNG
another picture

Design and upgrades

The Makran has been so heavily upgraded that one may not be able to notice the BTR-50 hull.[ original research? ] The IFV has upgraded hull modifications: a newly welded frontal armor plate, thicker side armor, and thicker floor plating. [2] [8] It also has a new unmanned turret called "Raad-2", [10] armed with a Shipunov 2A42 30mm automatic cannon and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The "Raad" unmanned turret contains a brand new fire-control system, a thermal-imaging sensor, night-vision cameras, a laser range finder, 3-6 smoke canister launchers, and is controlled via a display panel in the hull. [1] [2] [10] [8] The laser range finder has a range of 10,000 meters, and the thermal-imaging sensor has a range of 4,000 meters. [11] The vehicle stores 500 rounds of 30mm ammunition for the Shipunov 2A42 auto-cannon, and 2000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition for the coaxial machine gun. [2] The vehicle's driver also has a new cupola and periscope, to fit with the newly molded frontal armor. [2]

Missile capabilities

Images[ vague ] show two anti-tank guided missiles on display next to the Makran, which may imply that the Makran can carry anti-tank guided missiles.[ original research? ] Some Iranian sources have also reported that the vehicles can fire "missiles". [10] [9] Reports from GlobalSecurity and various Russian news agencies say it is possible to install ATGMs onto the vehicle, and is an option for purchasers. [2] The ATGMs may be the Almaz anti-tank guided missile, which is believed by an anonymous "military technology analyst" on Twitter to have been developed from an Israeli Spike ATGM left behind in the 2006 Lebanon War. [12] Iranian sources report that the ATGMs displayed may be the Toophan instead, another Iranian SACLOS anti-tank guided missile. [13] However, closer up photos clearly show a Sadid-1 anti-tank guided missile launcher identical to those on Iranian helicopters.[ original research? ]

Misconceptions

Some have claimed, be that incorrectly, that the Makran's turret is that of a BMP-2. [9] However the two differentiate in size, looks, capability, structure, and adaptability. The reasoning behind an unmanned turret is to increase crew survivability and adaptability, not to increase ammunition storage.[ citation needed ]

Operators

Current operators

See also

Vehicles of comparable role, performance and era

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 "Iran: IRGC unveils new armored personnel carriers and upgraded T-72M main battle tank | Defense News July 2020 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com. July 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Fateh (Conqueror / Victor) "semi-heavy" submarine". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  3. ↑ "Aqareb 8x8". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  4. 1 2 جنگ افزار-۱ | جزئیات اورهال و ارتقای تانک و نفربر در ایران. خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim News Agency. 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2022-01-24– via YouTube.
  5. ↑ Iran Makran Armored personnel carrier ( BMP) ایران نفربر آبی و خاکی مکران. ali javid. 2021-03-07. Archived from the original on 2021-03-14. Retrieved 2022-01-24– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ Iran's Makran IFV reupload. GrandBotBoi. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2022-01-24– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Oryx. "The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Fighting Vehicles". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  8. 1 2 3 Agency, Tasnim News (2020-06-27). "Iran: IRGC Unveils New Military Gear". Eurasia Review. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  9. 1 2 3 "Iran displays BTR-50 modified with BMP-2 turret". Janes.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  10. 1 2 3 "دستاورد جدید سپاه برای مقابله با دشمن را بشناسید + عکس". روزنامه دنیای اقتصاد (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  11. ↑ "FarsNews Agency IRGC Ground Force Unveils Several Defensive Equipment". www.farsnews.ir. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  12. ↑ Patarames [@Pataramesh] (2021-01-09). "An Israeli ATGM team loosing a Spike missile in the 2006 war with Hezbollah, lead to the Iranian Almaz, Diamond missile Beside the use as ATGM, it offers vulnerable, slow UCAVs a stand-off weapon to engage outside envelope of defensive assets, as well as increasing impact speed https://t.co/Dx6n8vODCS" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-01-24– via Twitter.
  13. ↑ "برجک ساخت سپاه، آچار فرانسه زره پوش‌های نیروهای مسلح می‌شود/ گام به گام با تبدیل BTR-۵۰ روسی به "مکران" ایرانی+عکس". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
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