Source: mod.gov.ir
The Iranian Defense Ministry has announced a mass production of a domestic-made main battle tank (MBT) called “Karrar”.
Numerous Russian and Western media outlets have already compared the Karrar MBT design to the Russian-made T-90 MBT, concluding that the tanks look similarly.
Russian T-90MS MBT
Iran fueled this rumors itself, claiming that the Karrar MBT as good as the Russian T-90 MBT.
“The defense industry designed and built the battle tank from scratch. If not better, it’s still as deadly as the Russian T-90,” Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said in February 2016.
Indeed, the Karrar MBT is a deep modification of the Russian T-72 MBT. According to the Iranian Defense Ministry, the Karrar has an electro-optical fire control system, a laser rangefinder, and a ballistic computer and can fire guided missiles.
The mass production of the Karrar MBT will be reportedly launched at the Bani-Hashem Armor Industrial Complex near the city of Dorud in the Iranian province of Lorestan.
A tank factory in the Bani-Hashem Armor Industrial Complex had been created with the Russian assistance in order to produce a licensed version of the Russian T-72 MBT in 1990s. However, this plan were not implemented.
Source: mod.gov.ir
Source: mod.gov.ir
Source: mod.gov.ir
Source: mod.gov.ir
Source: mod.gov.ir
Source: mod.gov.ir
Source: mod.gov.ir
This looks like Abrams mated with T90
Looks very modern and well made. Good for Iran. They should have a pretty potent armored force now with about 2000 previous T-72/63/55, M-60, Chieftain and Zulfikar models.
No matter how it looks, it isn’t going to stand up to advanced optics and 120mm smoothbore.
On the other hand, it all depends on who operates those more advanced tanks. If its the Saudis then a WWII era tank crewed by monkeys would still do better.
Definitely a waste of an M1-A2.
That’s why RU is not that happy to sell military hardware to Iran because they are copycats. They have been steeling other people’s design. And it comes just one year after SAA Tiger forces introduced T-90 to the battle field. However I have no doubt that quality of the armor and electronics is inferior to RU T-90 by far.
True. Made in Iran is not exactly a ringing endorsement, even inside Iran. Still, they really need to upgrade their outdated tank fleet quickly. And even an inferior T-90 clone is better then old 70’s tanks from the days of the Shah.
But bad copycat…. :-D
True
http://below-the-turret-ring.blogspot.ca/2017/03/karrar-mbt-unveiled.html
At least Iran can keep strong against pig Saudi.