Iranian Army unveils new defense achievements
New defense achievements of the Iranian Army were unveiled during a ceremony held in Tehran on Sunday.
The Moharram machine gun, a smart composite armor, the Sabalan battle tank, the Hoveyzeh 155 mm artillery gun, and the Zoljanah superheavy tactical vehicle were the domestically designed and manufactured pieces of military hardware which were put on display in the ceremony.
The rate of fire of the six-barrel Moharram machine gun is 2,000-2,500 rounds per minute. The gun can be installed on various military vehicles, helicopters, drones, and warships.
The smart composite armor is made of liquid armor and is able to withstand steel-core anti-armor bullets.
The Sabalan battle tank has been designed based on the experience and know-how gained from developing previous domestically manufactured battle tanks, including the Zolfaqar and the Samsam.
The Sabalan’s main armament is a 105mm gun. The battle tank is equipped with an advanced fire control system and sophisticated communications systems.
The Zoljanah tactical vehicle has five axles. The multipurpose vehicle has been designed based on Iran’s climatic conditions. It can cross rivers with a depth of up to 1.5 meters and is able to carry a maximum payload of 30 tons.
During the ceremony, Army Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said that the main policy of the research and self-sufficiency organization of the Iranian Army is to enhance the quality of military equipment used by ground forces.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he announced that a new domestically manufactured artillery gun, which enjoys special features, will be unveiled during the next Iranian calendar year, which starts on March 21, 2015.