Tank Lovers Group
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This group is for everyone who like tanks, sci-fi tanks, real tanks, funny tanks, you can put here tank mods, tank maps, simply everything with straps, armor and gun :D
Publically revealed earlier this month. According to the news articles it's supposedly a modified Type 59/69 turret mated to a modified M47M Patton hull. But these articles could be wrong as most of the people that write them tend to not really know what they're talking about.
The main armament is a 105 mm cannon (Don't know the specific model).
Not likely to stand up in a 1-on-1 fight with a modern MBT used by first rate military powers but could be used as a cheap and expendable unit built in mass to support Iran's more capable and modern tanks. Or maybe it can be sold to poorer countries on the export market?
It will be interesting to see how Iran progresses its Defense Industry now that the country is finally free of sanctions. Given the political climate, current conflicts and allies, I would say they'll be giving Russia and China preferential treatment (this has already been demonstrated to an extent, with rumor being that they will fully pivot toward Russian export). How and if its indigenous programs continue to the same degree will also be interesting to see.
The reason this is made is to extend the service life of the hundreds of venerable M-47/48 remains in the IRIA inventory. Sure these can't hold a candle against 3rd gen MBT in a one on one fight, but three of these will probably take one of those out.
Iranian defense doctrine dictates zerg rushing anyone who dares invades their border, followed by organized insurgency. These tanks while won't do much on their own, will sure add considerable weight in the first sledgehammer blows.
What I don't get is why they keep using the L-7 (Or as their license states, the M-68 tank gun). I means, sure it is easier for them to make as they have the facility and training they got from Shah era but won't they be better off with reverse engineering the L11A5 120mm tank gun from their Chieftains? (BTW if anyone got any decent picture of the Mobarez upgrade, please share. They turned the underpowered hulk into a monster by fitting it with a diesel engine from the T-72's)
As for modern tanks, Iran currently considering to license produce the T-90 from Russia. A logical move, as they already have a factory producing T-72 hence the transition cost would be relatively low.
They wanted the Tagil first, then said they'd continue with the Zulfiqar instead, now however they look to have settled on the T-90S with full tech transfer and domestic factories with the help of UVZ (easier like you said because of T-72 knowledge and facilities, also UVZ threw in some civilian infrastructural investment to sweeten the deal). I hope we see a Zulfiqar-4 with this newly acquired technology, Kontakt-5 is officially bawse against BGM-71E so start slapping it on everything including Zulfiqar imo. There aren't enough indigenous military vehicles on the planet, we can always do with more to keep us tank fanboys interested.
This. It's like almost every military in the world is using tanks built by the same six countries (Russia, China, Germany, UK, US and sometimes France). They're either bought and used as is or they're modified a bit, given a different name and called "new". It does get a little stale.
This is why I respect Japanese tanks despite the fact that their prewar and WWII era tanks may have been mediocre and their postwar tanks may be completely unproven in real combat but almost all of them besides their first FT-17s and their Type 61s (based on the M47) are indigenously designed.
To me it's more commendable to put all of the time, effort and resources into designing and building something of your own instead of simply buying someone else's hard work, slapping a new coat of paint and a few accessories here and there and calling it yours. But that's just my opinion.
According to two Czech magazines, it's M48, or M47M chassis with T55 or Type-59 turret and L7 105 mm gun. ERA was probably reverse-engineered from T72. They also wrote that it probably won't enter to production.
I think the tank would have trouble housing the large Chieftain gun. And L7 is something they can manufacture and also have a license.
One of the comments below that made me laugh: Behold new creation of Iranian military modelers group!
They are probably looking for a way to cheaply upgrade their tanks, these are proof of concepts.
And yeah given how huge the L11A5 is mounting it into a compact chassis would be a nightmare. I have one of them in AW, the gun is so long that in garage the camera goes trough it while looking at the vehicle from front.
No poor country is gonna buy that ****, they can get more capable tanks for what is a low low price already.
Agreed.