Main battle tank "Carrara" (Iran)
Despite all the difficulties and limited capabilities of the industry, Iran continues to update its fleet of armored combat vehicles. Just the other day, the first official demonstration of the latest Iranian main battle took place tank "Carrar." The car was first shown to the general public, and in addition, revealed some details of the ongoing work.
The first official show of a promising tank took place last Sunday on March 12. The venue for this event was one of the objects of the Organization of the Defense Industry, located in Tehran. Tank new model showed the press and military specialists. In addition, the head of the Iranian military department, Hossein Dehkan, attended the presentation ceremony. Representatives of the defense industry of Iran announced some information about the new project, affecting its main advantages.
"Premiere" tank
Also last Sunday, important statements were made regarding the future of the Carrara tanks. As it turned out, so far the Iranian industry has managed to prepare for the mass production of such equipment. To build new tanks will be the industrial complex of Bani Hashem, located near the town of Dorud (province Lurestan). Moreover, production has already begun. Were published footage from the shops of the enterprise, showing a lot of promising machines at different stages of assembly.
In accordance with its "traditions", the Iranian command is not in a hurry to announce plans regarding the pace and production volumes of promising technology. Published information and personnel suggest that there are at least half a dozen tanks in the workshops of Bani-Hashem. When these machines leave the assembly shop and how many pieces of equipment will follow them in the future is unknown.
Presented in Tehran OBT "Carrara"
It should be noted that 12 March was the only official "premier" of the newest Iranian tank. The existence of this car became known long ago - in August last year. In the video dedicated to the day of the defense industry, a previously unknown combat vehicle was spotted. Soon, several new photos and the name of the development became public. According to the data received, the new project received the name "Carrar" ("Attacker"). Famous photos allowed specialists and the public to practice determining the real characteristics of the equipment and predicting its prospects.
The characteristic appearance of a promising Iranian tank immediately became a cause for suspicion. According to the first assumptions, the Carrara was actually a licensed copy of the Russian main tank T-90MS. Nevertheless, the new data on the project showed that the Iranian tank is not an exact copy of the Russian machine, although it is similar to it. In this regard, there are reasons to believe that the “Carrar” project is based on some Soviet / Russian developments, which in one way or another have become the property of Iran’s industry.
Tank and military officials
Another indirect evidence of the presence of the “Russian trace” can be story complex Bani Hashem. The company near Dorud was built in the early nineties with the active participation of Russian industry. The plant was to receive from Russia some units and with their help assemble T-72 tanks for the Iranian army. Such work of the enterprise did not last too long. In 1995, Russia turned the joint project, after which the Iranian company began to work, first of all, as a repair plant. Nevertheless, Iranian specialists were able to obtain certain knowledge and technologies related to the production of Russian-made tanks.
Anyway, the newest Iranian tank "Carrar" really has a significant similarity - at least external - to the Russian armored vehicles of the latest models. Nevertheless, the project is positioned precisely as its own Iranian development. It hardly makes sense to argue with this statement without having serious evidence to the contrary. In such a situation, you should simply consider some of the possibilities regarding the use of someone else's experience.
View of the stern
In terms of overall architecture, the newest Iranian tank is a traditional vehicle layout. Used tracked chassis with its own armored and mounted additional protection. All weapons are located in the turret, and some specific devices are used that are characteristic of modern combat vehicles. It is alleged that the tank "Carrara" has the most modern on-board equipment, is able to overcome various obstacles and attack various targets in various conditions. The exact characteristics, however, have not yet been announced.
The design and shape of the hull "Carrara" is reminiscent of the Soviet tank T-72 and its many modifications. The Iranian car received a case with differentiated armor, built according to the classical layout with a central fighting compartment and aft engine compartment. Apparently, the frontal hull parts are a combination of armor with a relatively high level of protection.
Given the current development trends of armored vehicles, Iranian designers have created a set of additional attachments designed to enhance their own armor vehicles. The frontal projection of the hull, with the exception of the fenced shelves, is covered with blocks of dynamic protection. Several side blocks are smaller and serve as the base of the headlights. Smaller dynamic protection units in several rows are placed on the side screens. With the help of such units, protection of the control and combat compartments is provided. The sides of the engine compartment are covered with lattice screens. Feed has no additional protection.
The Iranian tank received a welded polygonal tower, similar to some Russian designs. It has a small area of central frontal sheets with an embrasure, on the sides of which are larger side, placed at an angle to the longitudinal axis. Boards are also mounted at an angle, forming a tapering structure. There is also a rectangular feed niche, far beyond the shoulder strap. The entire frontal projection of the tower is equipped with blocks of dynamic protection, forming the structure of the wedge-shaped profile. On the roof and sides such protection is absent. Aft niche on the side and back is covered with trellis screens.
Presumably one of the experienced tanks
Features of the power plant promising model, unfortunately, are unknown. It can be assumed that a diesel engine of comparatively high power is placed in the aft compartment of the hull, but the type and characteristics of this product have not yet been officially specified. At the same time, it is hardly surprising if it soon becomes clear that the Carrar tank received a Russian-made engine and transmission.
Chassis tank is based on foreign developments. On each side of the hull there are six support rollers of average diameter. Rollers, apparently, receive an individual torsion suspension. Above them are several supporting rollers. In front of the hull there are guide wheels with caterpillar tensioning devices, in the stern - leading ones. The characteristic view of the caterpillar suggests the use of finished products.
Tower "Carrara": visible dynamic protection and sight heads
Soon after the appearance of the first photographs of “Carrara,” a plausible assumption appeared that this tank was equipped with an 125-mm smooth-bore Russian-made 2-46 or some kind of system, which was its direct development. The reason for such suspicions was the recognizable appearance of the gun: the tank carries a long-barreled weapon with an ejector and a heat shield. An interesting innovation of the Iranian development of a gun mount was an additional casing, which is part of the mask. Almost the entire section of the barrel from the breech to the ejector is covered with a square-section casing, giving the tank an unusual appearance. Main weapon tank is equipped with automatic loader. The presence of a developed turret fodder niche suggests that some of the ammunition is located there. In ammunition can be included as shots of separate loading of various types, and guided missiles launched through the gun.
The tank, allegedly, received the most modern equipment for fire control. The composition of the used MSA was not specified. At the same time, published photos and videos show that the machine has two periscopic sights on the roof of the tower. The video signal from both sights is displayed on the commander and gunner workstations screens. The armored vehicle is equipped with a set of sensors for meteorological conditions. A bar with similar devices is located on the roof of the tower, in front of the aft niche.
Machine gun combat module
The composition of auxiliary weapons is standard for armored vehicles of this class. On one unit with a gun mounted twin machine gun rifle caliber. The second similar weapon is located on the roof of the tower. In accordance with modern requirements for the main tanks, the project "Carrar" provides for the use of a remotely controlled combat module. At the rear of the tower’s roof is a platform on which is a rotatable U-shaped design with fastenings for a rocking block with a machine gun. The module is monitored from workplaces without the need to go beyond the protected volume. On the sides of the turret, space is provided for the installation of two groups of smoke grenade launchers with seven products each.
The crew of the Iranian tank consists of three people: the driver, the commander and the gunner. The driver is placed in the front of the hull and falls into place through the sunroof. Two other tankers are in the tower. To the left of the gun the gunner is placed, on the right - the commander. Over their places in the roof of the tower there are hatches. At the same time, the right hatch is located on the commander’s turret with periscopic devices providing all-round visibility. The workplaces of tankers located in the turret are equipped with modern equipment for monitoring and controlling onboard systems. The main information and video signal from the sight are displayed on the color liquid crystal screens. Other elements of the equipment of the fighting compartment are also based on modern components.
The crew takes its place, you can consider the shape of the tower
There are certain grounds for believing that in terms of size and weight characteristics, the new Iranian main battle tank “Carrar” is almost the same as the Russian T-90MS, with which it has a sufficient external similarity. In this case, the combat mass of the armored vehicle should reach 46-48 t. Assessment of the mobility characteristics is not possible due to the lack of accurate data on the type and parameters of the power plant. One can only assume that in its driving characteristics the Iranian machine is not inferior to the technology based on the T-72.
March 12 officially announced the launch of mass production of the newest Iranian tanks. At the same time, what is important, it was not about the launch of mass construction of machinery, but about confirming the start of such work. One of the Iranian television channels in his report on the tank "Carrar" showed footage from the workshops of the company Bani Hash. At the time of the shooting, there were already several tanks under construction at the factory. Thus, the real start of mass production occurred much earlier than the official announcement of it.
"Carrara" at the site
The pace of production, for obvious reasons, is unknown. In one frame, no more than 5-6 tank hulls or towers are present at the same time, which can be considered the minimum amount of equipment collected at the time of the shooting. On the upper limit of the number of tanks simultaneously collected in Dorud, we can only guess. According to various sources, the plant could build up to several dozen armored vehicles monthly. Thus, with appropriate financing and the strain of all forces, the industrial complex is in theory capable of reaching high production rates.
Nevertheless, such assessments of the potential of Iranian tank building may be overly optimistic. Due to limited financial and production capabilities, the real production rate of armored vehicles should be noticeably less than the maximum estimated. So, the most massive tank of Iranian development is the machine "Zulfikar." Since the mid-nineties, the country's industry has been able to build less than three hundred of these machines in several modifications. Other tanks of their own design, too, were not built in large series. As a result, there is reason to fear that the new “Carrar” will not be able to become a truly massive tank.
In the context of mass production, we can recall the version of the Russian "origin" of the newest Iranian tank. At one time, cooperating with Russia, Iran was able to build more than 400 main tanks T-72С. Not a single armored vehicle of the same class, created by the Iranian industry on its own, could not compare with licensed vehicles in terms of quantity. It is possible - if the version of a slight reworking of an existing T-90MS project was true, the Russian side could help a foreign partner by some means, as a result of which Iran would have the opportunity to re-establish mass engineering construction. However, officials' assurances of the purely Iranian origin of the project almost exclude the possibility of such a development of events with corresponding consequences for Carrara.
Thanks to the official presentation that took place a few days ago in Tehran, the newest Iranian main battle tank "Carrar" again became the topic of active discussions and even disputes. The main issue is the origin of the project: too many features of the new armored vehicle indicate the use of foreign developments, while Iranian officials reject it. At the same time, the developers of the new project are in no hurry to disclose detailed data on the technical and combat characteristics of the vehicle, which further complicates the situation with the assessment of the tank.
Climb the slope
Ignoring the disputes that began about six months ago, in connection with the appearance of the first video of the tests of the tank, the Iranian industry completed all the required work, such as testing and fine-tuning equipment. As recent events show, the main tank "Carrar" successfully coped with the tests and was recommended for adoption. In this regard, the industrial complex of Bani Hashem began preparations for the future production of equipment. In the very near future, the first production tanks may come out of the assembly shop, the release of which was announced a few days ago by officials. Thanks to this, the Iranian armed forces receive a new chance to upgrade their fleet of armored combat vehicles and increase their combat potential. Nevertheless, the impossibility of large-scale production of machinery can again negatively affect the situation and leave Iran without the desired number of tanks.
On the materials of the sites:
http://tass.ru/
http://nationalinterest.org/
http://armyrecognition.com/
http://imp-navigator.livejournal.com/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
http://below-the-turret-ring.blogspot.fr/
The first official show of a promising tank took place last Sunday on March 12. The venue for this event was one of the objects of the Organization of the Defense Industry, located in Tehran. Tank new model showed the press and military specialists. In addition, the head of the Iranian military department, Hossein Dehkan, attended the presentation ceremony. Representatives of the defense industry of Iran announced some information about the new project, affecting its main advantages.
"Premiere" tank
Also last Sunday, important statements were made regarding the future of the Carrara tanks. As it turned out, so far the Iranian industry has managed to prepare for the mass production of such equipment. To build new tanks will be the industrial complex of Bani Hashem, located near the town of Dorud (province Lurestan). Moreover, production has already begun. Were published footage from the shops of the enterprise, showing a lot of promising machines at different stages of assembly.
In accordance with its "traditions", the Iranian command is not in a hurry to announce plans regarding the pace and production volumes of promising technology. Published information and personnel suggest that there are at least half a dozen tanks in the workshops of Bani-Hashem. When these machines leave the assembly shop and how many pieces of equipment will follow them in the future is unknown.
Presented in Tehran OBT "Carrara"
It should be noted that 12 March was the only official "premier" of the newest Iranian tank. The existence of this car became known long ago - in August last year. In the video dedicated to the day of the defense industry, a previously unknown combat vehicle was spotted. Soon, several new photos and the name of the development became public. According to the data received, the new project received the name "Carrar" ("Attacker"). Famous photos allowed specialists and the public to practice determining the real characteristics of the equipment and predicting its prospects.
The characteristic appearance of a promising Iranian tank immediately became a cause for suspicion. According to the first assumptions, the Carrara was actually a licensed copy of the Russian main tank T-90MS. Nevertheless, the new data on the project showed that the Iranian tank is not an exact copy of the Russian machine, although it is similar to it. In this regard, there are reasons to believe that the “Carrar” project is based on some Soviet / Russian developments, which in one way or another have become the property of Iran’s industry.
Tank and military officials
Another indirect evidence of the presence of the “Russian trace” can be story complex Bani Hashem. The company near Dorud was built in the early nineties with the active participation of Russian industry. The plant was to receive from Russia some units and with their help assemble T-72 tanks for the Iranian army. Such work of the enterprise did not last too long. In 1995, Russia turned the joint project, after which the Iranian company began to work, first of all, as a repair plant. Nevertheless, Iranian specialists were able to obtain certain knowledge and technologies related to the production of Russian-made tanks.
Anyway, the newest Iranian tank "Carrar" really has a significant similarity - at least external - to the Russian armored vehicles of the latest models. Nevertheless, the project is positioned precisely as its own Iranian development. It hardly makes sense to argue with this statement without having serious evidence to the contrary. In such a situation, you should simply consider some of the possibilities regarding the use of someone else's experience.
View of the stern
In terms of overall architecture, the newest Iranian tank is a traditional vehicle layout. Used tracked chassis with its own armored and mounted additional protection. All weapons are located in the turret, and some specific devices are used that are characteristic of modern combat vehicles. It is alleged that the tank "Carrara" has the most modern on-board equipment, is able to overcome various obstacles and attack various targets in various conditions. The exact characteristics, however, have not yet been announced.
The design and shape of the hull "Carrara" is reminiscent of the Soviet tank T-72 and its many modifications. The Iranian car received a case with differentiated armor, built according to the classical layout with a central fighting compartment and aft engine compartment. Apparently, the frontal hull parts are a combination of armor with a relatively high level of protection.
Given the current development trends of armored vehicles, Iranian designers have created a set of additional attachments designed to enhance their own armor vehicles. The frontal projection of the hull, with the exception of the fenced shelves, is covered with blocks of dynamic protection. Several side blocks are smaller and serve as the base of the headlights. Smaller dynamic protection units in several rows are placed on the side screens. With the help of such units, protection of the control and combat compartments is provided. The sides of the engine compartment are covered with lattice screens. Feed has no additional protection.
The Iranian tank received a welded polygonal tower, similar to some Russian designs. It has a small area of central frontal sheets with an embrasure, on the sides of which are larger side, placed at an angle to the longitudinal axis. Boards are also mounted at an angle, forming a tapering structure. There is also a rectangular feed niche, far beyond the shoulder strap. The entire frontal projection of the tower is equipped with blocks of dynamic protection, forming the structure of the wedge-shaped profile. On the roof and sides such protection is absent. Aft niche on the side and back is covered with trellis screens.
Presumably one of the experienced tanks
Features of the power plant promising model, unfortunately, are unknown. It can be assumed that a diesel engine of comparatively high power is placed in the aft compartment of the hull, but the type and characteristics of this product have not yet been officially specified. At the same time, it is hardly surprising if it soon becomes clear that the Carrar tank received a Russian-made engine and transmission.
Chassis tank is based on foreign developments. On each side of the hull there are six support rollers of average diameter. Rollers, apparently, receive an individual torsion suspension. Above them are several supporting rollers. In front of the hull there are guide wheels with caterpillar tensioning devices, in the stern - leading ones. The characteristic view of the caterpillar suggests the use of finished products.
Tower "Carrara": visible dynamic protection and sight heads
Soon after the appearance of the first photographs of “Carrara,” a plausible assumption appeared that this tank was equipped with an 125-mm smooth-bore Russian-made 2-46 or some kind of system, which was its direct development. The reason for such suspicions was the recognizable appearance of the gun: the tank carries a long-barreled weapon with an ejector and a heat shield. An interesting innovation of the Iranian development of a gun mount was an additional casing, which is part of the mask. Almost the entire section of the barrel from the breech to the ejector is covered with a square-section casing, giving the tank an unusual appearance. Main weapon tank is equipped with automatic loader. The presence of a developed turret fodder niche suggests that some of the ammunition is located there. In ammunition can be included as shots of separate loading of various types, and guided missiles launched through the gun.
The tank, allegedly, received the most modern equipment for fire control. The composition of the used MSA was not specified. At the same time, published photos and videos show that the machine has two periscopic sights on the roof of the tower. The video signal from both sights is displayed on the commander and gunner workstations screens. The armored vehicle is equipped with a set of sensors for meteorological conditions. A bar with similar devices is located on the roof of the tower, in front of the aft niche.
Machine gun combat module
The composition of auxiliary weapons is standard for armored vehicles of this class. On one unit with a gun mounted twin machine gun rifle caliber. The second similar weapon is located on the roof of the tower. In accordance with modern requirements for the main tanks, the project "Carrar" provides for the use of a remotely controlled combat module. At the rear of the tower’s roof is a platform on which is a rotatable U-shaped design with fastenings for a rocking block with a machine gun. The module is monitored from workplaces without the need to go beyond the protected volume. On the sides of the turret, space is provided for the installation of two groups of smoke grenade launchers with seven products each.
The crew of the Iranian tank consists of three people: the driver, the commander and the gunner. The driver is placed in the front of the hull and falls into place through the sunroof. Two other tankers are in the tower. To the left of the gun the gunner is placed, on the right - the commander. Over their places in the roof of the tower there are hatches. At the same time, the right hatch is located on the commander’s turret with periscopic devices providing all-round visibility. The workplaces of tankers located in the turret are equipped with modern equipment for monitoring and controlling onboard systems. The main information and video signal from the sight are displayed on the color liquid crystal screens. Other elements of the equipment of the fighting compartment are also based on modern components.
The crew takes its place, you can consider the shape of the tower
There are certain grounds for believing that in terms of size and weight characteristics, the new Iranian main battle tank “Carrar” is almost the same as the Russian T-90MS, with which it has a sufficient external similarity. In this case, the combat mass of the armored vehicle should reach 46-48 t. Assessment of the mobility characteristics is not possible due to the lack of accurate data on the type and parameters of the power plant. One can only assume that in its driving characteristics the Iranian machine is not inferior to the technology based on the T-72.
March 12 officially announced the launch of mass production of the newest Iranian tanks. At the same time, what is important, it was not about the launch of mass construction of machinery, but about confirming the start of such work. One of the Iranian television channels in his report on the tank "Carrar" showed footage from the workshops of the company Bani Hash. At the time of the shooting, there were already several tanks under construction at the factory. Thus, the real start of mass production occurred much earlier than the official announcement of it.
"Carrara" at the site
The pace of production, for obvious reasons, is unknown. In one frame, no more than 5-6 tank hulls or towers are present at the same time, which can be considered the minimum amount of equipment collected at the time of the shooting. On the upper limit of the number of tanks simultaneously collected in Dorud, we can only guess. According to various sources, the plant could build up to several dozen armored vehicles monthly. Thus, with appropriate financing and the strain of all forces, the industrial complex is in theory capable of reaching high production rates.
Nevertheless, such assessments of the potential of Iranian tank building may be overly optimistic. Due to limited financial and production capabilities, the real production rate of armored vehicles should be noticeably less than the maximum estimated. So, the most massive tank of Iranian development is the machine "Zulfikar." Since the mid-nineties, the country's industry has been able to build less than three hundred of these machines in several modifications. Other tanks of their own design, too, were not built in large series. As a result, there is reason to fear that the new “Carrar” will not be able to become a truly massive tank.
In the context of mass production, we can recall the version of the Russian "origin" of the newest Iranian tank. At one time, cooperating with Russia, Iran was able to build more than 400 main tanks T-72С. Not a single armored vehicle of the same class, created by the Iranian industry on its own, could not compare with licensed vehicles in terms of quantity. It is possible - if the version of a slight reworking of an existing T-90MS project was true, the Russian side could help a foreign partner by some means, as a result of which Iran would have the opportunity to re-establish mass engineering construction. However, officials' assurances of the purely Iranian origin of the project almost exclude the possibility of such a development of events with corresponding consequences for Carrara.
Thanks to the official presentation that took place a few days ago in Tehran, the newest Iranian main battle tank "Carrar" again became the topic of active discussions and even disputes. The main issue is the origin of the project: too many features of the new armored vehicle indicate the use of foreign developments, while Iranian officials reject it. At the same time, the developers of the new project are in no hurry to disclose detailed data on the technical and combat characteristics of the vehicle, which further complicates the situation with the assessment of the tank.
Climb the slope
Ignoring the disputes that began about six months ago, in connection with the appearance of the first video of the tests of the tank, the Iranian industry completed all the required work, such as testing and fine-tuning equipment. As recent events show, the main tank "Carrar" successfully coped with the tests and was recommended for adoption. In this regard, the industrial complex of Bani Hashem began preparations for the future production of equipment. In the very near future, the first production tanks may come out of the assembly shop, the release of which was announced a few days ago by officials. Thanks to this, the Iranian armed forces receive a new chance to upgrade their fleet of armored combat vehicles and increase their combat potential. Nevertheless, the impossibility of large-scale production of machinery can again negatively affect the situation and leave Iran without the desired number of tanks.
On the materials of the sites:
http://tass.ru/
http://nationalinterest.org/
http://armyrecognition.com/
http://imp-navigator.livejournal.com/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
http://below-the-turret-ring.blogspot.fr/
Information