Iran's military might
The most important player in the Middle East arena is Iran. Despite complex relations with a number of countries in the region and with some world leaders, this state maintains and builds up its potential in various fields, including in the field of the armed forces. The specifics of the situation in the Middle East makes official Tehran pay special attention to the development of the army and its weapons. As a result, the Iranian armed forces are among the most powerful in their region.
In late April, an updated version of the well-known Global Firepower rating was published, defining the defense potential of many countries of the world. The development of the army and related areas has allowed Iran to take 20 a place in the general list. With this result, he outstripped many countries in his region, leaving only Turkey ahead (8 place), Egypt (12 place) and Israel (15 place). Assessment of Iran by the method of GFP - 0.4024. Consider the factors that allow the Iranian army to have a very high potential, as well as take their place in various ratings.
Troops on parade. Photo by Theiranproject.com
The current situation in the Iranian armed forces is described in an interesting way in the recent directory The Military Balance 2017. The authors of this publication write that Iran still maintains a specific army, possessing a mass of outdated equipment, but at the same time staffed by well-trained personnel, as well as having strategic nuclear weapons, which are a key element of security. Indeed, some samples remain in service with the Iranian army. weapons and technology, long written off in other countries. However, at the same time the country manages to maintain a sufficiently high potential.
Currently, Iran’s population exceeds 82,8 million. Approximately half of the population is suitable for service; every year, the draft age reaches 1,4 million people. In total, 523 employs thousands of people in the military. There is also a 350-thousandth reserve, consisting of retired and volunteers.
An interesting feature of the armed forces of Iran is their division into two separate structures with their own command. There is a full-fledged army with ground forces, air forces and fleet. In addition, there is a separate structure called the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which also has its own ground forces, air force and navy. Despite the formal separation, both the army and the IRGC have similar goals and in most cases should work together.
MBT "Carrar" - one of the latest developments of Iran. Photo Imp-navigator.livejournal.com
The most numerous structure in the armed forces of Iran are the ground forces. They serve 350 thousand people. The command and control of troops is carried out by five headquarters with the division of zones of responsibility by region. Ground forces have 8 armored brigades, 14 mechanized brigades, 12 light infantry brigades and one airborne brigade. Also available aviation and artillery units. The ground forces include 10 special-purpose brigades with different functions.
Iran has a large fleet of armored vehicles, including a variety of models, including long-obsolete ones. Armored units have more than 1500 tanks several types. The most numerous (560 units) are machines of the T-55 family of Soviet, Chinese and own production. There are also 480 newer T-72s. The troops have obsolete American M47, M48 and M60 in significant quantities. There are 610 Soviet-developed infantry fighting vehicles. The fleet of armored personnel carriers (at least 640 units) includes both tracked vehicles of the M113 type or domestic counterparts, and wheeled BTR-50 and BTR-60 Soviet assemblies. There are at least 35-40 repair and evacuation and other auxiliary armored vehicles.
The artillery units are armed with up to three hundred self-propelled guns with guns of caliber up to 203 mm. There are combat vehicles of Soviet, American and Iranian production. The most numerous ACS of Iran is the American M109 - there are one and a half hundred such machines. More than 2 thousand towed artillery systems of various types in caliber up to 203 mm are stored in service. As in the case of self-propelled artillery, towed guns were purchased from the USSR / Russia, the United States or were made independently. There are self-propelled and towed rocket artillery in the amount of approximately 1500 units. The most numerous is the Chinese-made 63 type launcher - 700 units. Troops dispose of 3000 mortars in caliber from 81 to 120 mm.
American-made F-14 fighter. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
Ground forces exploit at least 30 operational-tactical missile systems of several types. This weapon is a further development of the Soviet or North Korean complexes.
Troops air defense has a significant number of Igla and Strela-family MANPADS, as well as similar Iranian-made models. Also in the army there are more than 1100 anti-aircraft guns of various types. There are self-propelled armored vehicles ZSU-23-4 (up to 100) and ZSU-57-2 (up to 80). The towed anti-aircraft artillery is represented by various systems from machine gun installations ZPU-2 to M-1939 guns.
The Iranian Army also has its own aviation units. There are about three dozen light multi-purpose and training aircraft of several types of foreign production. Troop support is the responsibility of AH-50J Cobra helicopters and HESA Shahed 1 XHUMX helicopters of its own production. There are 50 transport helicopters, including the 285 heavy CH-173 Chinook and several dozen light Bell 20 and Bell 47. In recent years, mastered the production of unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes.
The army ground forces are complemented by similar units from the composition of the IRGC. The Ground Forces Corps is controlled by 31 regional headquarters and includes 2 armored divisions, 3 armored brigades, at least 8 light infantry divisions, and more 5 similar brigades. The airborne troops of the IRGC include one brigade. The ground forces of the IRGC are invited to use the same equipment as the main army.
Su-24 front bomber. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
Iranian Navy manned 18 thousand people. The fleet of the army and the IRGC is armed with almost four hundred ships and boats of various types, with the bulk of this technology designed to protect the coast.
The fleet has a 21 submarine. The main submarine forces are the submarines of the 877 project of Russian construction in the amount of three units. There are also at least 17 small and ultra-small submarines with torpedo weapons, built on two projects of its own Iranian development.
Surface fleet includes 81 ship and boat. There are seven corvettes of three projects, equipped with rocket, artillery and torpedo weapons. 16 rocket boats of several types remain in the ranks, with about half of them being used as part of the coast guard units. Several dozen torpedo boats of a number of projects of domestic and foreign construction remain.
Iran has an amphibious fleet consisting of 13 ships and 11 boats. The largest landing ships can take on board up to 10 tanks or 225 soldiers. Boats have a smaller capacity, but some of them due to the use of an air cushion differ in other possibilities.
HESA Shahed 285 Iranian development helicopter. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
Mine-sweeping forces are represented by five ships of several projects. One of the available minesweepers, however, is based on the Caspian Sea and is used as a training vessel. The rest can solve combat missions in the Persian Gulf.
In the naval aviation of Iran serves 2600 people. Search and destruction of enemy submarines is assigned to the X-NUMX of the P-3 Orion and X-NUMX helicopters of the SH-3D helicopters. Also in the interests of the fleet, 10 airplanes and 3 helicopters of various types should be used for auxiliary work.
Coastal defense compounds have several types of missile systems. Also on the coast are based two brigades of marines with a total of 2600 people.
Military transport aircraft C-130. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has its own naval forces, in which 15 thousand people serve. Another 5 of thousands were consolidated into one Marine Corps brigade. The main task of the IRGC fleet is to protect the coast from various threats. To do this, it includes more than 110 patrol ships and vessels, including with missile anti-ship weapons. Artillery and torpedo boats are also used. The IRGC has its own amphibious assault fleet of four ships. There are coastal defense formations that are armed with missile systems similar to naval systems.
In the air force serves 18 thousand people. In addition, the Air Force includes air defense forces, which are 12 thousands. A characteristic problem of the air force is the presence of a significant number of outdated foreign technology. The Air Force has 5 fighter squadrons, 9 squadrons of fighter-bombers and 1-like units operating front-line bombers. There is one reconnaissance and naval patrol squadron. The work of aviation at long distances is provided by the tankers of one squadron. Transport tasks are solved by five squadrons, training is conducted on the basis of four. Most of the helicopters belong to the army aviation, but the Air Force also has several such squadrons.
Fighter aircraft is equipped with American and Soviet / Russian aircraft. The most massive (more than 60 units) technology remains the F-4D / E Phantom II. There is also a fairly large (more than 55) grouping of F-5 aircraft. A total of more than 260 fighter jets are in operation. The ground attack was assigned to the 39 bombers and attack aircraft Su-24 and Su-25.
Frigate "Jamaran". Photo Globalsecurity.org
Transport aviation has 117 airplanes, including X-NUMX heavy IL-12, 76 medium C-19 and other equipment. In particular, the fleet of light passenger cars is equipped with several types of aircraft. American planes of several types of the Boeing brand are used as flying tankers. More than 130 propeller and jet planes of several types are used to train pilots.
The helicopter fleet consists of several models of 35-40 machines. There are at least two heavy CH-47 and more 30 medium Bell 214. Not so long ago, the Iranian industry has launched production of its own transport and multi-purpose helicopters, their number in the army is constantly growing.
Air defense forces belonging to the Air Force are equipped mainly with missile systems. There are more than 500 complexes of various types with different characteristics in service. Portable, stationary and mobile rocket systems of various types of foreign production are used. The main supplier of the air defense missile system was Russia, which sold the Tor-M1, C-300PMU2, Strela, etc. systems to Iran. There are also old systems of American, British and French production. Operate a small number of artillery installations.
Coast Guard boats from the composition of the Navy IRGC. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also includes rocket forces, which are the basis of strategic forces. This branch of the military is composed of several formations that operate various types of missile systems. It is known that the rocket forces are armed with at least 12 mobile complexes with medium-range Shahab-3 missiles. Another 10 of such missiles deployed with the use of mine launchers. There is information about the presence of missiles "Sajil-2". The grouping of short-range missiles is represented by about two dozen complexes of the Fateh and Shahab families.
Approximately at the beginning of the current decade, cyber command was created in Iran, whose tasks include working with information systems and solving relevant special tasks. To date, only the fact of the existence of such a structure, as well as its belonging to the IRGC, is known. Other information, such as the number of personnel, features of technical equipment and tasks to be solved remain secret. All cyber warfare information is based only on fragmentary information and various assessments.
In 2016, Iran’s gross domestic product reached 12962 trillions of reais (more than 412 billion US dollars) - 5124 dollars per capita. At the same time, GDP growth was observed by 4,5% in comparison with 2015 year. Over the year, inflation has decreased from 11,9% to 7,4%. Last year, 499 trillion reais (15,9 billion dollars) were allocated to defense spending. These expenses allowed us to maintain the armed forces in their current state, as well as to ensure the purchase of various new weapons and equipment.
Modern missile systems at the exhibition. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
A noticeable economic growth is provided by a large number of workers - 29,75 million people. The country has a little less than 173 thousand km of roads, more than 8440 km of railways and 850 km of inland waterways. There are 319 airfields and 3 major seaports. The most important element of the Iranian economy is mining. According to GFP, Iran currently produces daily 3236 thousand barrels of oil and consumes 1870 thousand barrels. Explored reserves reach 158 billion barrels.
Over the past few decades, Iran has been forced to live and work under international pressure and lack of access to the multitude of necessary technologies, products, etc. Nevertheless, the mobilization of its own resources and the support of a few friendly states allow the country to get the desired results, as well as to have a rather powerful army, which compares favorably with a number of other armed forces of the region.
Limited financial and political opportunities lead to noticeable problems in the renewal and modernization of the army, but even in such circumstances, Tehran, in general, copes with the difficulties that arise. Thanks to this, political will and certain military capabilities allow the Iranian administration not only to maintain the current state of affairs, but also to intervene in current conflicts. For example, Iranian military experts are involved in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, contribute to peacekeeping operations in Sudan, and also provide serious support to government forces in Syria.
In general, Iran successfully copes with the existing difficulties and solves the tasks of this or that nature. Mobilization of forces and resources in combination with ideological training and other factors led to the construction of sufficiently powerful armed forces with relatively powerful potential. From the point of view of defense potential, Iran rightly can be considered one of the leaders of the Middle East region.
Based on:
http://globalfirepower.com/
http://globalsecurity.org/
http://armyrecognition.com/
http://waronline.org/
http://vpk-news.ru/
https://regnum.ru/
http://maritime-executive.com/
https://fas.org/
The Military Balance 2017
In late April, an updated version of the well-known Global Firepower rating was published, defining the defense potential of many countries of the world. The development of the army and related areas has allowed Iran to take 20 a place in the general list. With this result, he outstripped many countries in his region, leaving only Turkey ahead (8 place), Egypt (12 place) and Israel (15 place). Assessment of Iran by the method of GFP - 0.4024. Consider the factors that allow the Iranian army to have a very high potential, as well as take their place in various ratings.
Troops on parade. Photo by Theiranproject.com
The current situation in the Iranian armed forces is described in an interesting way in the recent directory The Military Balance 2017. The authors of this publication write that Iran still maintains a specific army, possessing a mass of outdated equipment, but at the same time staffed by well-trained personnel, as well as having strategic nuclear weapons, which are a key element of security. Indeed, some samples remain in service with the Iranian army. weapons and technology, long written off in other countries. However, at the same time the country manages to maintain a sufficiently high potential.
Currently, Iran’s population exceeds 82,8 million. Approximately half of the population is suitable for service; every year, the draft age reaches 1,4 million people. In total, 523 employs thousands of people in the military. There is also a 350-thousandth reserve, consisting of retired and volunteers.
An interesting feature of the armed forces of Iran is their division into two separate structures with their own command. There is a full-fledged army with ground forces, air forces and fleet. In addition, there is a separate structure called the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which also has its own ground forces, air force and navy. Despite the formal separation, both the army and the IRGC have similar goals and in most cases should work together.
MBT "Carrar" - one of the latest developments of Iran. Photo Imp-navigator.livejournal.com
The most numerous structure in the armed forces of Iran are the ground forces. They serve 350 thousand people. The command and control of troops is carried out by five headquarters with the division of zones of responsibility by region. Ground forces have 8 armored brigades, 14 mechanized brigades, 12 light infantry brigades and one airborne brigade. Also available aviation and artillery units. The ground forces include 10 special-purpose brigades with different functions.
Iran has a large fleet of armored vehicles, including a variety of models, including long-obsolete ones. Armored units have more than 1500 tanks several types. The most numerous (560 units) are machines of the T-55 family of Soviet, Chinese and own production. There are also 480 newer T-72s. The troops have obsolete American M47, M48 and M60 in significant quantities. There are 610 Soviet-developed infantry fighting vehicles. The fleet of armored personnel carriers (at least 640 units) includes both tracked vehicles of the M113 type or domestic counterparts, and wheeled BTR-50 and BTR-60 Soviet assemblies. There are at least 35-40 repair and evacuation and other auxiliary armored vehicles.
The artillery units are armed with up to three hundred self-propelled guns with guns of caliber up to 203 mm. There are combat vehicles of Soviet, American and Iranian production. The most numerous ACS of Iran is the American M109 - there are one and a half hundred such machines. More than 2 thousand towed artillery systems of various types in caliber up to 203 mm are stored in service. As in the case of self-propelled artillery, towed guns were purchased from the USSR / Russia, the United States or were made independently. There are self-propelled and towed rocket artillery in the amount of approximately 1500 units. The most numerous is the Chinese-made 63 type launcher - 700 units. Troops dispose of 3000 mortars in caliber from 81 to 120 mm.
American-made F-14 fighter. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
Ground forces exploit at least 30 operational-tactical missile systems of several types. This weapon is a further development of the Soviet or North Korean complexes.
Troops air defense has a significant number of Igla and Strela-family MANPADS, as well as similar Iranian-made models. Also in the army there are more than 1100 anti-aircraft guns of various types. There are self-propelled armored vehicles ZSU-23-4 (up to 100) and ZSU-57-2 (up to 80). The towed anti-aircraft artillery is represented by various systems from machine gun installations ZPU-2 to M-1939 guns.
The Iranian Army also has its own aviation units. There are about three dozen light multi-purpose and training aircraft of several types of foreign production. Troop support is the responsibility of AH-50J Cobra helicopters and HESA Shahed 1 XHUMX helicopters of its own production. There are 50 transport helicopters, including the 285 heavy CH-173 Chinook and several dozen light Bell 20 and Bell 47. In recent years, mastered the production of unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes.
The army ground forces are complemented by similar units from the composition of the IRGC. The Ground Forces Corps is controlled by 31 regional headquarters and includes 2 armored divisions, 3 armored brigades, at least 8 light infantry divisions, and more 5 similar brigades. The airborne troops of the IRGC include one brigade. The ground forces of the IRGC are invited to use the same equipment as the main army.
Su-24 front bomber. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
Iranian Navy manned 18 thousand people. The fleet of the army and the IRGC is armed with almost four hundred ships and boats of various types, with the bulk of this technology designed to protect the coast.
The fleet has a 21 submarine. The main submarine forces are the submarines of the 877 project of Russian construction in the amount of three units. There are also at least 17 small and ultra-small submarines with torpedo weapons, built on two projects of its own Iranian development.
Surface fleet includes 81 ship and boat. There are seven corvettes of three projects, equipped with rocket, artillery and torpedo weapons. 16 rocket boats of several types remain in the ranks, with about half of them being used as part of the coast guard units. Several dozen torpedo boats of a number of projects of domestic and foreign construction remain.
Iran has an amphibious fleet consisting of 13 ships and 11 boats. The largest landing ships can take on board up to 10 tanks or 225 soldiers. Boats have a smaller capacity, but some of them due to the use of an air cushion differ in other possibilities.
HESA Shahed 285 Iranian development helicopter. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
Mine-sweeping forces are represented by five ships of several projects. One of the available minesweepers, however, is based on the Caspian Sea and is used as a training vessel. The rest can solve combat missions in the Persian Gulf.
In the naval aviation of Iran serves 2600 people. Search and destruction of enemy submarines is assigned to the X-NUMX of the P-3 Orion and X-NUMX helicopters of the SH-3D helicopters. Also in the interests of the fleet, 10 airplanes and 3 helicopters of various types should be used for auxiliary work.
Coastal defense compounds have several types of missile systems. Also on the coast are based two brigades of marines with a total of 2600 people.
Military transport aircraft C-130. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has its own naval forces, in which 15 thousand people serve. Another 5 of thousands were consolidated into one Marine Corps brigade. The main task of the IRGC fleet is to protect the coast from various threats. To do this, it includes more than 110 patrol ships and vessels, including with missile anti-ship weapons. Artillery and torpedo boats are also used. The IRGC has its own amphibious assault fleet of four ships. There are coastal defense formations that are armed with missile systems similar to naval systems.
In the air force serves 18 thousand people. In addition, the Air Force includes air defense forces, which are 12 thousands. A characteristic problem of the air force is the presence of a significant number of outdated foreign technology. The Air Force has 5 fighter squadrons, 9 squadrons of fighter-bombers and 1-like units operating front-line bombers. There is one reconnaissance and naval patrol squadron. The work of aviation at long distances is provided by the tankers of one squadron. Transport tasks are solved by five squadrons, training is conducted on the basis of four. Most of the helicopters belong to the army aviation, but the Air Force also has several such squadrons.
Fighter aircraft is equipped with American and Soviet / Russian aircraft. The most massive (more than 60 units) technology remains the F-4D / E Phantom II. There is also a fairly large (more than 55) grouping of F-5 aircraft. A total of more than 260 fighter jets are in operation. The ground attack was assigned to the 39 bombers and attack aircraft Su-24 and Su-25.
Frigate "Jamaran". Photo Globalsecurity.org
Transport aviation has 117 airplanes, including X-NUMX heavy IL-12, 76 medium C-19 and other equipment. In particular, the fleet of light passenger cars is equipped with several types of aircraft. American planes of several types of the Boeing brand are used as flying tankers. More than 130 propeller and jet planes of several types are used to train pilots.
The helicopter fleet consists of several models of 35-40 machines. There are at least two heavy CH-47 and more 30 medium Bell 214. Not so long ago, the Iranian industry has launched production of its own transport and multi-purpose helicopters, their number in the army is constantly growing.
Air defense forces belonging to the Air Force are equipped mainly with missile systems. There are more than 500 complexes of various types with different characteristics in service. Portable, stationary and mobile rocket systems of various types of foreign production are used. The main supplier of the air defense missile system was Russia, which sold the Tor-M1, C-300PMU2, Strela, etc. systems to Iran. There are also old systems of American, British and French production. Operate a small number of artillery installations.
Coast Guard boats from the composition of the Navy IRGC. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also includes rocket forces, which are the basis of strategic forces. This branch of the military is composed of several formations that operate various types of missile systems. It is known that the rocket forces are armed with at least 12 mobile complexes with medium-range Shahab-3 missiles. Another 10 of such missiles deployed with the use of mine launchers. There is information about the presence of missiles "Sajil-2". The grouping of short-range missiles is represented by about two dozen complexes of the Fateh and Shahab families.
Approximately at the beginning of the current decade, cyber command was created in Iran, whose tasks include working with information systems and solving relevant special tasks. To date, only the fact of the existence of such a structure, as well as its belonging to the IRGC, is known. Other information, such as the number of personnel, features of technical equipment and tasks to be solved remain secret. All cyber warfare information is based only on fragmentary information and various assessments.
In 2016, Iran’s gross domestic product reached 12962 trillions of reais (more than 412 billion US dollars) - 5124 dollars per capita. At the same time, GDP growth was observed by 4,5% in comparison with 2015 year. Over the year, inflation has decreased from 11,9% to 7,4%. Last year, 499 trillion reais (15,9 billion dollars) were allocated to defense spending. These expenses allowed us to maintain the armed forces in their current state, as well as to ensure the purchase of various new weapons and equipment.
Modern missile systems at the exhibition. Photo of Wikimedia Commons
A noticeable economic growth is provided by a large number of workers - 29,75 million people. The country has a little less than 173 thousand km of roads, more than 8440 km of railways and 850 km of inland waterways. There are 319 airfields and 3 major seaports. The most important element of the Iranian economy is mining. According to GFP, Iran currently produces daily 3236 thousand barrels of oil and consumes 1870 thousand barrels. Explored reserves reach 158 billion barrels.
Over the past few decades, Iran has been forced to live and work under international pressure and lack of access to the multitude of necessary technologies, products, etc. Nevertheless, the mobilization of its own resources and the support of a few friendly states allow the country to get the desired results, as well as to have a rather powerful army, which compares favorably with a number of other armed forces of the region.
Limited financial and political opportunities lead to noticeable problems in the renewal and modernization of the army, but even in such circumstances, Tehran, in general, copes with the difficulties that arise. Thanks to this, political will and certain military capabilities allow the Iranian administration not only to maintain the current state of affairs, but also to intervene in current conflicts. For example, Iranian military experts are involved in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, contribute to peacekeeping operations in Sudan, and also provide serious support to government forces in Syria.
In general, Iran successfully copes with the existing difficulties and solves the tasks of this or that nature. Mobilization of forces and resources in combination with ideological training and other factors led to the construction of sufficiently powerful armed forces with relatively powerful potential. From the point of view of defense potential, Iran rightly can be considered one of the leaders of the Middle East region.
Based on:
http://globalfirepower.com/
http://globalsecurity.org/
http://armyrecognition.com/
http://waronline.org/
http://vpk-news.ru/
https://regnum.ru/
http://maritime-executive.com/
https://fas.org/
The Military Balance 2017
Information