Zulfiqar (tank)

Zulfiqar (ذوالفقار) is an Iranian main battle tank, conceived by Brigadier General Mir-Younes Masoumzadeh, deputy ground force commander for research and self-sufficiency of the armed forces. It is named after Zulfiqar, the legendary sword of Ali the fourth Caliph and the first Shiite Imam. It's also known as Zolfaqar.[3]

For other uses, see Zulfiqar (disambiguation).
Zulfiqar
A newly built Iranian Army Zulfiqar-3 on display in 2013
TypeMain battle tank
Service history
Used byIslamic Republic of Iran
Production history
DesignerResearchs and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Force
Designed1993- Zulfiqar-1 2012- Zulfiqar-3
ManufacturerShahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex
Produced1996–present
No. built~150 Zulfiqar-1 in 2012[1] 150 Zulfiqar-3
VariantsZulfiqar 1, Zulfiqar 2, Zulfiqar 3
Specifications (Zulfiqar 3)
Mass52 tonnes
Length9.20 m (30 ft 2 in)
Width3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Height2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Crew3
Armorcomposite armour
Main
armament
125 mm smoothbore tank gun
Secondary
armament
12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns
Engine12-cyl. diesel
Zulfiqar 1: 780 hp (630 kW) Zulfiqar 3: AVDS-1790 1000 hp[2]
Power/weight21.7 hp/ton (Zulfiqar 1),17.85 hp/ton (zulfiqar 3)
Transmission6-gear SPAT 1200 automatic transmission
Suspensiontorsion-bar
Operational
range
450 km (280 mi)
Maximum speed 70 km/h (43 mph)

The test prototypes of the tank were evaluated in 1993. Six semi-industrial prototypes of the tank were produced and tested in 1997.[4]

Design specifications

Features

The tank has a distinctive box-shaped, steel-welded turret of local design.[5] The Zulfiqar is believed to be developed from major components of the Soviet T-72 and American M48 and M60 tanks.[6] The suspension is modelled on the M48 /M60 Patton tanks supplied to Iran by the U.S. The SPAT 1200 transmission also seems to be a local development of that of the M-60. Zulfiqar-1's combat weight has been reported to be 36 tonnes with a 780 hp diesel engine; giving the tank a 21.7 hp per ton ratio.[5] Some sources see resemblances between the Zulfiqar design and the Brazilian prototype Osório.[5]

The Zulfiqar is operated by a crew of three personnel. The automatic loader is believed to be the same one from the T-72 tank.[7]

On 25 October 2016, Iran claimed they had successfully tested an active protection system on the Zulfiqar, based on pulse-doppler and phased-array radar systems equipped with four arms systems that can cover a full 360-degrees of sight.[8]

Armament

The tank is armed with a 125 mm smoothbore gun 2A46 derived from that of the T-72, which is fitted with a fume extractor. Its secondary armament consists of a 7.62 mm coaxial and a 12.7 mm machine gun. For the Zulfiqar/T-72 fleet, the Ammunition Group of the Iranian Defense Industries Organization mass-produces a standard high explosive 23 kilograms (51 lb) propellant charge which fires the 3 kg warhead at a muzzle velocity of 850 metres per second (2,800 ft/s).[9]

The Zulfiqar-1 uses the Slovenian EFCS-3 fire control system, the same model used on the Type 72Z ("Safir-74"), providing 'fire-on-the-move' technology. The Zulfiqar allegedly mounts a laser-warning pod on the turret. Its design enables the tank to use an Iranian-made package of reactive armor.[5]

Production

In April 1997 Acting Commander of the Ground Forces of the Iranian Army, Lieutenant General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani announced that the mass production of Zulfiqar tanks, which began in 1996, was still in progress.[10] He stated that the manufacture of 520 different kinds of tank parts, 600 artillery parts, repair of 500 tanks and armored vehicles have been carried out. In late July 1997 Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani formally inaugurated a production line for the domestically manufactured Zulfiqar main battle tanks and Boragh tracked armoured personnel carrier. The facility, the Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex, will also produce the BMP-2 armored personnel carrier.[4]

Variants

Zulfiqar-1

The Zulfiqar-1 is based on the M48 Patton model acquired under the pre-revolution era. The Zulfiqar-1 was first revealed in public in 1994. A total of six prototypes were completed and field tested in 1997. The Zulfiqar-1 is protected by a welded steel hull and the turret is reinforced by a composite armour. The Zulfiqar-1 is armed with a 125mm Smoothbore gun taken from a T-72.

Zulfiqar-2

The Zulfiqar-2 is an interim main battle tank prototype used as a test bed. This variant is fitted with a new and more powerful engine. It has an extended chassis and possibly uses an improved autoloader.[11][12]

Zulfiqar-3

The Zulfiqar-3,[13] the most advanced variant of the Zulfiqar family, bears an uncanny resemblance to the American M1 Abrams. It features considerable upgrades to the fire-control system, chassis, engine and main gun. The new variant is equipped with the 2A46 125 mm smoothbore cannon with an autoloader, a laser rangefinder and a new fire-control system.[14] It is also fitted with a reinforced turret and the wheels are covered by an armoured skirt.[15] Research and development on the tank was completed in 1999 and the tank appeared in a military parade in 2011.[16]

Notes
  1. Iranian Ground Forces Equipment Archived 2010-03-03 at the Wayback Machine globalsecurity.com
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 3, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/zulfiqar.htm
  4. John Pike. "Zulfiqar". Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  5. Cordesman & Kleiber, page 46
  6. Tucker, Spencer (2004). Tanks: an illustrated history of their impact. ABC-CLIO, p. 164. ISBN 1-57607-995-3
  7. "Strategy Page, 25 November 1999, article signed by Stephen V. Cole". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  8. Iran tested its first home-made Active Protection System (APS) mounted on Zolfaqar tanks Archived 2016-10-26 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 25 October 216
  9. "Commander: Upgraded Zolfaqar Tanks under Field Tests". Archived from the original on 2010-09-11. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
  10. https://www.armyrecognition.com/iran_iranian_army_heavy_armoured_main_battle_tank_uk/zulfiqar_zolfaqar_1_main_battle_tank_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_pictures_video.html
  11. "Zulfiqar 2 Main Battle Tank". Archived from the original on 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  12. "The Zulfiqar 2 main battle tank". Archived from the original on 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  13. "Iranian Army plans to unveil tomorrow optimized version of its home-made main battle tank Zolfaqar". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  14. "Iran to Unveil New Generation of Zolfaqar Tanks". Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  15. "Latest generation of Iranian-made main battle tank Zulfiqar with new reactive armor". June 4, 2013. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  16. Zulfiqar 3 Zolfaqar main battle tank technical data sheet specifications description pictures video
gollark: This is rude to it.
gollark: Why?
gollark: ++choose yes no
gollark: Much simpler.
gollark: You can just ++choose you know.

References
  • Cordesman, Anthony H. & Kleiber, Martin (2007). Iran's Military Forces and Warfighting Capabilities: The Threat in the Northern Gulf. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-313-34612-7
External media
Images
Zulfiqar 3
Zulfiqar 2
Zulfiqar 1
Video
Zulfiqar 3 video
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