Despite the known difficulties, Iran has managed to build a sufficiently powerful and developed defense industry capable of solving urgent problems. Iranian enterprises regularly present their new developments of all main classes, and the other "premiere" of several promising products took place the other day. On January 30, a military-technical exhibition "Iktidar-40", dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, opened in Tehran. As part of this event, the Iranian industry showed both already known and completely new samples.
During the opening ceremony of the Iktidar-40 exhibition, curious statements were made. The Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Divisional General Muhammad Bakeri, said that the exhibition displays 500 samples of weapons and military equipment exclusively of Iranian design and production. At the same time, he noted that this is only a part of the country's defense power. The general pointed out the fact that the exhibition presents domestic developments in all major areas of military affairs, from small arms to missiles of different classes.
UAV "Sageh" - one of the most interesting Iranian developments. Photo Imp-navigator.livejournal.com
The exhibition demonstrates the ability of Iranian industry to create and produce various types of military products. According to M. Bakeri, enterprises with their products are ready to enter the international arms market.
Unmanned novelties
The Chief of the General Staff pointed out in his speech that Iran is currently among the world leaders in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. Indeed, at the exhibition "Iktidar-40" there is a mass of Iranian-made UAVs, developed independently or copied from foreign samples. A significant part of such products is already known to foreign specialists and the public, but new samples were present in the exhibition pavilions.
The main novelty in the unmanned sphere is the Kaman-12 aircraft. Within the framework of the exhibition in Tehran, it was shown to the general public for the first time. The developers of the project announced some of the characteristics of this machine, but did not disclose other details. In particular, the purpose of the UAV and its real capabilities remain unknown. However, the characteristic appearance of the machine and the available data can serve as a clue.
The newest unmanned aerial vehicle "Kaman-12". Photo Parstoday.com
"Kaman-12" is an aircraft-type UAV with a double-girder fuselage architecture and a high aspect ratio straight wing. The main fuselage received a characteristic nose cone, under which something interesting can be hidden - for example, optoelectronic equipment for reconnaissance. A piston engine with a pusher propeller is provided in the tail of the fuselage. The wingspan of the drone can be estimated at 4-5 m. The take-off weight is declared at 220 kg (the payload is unknown), the speed is 200 km / h. The operating range is 1000 km. Apparently, "Kaman-12" is intended for patrolling the assigned areas and observation, as well as for reconnaissance and target designation.
At the exhibition, for the first time, they showed a promising unmanned aerial vehicle of a helicopter scheme. Unfortunately, most of the information about him is not yet available. The project with an unknown name provides for the construction of a helicopter of the classical scheme with a tail rotor. The main rotor has a pair of blades and is equipped with a full-fledged swashplate. The machine does not have a solid closed fuselage, instead of which a frame made of profiles is used. In this case, the nose and upper part of the frame is covered with a plastic fairing. On the sides of the frame, above the ski chassis, the installation of containers with a payload is provided. The new unmanned helicopter is said to be capable of carrying cargo and climbing to an altitude of over 1,800 meters.
Along with real novelties, already well-known unmanned aerial vehicles were demonstrated, both in the original version and the modernized ones. For example, the public was again shown the Sageh UAV, the development of which took into account the features of the captured American RQ-170 Sentinel. Unfortunately, the Iranian army has yet to disclose details of this project. Information about the status of equipment, its production and operation is still fragmentary and comes only from third-party sources.
Helicopter type aircraft. Photo Irna.ir
Anti-tank systems
Since the mid-eighties, the Iranian industry has been producing anti-tank missile systems of the Tufan family. With the emergence and development of technologies, as well as in connection with the change in the wishes of the customer, their modern modifications, as well as completely new models of the family, are created. At the Iktidar-40 exhibition, together with the already well-known Tufans, two new missiles of this line were shown for the first time.
The first of the new products is the Tufan-3M rocket. It is a modernized version of the existing Tufan-3 product and, while retaining its common features, receives new components and capabilities. The basic version rocket had a length of 1, 16 m and a mass of 19, 1 kg. "Tufan-3M" has a characteristic layout with a centrally located engine with oblique side nozzles. The instrument compartment is located behind the engine. The rocket of the "3M" version differs from the basic product in other combat equipment.
The missile of the "Tufan-3" complex had a "normal" cumulative warhead with armor penetration at the level of 80-100 mm - much lower than the actual requirements for anti-tank systems. The Tufan-3M project uses a new transverse shaped-charge warhead controlled by laser and magnetic fuses. The warhead is detonated when flying over the target, as a result of which the cumulative jet enters its least protected part. The flight characteristics of the Tufan-3M rocket probably remained at the level of the base model.
Anti-tank missile "Tufan-3M". Photo Tasnimnews.com
The Tufan-7 missile was developed using available developments, but is not a modification of the existing weapon. However, there is reason to assume the use of some ready-made units - first of all, the engine and control systems. The new rocket is distinguished by its large dimensions and a launch weight increased to 21 kg. Due to this, the flight range was increased to 3, 7-3, 8 km. According to various sources, "Tufan-7" can deliver warheads for various purposes to the target. The guided missile "platform" is capable of carrying a cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation or thermobaric warhead.
Aircraft weapons
At the Iktidar-40 exhibition, for the first time, a promising air-to-ground guided missile called Akhgar is presented. This product is designed to destroy various enemy ground targets, from combat vehicles to buildings. The rocket is transported and launched from the external sling of the carrier aircraft. Such weapons are intended for tactical aviation.
The Akhgar missile received a cylindrical body of large elongation with a tapering head. Planes are provided near the bow compartment and in the tail. The rear set of planes serves as stabilizers with rudders. The product has a length of 1.7 m and a diameter of about 130 mm. The launch weight is 27 kg, of which 7 kg falls on the high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
The tail section of the rocket with instrumentation. Photo Tasnimnews.com
The new aircraft missile is equipped with a television correlation homing head. Such a device tracks the specified target and ensures that the missile is kept on the required trajectory. The range of the Akhgar missile is determined at 30 km. Trajectory speed - 600 km / h. The list of possible carrier aircraft is unknown. Probably, all new front-line aircraft of the Iranian Air Force can use the new missile.
An interesting novelty for aviation is the Shahin airborne defense system. This product is made in a streamlined body, reminiscent of an aircraft missile, and is intended for suspension on combat aircraft. With the help of special ammunition, the Shahin system must protect the carrier aircraft from enemy missile attacks. The complex also provides protection against radar systems. How these effects are achieved is not specified.
Ground missiles
Last year, Iran officially unveiled a new land-based cruise missile, Sumar, similar in appearance to some foreign models. At the current exhibition, the Iranian industry has shown a new version of the weapon of the same class, called "Hoveyze". The main tactical and technical characteristics of the new cruise missile were not disclosed.
Aviation missile "Akhgar". Photo Twitter.com-Mahdiibakhtiari
The Sumar and Hoveyze missiles are of particular interest to Russian specialists and the public. The fact is that these products may be an unlicensed copy of Soviet-designed aircraft weapons. Back in the middle of the 2000s, from various sources, both Russian and foreign, it became known that at the beginning of the decade Iran secretly acquired in one of the CIS countries and imported several Kh-55 air-launched cruise missiles, as well as a set of equipment using forged documents to work with them. At the same time, information was published about the beginning of the reverse engineering process with the aim of creating its own Iranian cruise missile project.
Apparently, the result of such events was the appearance of land-based cruise missiles "Sumar" and "Hoveyze". Externally, these products are similar to the base sample, but may differ internally. In addition, the Iranian missiles are distinguished by the presence of a starting engine that ensures the rocket take off from the ground and the initial set of speed. However, since the first suspicions appeared, Iran has been in no hurry to confess to copying someone else's missile and continues to refer to Sumar and Hoveise as entirely its own design.
Pictures at an Exhibition
According to the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Army, about half a thousand different types of weapons and equipment are exhibited at the Iktidar-40 exhibition. All these samples are designed and manufactured in Iran by our own forces. It is also argued that its own industry is capable of satisfying all the basic needs of the Iranian army, and in addition, it can supply its products for export.
Defense complex "Shahin". Photo Defenseworld.net
For one reason or another, really new samples made up only a limited share of all the exhibits, while other areas were occupied by already known weapons and equipment. At the same time, new developments refer to all major classes of interest to a modern and developing army. In general, all this speaks of a fairly large potential of the Iranian defense industry.
A careful study of the new products of recent years, including those first presented at the very end of January, shows several main trends and specific features of the development of the Iranian military industry. First of all, this is the desire of the command and the principled ability of enterprises to create new models and then put them into production in the interests of the armed forces. Iran wants to be a regional leader, and for this it needs modern weapons and equipment.
At the same time, it should be noted that Iran's real capabilities are limited by a number of objective factors. First of all, Iranian enterprises do not have access to a wide range of modern technologies, materials and developments. In addition, they do not have the desired work experience in some areas, and in them they simply did not have time to form their own design school. All this in a known way affects the results of the work of the industry.
Hoveise cruise missile. Photo Dambiev.livejournal.com
Having no proper experience, but feeling the need for new models, Iran is solving urgent problems in the simplest way. He develops existing developments, and also tries to copy foreign samples. It is for this reason that some new weapons turn out to be too similar to the old ones, while others have a suspicious resemblance to foreign ones. However, this is not the only approach taken. We are looking for our own ideas and solutions, including with an eye to foreign experience. As a result, new samples of our own design are becoming, only to a limited extent resembling foreign ones.
Taking several different approaches, Iran is developing its own weapons and military equipment of all major classes. It is unlikely that this country can lay claim to the world leadership in the field of defense technologies, but its capabilities, on the whole, correspond to the needs. Concentrating efforts on creating new projects results in very curious examples. Some new developments were shown at the Iktidar-40 exhibition, and it is quite possible that in the near future Iran will demonstrate the next products of its development.
