Makran IFV
The Makran IFV, an Iranian armoured personnel carrier (APC), is the highly modernized and upsized copy of the BTR-50 APC. The vehicle is produced and designed by the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization. It was unveiled in June 2020 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[1] The vehicle is named after the Makran coastal region, a region that stretches between Iran and Pakistan. While the Makran is technically an infantry fighting vehicle, it has a large troop compartment as it is based on the BTR-50, allowing it to dual function as an armoured personnel carrier.
| BTR-50PK Makran | |
|---|---|
A Makran IFV | |
| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2020–present |
| Used by | Iran |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization |
| Produced | 2020–present |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 7.12 meters |
| Width | 3.17 meters |
| Height | 2.39 meters |
| Crew | 3 |
| Passengers | 9–12 |
Main armament | 30mm Shipunov 2A42 auto-cannon |
Secondary armament | 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun |
| Engine | diesel |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Maximum speed | Estimated between 44 and 80 km/h (Land) 11km/h (Water) |
History
Origins
During the period of the Shah, Iran purchased and received around 300 BTR-50's, and during the Iran–Iraq War hundreds were captured. While only 150-270 are estimated to be in service, hundreds are currently in storage, and a couple were given to the Popular Mobilization Forces.[2] The IRGC realized after the Iran–Iraq War, that the BTR-50s and BTR-60s it had needed more armour and firepower, leading to the development of the Makran, Heidar-6, and Heidar-7.[citation needed] The Sedad, a BTR-60PB with an unmanned ZU-23-2 was developed as a temporary solution.[3]
Development
A tour of an IRGC run upgrade facility by Tasnim News Agency appears to show some of the captured BTR-50s and MT-LBs currently in storage, with Raad unmanned turrets being produced in the factory.[4] Videos posted on YouTube in 2021 appear to show an unpainted prototype moving through water.[5][6] Another prototype or in-completed Makran was seen in the same Tasnim News Agency video tour, which only had the unmanned turret and side armor upgrades; it was painted in grey and tan, with some unpainted parts.[4]
In June 2020, the vehicle was displayed for the first time, alongside an upgraded T-72M dubbed "Rakhsh" and a heavily upgraded BTR-60 dubbed "Heidar-7".[7][8][9]
Design
Design and upgrades
The Makran has been so heavily upgraded that one may not be able to notice the BTR-50 hull.[original research?] The IFV has upgraded hull modifications: a newly welded frontal armor plate, thicker side armor, and thicker floor plating.[2][8] It also has a new unmanned turret called "Raad-2",[10] armed with a Shipunov 2A42 30mm automatic cannon and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The "Raad" unmanned turret contains a brand new fire-control system, a thermal-imaging sensor, night-vision cameras, a laser range finder, 3-6 smoke canister launchers, and is controlled via a display panel in the hull.[1][2][10][8] The laser range finder has a range of 10,000 meters, and the thermal-imaging sensor has a range of 4,000 meters.[11] The vehicle stores 500 rounds of 30mm ammunition for the Shipunov 2A42 auto-cannon, and 2000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition for the coaxial machine gun.[2] The vehicle's driver also has a new cupola and periscope, to fit with the newly molded frontal armor.[2]
Missile capabilities
Images[vague] show two anti-tank guided missiles on display next to the Makran, which may imply that the Makran can carry anti-tank guided missiles.[original research?] Some Iranian sources have also reported that the vehicles can fire "missiles".[10][9] Reports from GlobalSecurity and various Russian news agencies say it is possible to install ATGMs onto the vehicle, and is an option for purchasers.[2] The ATGMs may be the Almaz anti-tank guided missile, which is believed by an anonymous "military technology analyst" on Twitter to have been developed from an Israeli Spike ATGM left behind in the 2006 Lebanon War.[12] Iranian sources report that the ATGMs displayed may be the Toophan instead, another Iranian SACLOS anti-tank guided missile.[13] However, closer up photos clearly show a Sadid-1 anti-tank guided missile launcher identical to those on Iranian helicopters.[original research?]
Misconceptions
Some have claimed, be that incorrectly, that the Makran's turret is that of a BMP-2.[9] However the two differentiate in size, looks, capability, structure, and adaptability. The reasoning behind an unmanned turret is to increase crew survivability and adaptability, not to increase ammunition storage.[citation needed]
Operators
Current operators
See also
- Tusan AFV Iran
Vehicles of comparable role, performance and era
- M2 Bradley/Bradley Fighting Vehicle USA
- General Dynamics Ajax UK
- BMP-3 Soviet Union
- ZBD-04 China
- Type-89 Japan
- K21 South Korea
- Puma IFV Germany
- Lynx IFV Germany
- Bionix AFV Singapore
- Dardo IFV Italy
- Kurganets-25 Russia
- Abhay IFV India
- ELVO Kentaurus Greece
- WPB Anders Poland
- Tulpar IFV Turkey
- ASCOD Spain/ Austria
- CV90 Sweden
References
- ^ a b "Iran: IRGC unveils new armored personnel carriers and upgraded T-72M main battle tank | Defense News July 2020 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fateh (Conqueror / Victor) "semi-heavy" submarine". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Aqareb 8x8". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ a b جنگ افزار-۱ | جزئیات اورهال و ارتقای تانک و نفربر در ایران. خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim News Agency. 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2022-01-24 – via YouTube.
- ^ Iran Makran Armored personnel carrier ( BMP) ایران نفربر آبی و خاکی مکران. ali javid. 2021-03-07. from the original on 2021-03-14. Retrieved 2022-01-24 – via YouTube.
- ^ Iran's Makran IFV reupload. GrandBotBoi. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2022-01-24 – via YouTube.
- ^ Oryx. "The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Fighting Vehicles". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ a b c Agency, Tasnim News (2020-06-27). "Iran: IRGC Unveils New Military Gear". Eurasia Review. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ a b c "Iran displays BTR-50 modified with BMP-2 turret". Janes.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ a b c "دستاورد جدید سپاه برای مقابله با دشمن را بشناسید + عکس". روزنامه دنیای اقتصاد (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "FarsNews Agency IRGC Ground Force Unveils Several Defensive Equipment". www.farsnews.ir. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ Patarames [@Pataramesh] (2021-01-09). "An Israeli ATGM team loosing a Spike missile in the 2006 war with Hezbollah, lead to the Iranian Almaz, Diamond missile Beside the use as ATGM, it offers vulnerable, slow UCAVs a stand-off weapon to engage outside envelope of defensive assets, as well as increasing impact speed t.co/Dx6n8vODCS" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-01-24 – via Twitter.
- ^ "برجک ساخت سپاه، آچار فرانسه زره پوشهای نیروهای مسلح میشود/ گام به گام با تبدیل BTR-۵۰ روسی به "مکران" ایرانی+عکس". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2021-03-29.