Engineering:Fath Safir
| Safir | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A Safir on a parade, 2023. | |
| Type | Multipurpose military vehicle |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Fath Vehicle Industries |
| Produced | 2008-Present (Iran) 2013-Present (Sudan) |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1.62 tonnes. 2.35 tonnes fully loaded |
| Length | 3.726 m |
| Width | 1.69 m |
| Height | 1.88 m |
| Crew | 1 (+5 passengers) |
Main armament | 12x Fajr 1 107 mm rockets, or a 106 mm recoilless rifle or a Toophan anti-tank missile launcher |
| Engine | Nissan Z24 diesel engine 105 hp |
| Power/weight | 44.68 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | Coil spring |
Operational range | 500 km[1] |
| Speed | 130 km/h |
Safir (Persian: سفیر; Arabic: سَفِيْر, meaning "traveler") is an Iranian 4x4 multipurpose military vehicle built by Fath Vehicle Industries.[2] The Safir weighs 1.5 tonne and is based on the M38.[1] The jeep can be distinguished from the M38 due to the sharp angled body panels, hood and grille.[3]
It has been supplied to Iraq via militia forces since it is inexpensive and affordable to produce them in mass numbers.[4]
History
The Safir was officially unveiled in 2008. In the ceremony, Iranian defense minister said that 3,000 Safirs were built in that year, and Fath industries would deliver 5,000 more vehicles to defense industry per year.[5] The jeep was seen in public media outside of Iran with its use under pro-Iranian militias fighting against Islamic State.[6]
Sudan makes the Safir under license as the Karaba VTG01, which was publicly shown to visitor at the IDEX 2013 convention in the United Arab Emirates.[7]
Variants
Safir has a modular build and has many models. These include:[1][8]
- A version equipped with 12 Fajr 1 107 mm rocket tubes.[2]
- A version equipped with a 106 mm recoilless rifle (M40) for use against enemy armored vehicles [2]
- A model equipped with a Toophan anti-tank missile launcher to counter enemy tanks [2]
- A model equipped with 9K11 Malyutka anti-tank missiles (Probably Iranian produced Ra'ad)
- A model equipped with Tosan anti-tank missiles
- A variant equipped with a Grenade launcher
- Command vehicle
- Ambulance
- Radio wave emitter
- Tracked variant for snowy terrain
- Safir-4 with extended chassis
Operators
Iran: Used by the Iranian military.[9]
Iraq: Provided Safirs to PMU paramilitary.[10]
Sudan: Made under license as Karaba VTG01.[7]
Syria: Seen in use with Syrian Armed Forces.[11]
Libya: Used by the Libyan National Army.[12]
Non-state actors
- Known to be used by Kata'ib Hezbollah, the Badr Army and Peshmerga forces.[4]
- Known to be used by the Islamic State and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, captured vehicles.[4]
- Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba[13]
- Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada[13]
- Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq[13]
- Liwa al-Zulfiqar[13]
Liwa Fatemiyoun[14]- Saraya Ansar al-Aqeeda[13]
- Saraya al-Salam[13]
- Saraya Ashura[13]
- Saraya al-Khorasani[13]
Gallery
Safir 1
Standard variant
Standard variant
Command & communication variant
Command & communication variant
ATGM variant with Tosan missile
ATGM variant with Toophan missile
Recoilless rifle variant
Tracked variant
MLRS variant
Safir 4
Variant used by the Iranian Police
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Safir 4x4 jeep light tactical vehicle technical data sheet specifications description intelligence pictures video | Iran Iranian army wheeled armoured vehicles UK | Iran Iranian army military equipment armoured UK". https://www.armyrecognition.com/iran_iranian_army_wheeled_armoured_vehicles_uk/safir_4x4_jeep_light_tactical_vehicle_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_intelligence_pictures_video.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "واحد مرکزی خبر | IRIB News". Iribnews.ir. http://www.iribnews.ir/Default.aspx?Page=MainContent&news_num=135322.
- ↑ "Safir". http://www.offroadvehicle.ru/AZBUCAR/Safir.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Iranian Safir light tactical vehicles in Iraq". Armament Research Services. 9 August 2015. http://armamentresearch.com/iranian-al-safir-light-tactical-vehicles-in-iraq/.
- ↑ "آغاز توليد انبوه انواع خودروي تاكتيكي سفير در وزارت دفاع". December 25, 2007. http://khabarkhodro.com/detail.asp?id=32770.
- ↑ "Iran's Latest Tactic Against Islamic State — Send in the Battle Buggies". 24 June 2016. https://medium.com/war-is-boring/iran-s-tactic-against-islamic-state-send-in-the-battle-buggies-14ac59fd60ac.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Karaba VTG01 4x4 light tactical vehicle technical data sheet specifications description information | Sudan Sudanese army wheeled armoured vehicles | Sudan Sudanese army military equipment vehicles UK". https://www.armyrecognition.com/sudan_sudanese_army_wheeled_armoured_vehicles/karaba_vtg01_4x4_light_tactical_vehicle_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_information.html.
- ↑ Oryx. "The Oryx Handbook of Iranian Fighting Vehicles". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/01/the-oryx-handbook-of-iranian-fighting.html.
- ↑ "Falaq light rocket launcher on Safir 4×4 tactical vehicle Iran Iranian army defense industry armyreco – Soldier of Fortune Magazine". https://www.sofmag.com/falaq-light-rocket-launcher-on-safir-4x4-tactical-vehicle-iran-iranian-army-defense-industry-armyreco/.
- ↑ "ANALYSIS: Al-Quds, Iran's long arm in the region - al Arabiya English". 24 August 2017. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2017/08/24/Al-Quds-Iran-s-long-arm-in-the-region.html.
- ↑ "Spotlight on Iran (November 8 – 22, 2015)". 22 November 2015. https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/20914/.
- ↑ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (23 March 2021). "Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/06/types-of-arms-and-equipment-supplied-to.html.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 "Iraq: Turning a blind eye: The arming of the Popular Mobilization Units". Amnesty International. 5 January 2017. https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1453862017ENGLISH.PDF.
- ↑ Puxton, Matteo (25 February 2019). "Pour se battre en Syrie, l'Iran enrôle massivement des Afghans chiites" (in fr). France Soir. http://www.francesoir.fr/en-coop-matteo-puxton/pour-se-battre-en-syrie-iran-enrole-massivement-des-afghans-chiites.
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