Engineering:Makran IFV
| Makran IFV | |
|---|---|
 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 |
| Speed | Estimated between 44 and 80 km/h (Land) 11km/h (Water) |
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.
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
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
Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
See also
Vehicles of comparable role, performance and era
USA M2 Bradley
: USA Bradley Fighting Vehicle
ESP/
AUT/
UK General Dynamics Ajax
Soviet Union/
RUS BMP-3
: Russia Kurganets-25
CHN ZBD-04
JPN Type-89
KOR K21
: KOR K200 KIFV
DEU Puma IFV
: DEU Lynx IFV
SGP Bionix AFV
ITA Dardo IFV
IND Abhay IFV
GRE ELVO Kentaurus
POL WPB Anders
TUR Tulpar IFV- ESP/ Austria ASCOD
SWE CV90
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "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". https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_july_2020_global_security_army_industry/iran_irgc_unveils_new_armored_personnel_carriers_and_upgraded_t-72m_main_battle_tank.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Fateh (Conqueror / Victor) "semi-heavy" submarine". https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/btr-50.htm.
- ↑ "Aqareb 8x8" (in en-US). https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=902.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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. Archived 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". https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/01/the-oryx-handbook-of-iranian-fighting.html.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Agency, Tasnim News (2020-06-27). "Iran: IRGC Unveils New Military Gear" (in en-US). https://www.eurasiareview.com/28062020-iran-irgc-unveils-new-military-gear/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:2 - ↑ 10.0 10.1 "دستاورد جدید سپاه برای مقابله با دشمن را بشناسید + عکس" (in fa). https://www.donya-e-eqtesad.com/بخش-%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-62/3697777-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B4%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3.
- ↑ "FarsNews Agency IRGC Ground Force Unveils Several Defensive Equipment". https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/13990407000547/IRGC-Grnd-Frce-Unveils-Several-Defensive-Eipmen.
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