Karrar (tank)

Karrar
Karrar main battle tank of the IRGC-GF participating in the Great Prophet 17 military exercise
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originIran
Service history
In service2020[1][2]
Used byIran
Production history
ManufacturerBani Hashim Defense Industrial Complex[3]
Produced2017–present[4]
No. built150 ordered in 2017, another 650 ordered in 2018 which is to be finished by late 2020's. 800 total.[5][1]
Specifications
Mass51 tons[1][6] / 51,000 kg[5]
Length6.8 m[5] (hull) / 9.5 m[1] / 9.78 m (total)
Width3.68 m / 3.5 m[5] 3.7 m[1]
Height2.5 m / 2.3 m[5][1]
Crew3 (driver, commander and gunner)[7][5]
ArmorComposite armor for the turret,[5][1] with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) armor for the hull[5] (possibly Relikt ERA "copy" for turret)[1][8] and wire cage armor[5]
Main
armament
125 mm 2A46M/M-2/M-5 smoothbore gun[5] (of the Russian design 2A46M)[1][7] with stabilizer
Secondary
armament
coaxial 7.62mm machine gun[5] and a remotely controlled 12.7mm machine gun[3] (copy of the Soviet DShKM)[1] / 14.5mm machine gun
Enginediesel
SuspensionTorsion bar[5][7]
Operational
range
Possibly around 500-550 km[5][1] (plus with 200[1]-280 km more from fuel tank)
Maximum speed ~70 km/h (43 mph)[5][1]

The Karrar (Persian كرار lit. Striker[5][7] or "Attacker"[7]) is an Iranian main battle tank.[5] The tank was announced in 2016. At the announcement, it was stated that it possessed an electro-optical fire control system, a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer and could fire at both stationary and mobile targets in day or night.[9]

The Karrar was announced following failed negotiations to obtain a licence and the technology to produce Russian T-90MS tanks.[3] It is based on the Soviet-made T-72, and attempts to incorporate elements of the T-90, American M1 Abrams, and British Challenger 2.[5][3][10] However, it is believed to be inferior,[3][11] and has been described as "little more than an upgraded T-72 with some additional indigenous components and aesthetic flourishes modeled after the T-90MS".[10] Despite its visual similarity to the T-90, Iran has rejected any alleged Russian collaboration in the project.[12]

It's being manufactured at the Bani Hashim Defense Industrial Complex.[5][7]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Karrar Main Battle Tank". Tank Encyclopedia. 5 February 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference auto was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e Mizokami, Kyle (14 March 2017). "Iran's New Tank Is a Whole Lot of Meh". Popular Mechanics.
  4. ^ "Iran launches production line of new Karrar home-made MBT main battle tank". Army Recognition. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Karrar Striker MBT main battle tank technical data fact sheet". www.armyrecognition.com.
  6. ^ Trew, Bel (14 March 2017). "Iran turns its back on Russia and China with own battle tank". The Times. Cairo. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Karrar (Striker) tank". www.globalsecurity.org.
  8. ^ ARG. "Karrar Main Battle Tank - Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Iran Unveils Highly Advanced Home-Made Battle Tank". Fars News Agency. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Iran May Be Renewing Its Interest in Armored Warfare". The Washington Institute. 27 March 2017.
  11. ^ Larson, Caleb (30 March 2020). "Iran's Karrar Main Battle Tank: Russian Technology with a Bad Paint Job?". The National Interest.
  12. ^ Beckhusen, Robert (25 August 2016). "Iran's 'New' Karrar Tank: "One of the Most Advanced Tanks in the World"?". The National Interest. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.